Surfers on the Proust Questionnaire: Crosby Colapinto

It’s hard to get picked on when you’re bigger than all the older kids. Crosby Colapinto is the “grom” of the San Clemente squad that consists of Kolohe, Ian Crane, Luke Davis and his brother Griffin but that doesn’t quite add up when you think about how tall he is and how good and powerfully he surfs. His last two seasons in Hawaii have more than put him on the map in the powerful stuff — even taking out the Pipe portion of the Vans Triple Crown this year. He held his own in a wildcard appearance on the World Tour and his surfing more than keeps up with the big kids in Reckless Isolation.

We put him through the Proust questionnaire below and realized while his surfing is on another level, he’s really a throwback grom who loves surfing. Meet Crosby and prepare for him to take the next steps on the big stage over the next two years.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I think just being in the ocean with my friends and family and being able to surf every day and be in the sun and just live life, how I'm living it and surf as my job.

What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear. Yeah. Uh, This is my greatest fear: not making it. Well, I don't know, maybe ghost or something.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Probably like warming up to someone that I've just met. I always kinda have a hard time doing that. Does that make sense? 

What is a trait that you most deplore in others?

When someone's really cocky or just into themselves or has  a really big ego, that’s annoying. 

Photo: Nate Lawrence

What living person do you most admire?

I really admire Mick Fanning for his surfing and everything that he's gone through in his life. And just how he's a good human all around. 

What is your greatest extravagance?

I'd say eating. Eating good food all the time. I mean, that's like the one thing I probably spend most of my money on, good food. 

What's your current state of mind?

My current state of mind is being focused on surfing this year and putting all my effort into making the tour and doing whatever I can to get there. I really want to push myself — but also know the right time to have fun and  go party or chill. 

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Well, I think being a surfer makes selfishness a virtue. Every surfer has to be selfish in their own way to get waves and put all their time in the surfing or that's pretty much for every athlete, you know? It's like being selfish to put more time into yourself than other people, but if you’re not, you’ll paddle out at Lowers and you just aren’t going to catch waves. 

On what occasion do you lie?

I suck at lying. If I do try and lie, it never ends up going well. I can't keep a straight face. 

What is your least favorite thing about your appearance?

I'm always sunburnt.

Which living person do you most despise?

Probably that Jake Paul guy. Yeah.

What's the quality that you most like in a man?

Probably if someone who’s a bit goofy, like, deep down kind of weird inside. Just funny, like not really normal.

What’s a quality you most like in a woman?

I like a pretty and nice girl.

What word or phrase do you most overuse?

“Blowouts” a big one. We use “blowout” a lot.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Oh, surfing. A hundred percent greatest love in my life is surfing.

When and where were you happy?

I'm always happy when I'm in Hawaii. The waves are firing every day, but also snowboarding on powder for the first time in Utah around New Year's time. 

Photo: Nate Lawrence

Which talent would you most like to have?

Break dancing…or something I could break out at parties. 

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Maybe my ability to talk to chicks better. More smooth, not so weird. 

What would you consider your greatest achievement?

Winning the Vans Triple Crown Pipeline portion…um, the digital Triple Crown. Not winning it, but winning the Pipe proportion. 

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

Maybe a basketball player, an NBA star. Or maybe a dolphin.

Where would you most like to live?

Maybe somewhere in the Mentawais. Just pop out and score perfect waves with no out. You'd get pretty, pretty, pretty weird not seeing anyone though. 

What's your most treasured possession?

My new set of golf clubs. Titleist. 

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Probably moving to middle America and not being able to see the ocean every day of your life.

What's your favorite occupation?

Probably a famous and funny actor or something. 

What's your most marked characteristic?

I guess I'm goofy. I don't know. It's weird talking about myself.

What do you most value in your friends?

Just being there for me and always surfing together.

Who are your favorite writers?

I don't really read enough to have a favorite writer. My favorite book is The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman.

Who's your hero of fiction?

Spiderman, he’s cool. Swings from house to house and always gets the girl.

What historical figure do you most identify with?

Historical figure? What? Like someone who went down in history? Who’s the god of the sea? Titan or Aquaman? Dude, I have no idea.

Who's your hero in real life?

Umm, my heroes in real life are Mick Fanning, my brother Griffin and my parents.

What are your favorite names?

Names? Like human names? I don't really have a favorite name. 

What is it that you most dislike?

Losing a heat, having a super bad session, mean people.

What's your greatest regret?

I regret not surfing as much when I was younger. Like when I was 12 I feel like I didn’t surf much. 

How would you like to die?

Dying in the ocean would be pretty cool.

What is your motto?

Business before pleasure or something? That’s my motto. 

Photo: Nate Lawrence

Taken from Fresh Hell 0004: Hawaii Time. To Subscribe to Fresh Hell for free, click here.

[Top Portrait by Brandon Guilmette]