Dropknee Champion
Wahiawa, Hawaii
Winter 2006
We got to throw out a couple of questions to the Custom X pro-rider Dave Hubbard after he was crowned 2006 DK World Champ. He answered some questions via email from his house 15-20 minutes from the NorthShore in Wahiawa, Hawaii.
How does it feel to be the Dropknee World Champion?
So yeah, the World Title feels great. Definitely the best cap I could want on such a great year.
How was winning the final over Brandon Foster and Kainoa McGee?
Well, unfortunately it wasn't a final we were in together, although Brandon was in my heat and I saw his sick Backside shack right in my eye. They basically let everyone surf once, and then tallied the top scores of each competitor. It’s not the best way to produce a winner, but it’s better than nothing! I was really stoked to win over those guys cuz they had better individual wave scores than me, but I had the higher total. Winning at Pipe is a very special feeling!
What felt the best. Winning the DK Pipeline contest? Taking fourth overall at the Rockstar Games Honolua Bay Pro? Or being crowned the Dropknee World Champion?
Well, I'd say the DK World Title. I've been thinking of it for a while and I actually had to initiate some things, to get the balls rolling for a DK world tour. In the end it was a real blessing the way everything happened. 4th at Honolua Bay, was definately the best 4th place I've ever got, and was really stoked to have made it that far.
Of course, like I said, Pipe felt awesome, but this was my 2nd DK win there.
You won a world title. What's next for you?
Well, that’s not the only World Title I aspire to attain. I'm gonna compete again this year just as hard if not harder than last year. I'd like to stay on top of DK, while also doing the Men's World Tour. But more than that I wanna continually push and improve my riding.
Also helping to start up Boogie Nation is a huge project in my near future.
What's the best session you have had in a while? Where and why?
Shoots, I just had several epic ones at Pipe and OTW's. I definitely got some of my best waves ever out there within the last week. One session at OTW's was really special cuz I landed my first DK Roll. Someone even video-ed it, though I haven't seen yet.
What fins do you use? Do you use the same kind of fins for DK and prone?
Blunts, are some of the best fins around. Really well designed, really good swimming fins, and pretty much the best DK fin around. I definitely use these fins for not only prone and DK, but sometimes even stand-up, as well.
What is best advice you can give to the groms trying to go pro?
Uhhh, just try your best and do it because you love it.
Who's the best bodyboarder that never got any recognition in you opinion?
Oshi Grady. He's so good, and he's so mysto. BoogieNation got him some fins a little while back and reportedly he's been getting back out on his boog.
How does being a professional bodyboarder work with the ladies? Do you ever use it as a pick-up line?
Hahahaa, classic. No way! Even if I didn't have a serious girlfriend, chicks would be over it for sure.
How's your Dub model treating you? How did you come up with the design specs? It seems like a fairly skinny board? Why so slim?
Well, I have been riding that shape for ages now and its something that came from a shaper-rider relationship, I was able to tweak and eventually create exactly what I wanted. It’s slim or narrow for speed. It was primarily designed from my dropknee riding, but it works great for prone, as well. If anything, the special tail on my customs is the only thing that inhibits prone riding, and I'd say the main move affected is the reverse air, but I'll probably try out a Dub with a battail to ease that.
If you had a choice of one wave to ride for the rest of your life what would it be?
Pipeline. I'm pretty positive it'd be there cuz that wave is so versatile besides being the best wave on the planet.
Are you better than your brother yet?
Not at prone. I think it'll be quite some time, if it’s even possible.
