BEST OF: Style Matters Entries - 4
It’s no surprise that today’s top three are students of the world’s most renowned style icons and from towns with long lineages of style. While Parker Coffin and Taro Watanabe cut their teeth using Brad Gerlach’s Wave Ki method in Ventura and Malibu respectively, Ryan Augenstein found his way through watching Roadie and the stylish legends of Santa Cruz. We picked their brains on who influenced their style and how they define style themselves. The also walk us through their entry for Vissla Style Matters.
Still more to come over the next few days before the judges decide on a winner.
PARKER COFFIN
WHO IS YOUR STYLE ICON?
I can’t really narrow my style icon down to just one. I’ve always had our hometown heroes at the top of the list and they just kind of happen to be some of the best ever.
“Tom Curren, Bobby Martinez, Dane Reynolds, and I’ve always really psyched on Bruce Irons’ surfing as well as Occy. That’s my top 5.”
TALK US THROUGH YOUR WAVE. DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT WAVE THAT ALLOWED YOU TO SHOWCASE YOUR STYLE MORE THAN OTHERS?
I remember I was having a session where I was a little bit rushed and maybe trying a bit too hard. I recall that little wave came and telling myself to take a deep breath and kind of just enjoy finding my feet on my board and while I was finding my feet the wave lined up nice. I had a cool opportunity to do a carve and as I was going up to the lip it all happened quick. Mostly I was just trying to enjoy the ride and get my feet in a place that felt good.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE GOOD STYLE?
In my opinion you can’t try to have good style. When you see people trying to have a good style it comes across really contrived and forced and therefore looks unstylish. I think you’ve gotta take off and read the wave and express yourself and however you feel at that point in time. That’s really the beauty in what we do is that surfing is an extension of yourself. For me I think I’ve always wanted to come across as relaxed and smooth but then being able to pack a punch and have explosive maneuvers. Smooth, but fast and exciting has always been my goal.
RYAN AUGENSTEIN
WHO IS YOUR STYLE ICON?
My style icons are all right, point break surfers like Adam Replogle, Casey Snider and Bud Freitas. They’ve influenced me in and out the water. Adam has been my mentor for a long time, growing up I wanted all the same sponsors stickers on my board as he had — he absolutely rips! Casey Snider and I did comps together when we were younger. He would leave the competitors and judges speechless, minds blown.
“Bud runs the right points in town and he’ll tell you that to your face. Confident, smooth, and has a drop wallet turn that is better than anyone’s.”
TALK US THROUGH YOUR WAVE. DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT WAVE THAT ALLOWED YOU TO SHOWCASE YOUR STYLE MORE THAN OTHERS?
“The wave I caught at Mavericks was a capper that doubled up on the inside shelf so I faded it to set up the section. Threw in an arm stall to line everything up, I looked over and saw my friends sitting in the channel and I thought “here you go boys” and stood tall. ”
Almost got too caught up in the moment and realized I should put my foot back on the gas pedal to make it.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE GOOD STYLE?
Loaded question! Style is unique to the surfer like a fingerprint is to the person. So I think good style is being yourself and letting your body flow naturally to the point where your mind turns off. Over time, anybody can develop a unique technique that is enjoyable to watch- you just have to rack up the hours in the water.
TARO WATANABE
WHO IS YOUR STYLE ICON?
My style icons are Tom Curren and Dane Reynolds. They both are just fun to watch. Tom is so effortless and beautiful to watch and Dane is just something else. I don’t know how to explain his style but he makes me psyched to surf!
TALK US THROUGH YOUR WAVE. DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT WAVE THAT ALLOWED YOU TO SHOWCASE YOUR STYLE MORE THAN OTHERS?
I don’t remember much about that wave just remember how good the waves were and how much fun I was having.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE GOOD STYLE?
It’s hard to define good style because everyone’s is different and they each have their own unique way of looking at a wave. I watch some people and I can’t even put my finger on why I like it, but I just do.
“One of the main things I remember Brad [Gerlach] expressing to me is the importance of being myself doing what feels good and just feeling it. ”
