The Local Rag introduces a new surfing series where we profile families in Raglan where surfing is a passion across the generations. We begin with students involved in the RAS surf academy.
In this month’s interview, we chat to Leon Santorik and his son, Tava.
Leon:
Describe your relationship with surfing. When did it begin? How did you get interested?
Its been one of the best distractions in my life, and continues to bless and distress me weekly. I was raised in Whale Bay and surrounded by the ocean from an early age, my older brother was surfing but I didn’t start surfing until I was around 10/11. I was hanging with some friends in the Lagoon, borrowed a board, and have been playing on one ever since.
Where did you mainly surf and who with?
I surfed a lot with Mikey Banks, Olly Coddington, Dyllan West, and Luke Cederman, who were probably the crew back then. We hit up Manu Bay on the regular when we were super young, then moved out to indies when we got a bit older.
Tell us about your experience in the surf academy and your competitive surfing career.
I was introduced to the Surfing Academy the first year it started. Dean Hishion, one of the teachers, had suggested it would suit me, a few of my other schoolmates and I decided it was worth a nudge. The best thing about attending the surf academy was that you could surf during school hours. In hindsight, the cool thing was the different people we met, some of which are still good friends today. My surfing career, if you could call it that, was kind of outside the academy. I just milked my way into free clothes and surfboards but never treated it that seriously. Surfing is about having fun, but if you can milk some free shit in the process – even better.
Surfing runs through the veins of the Santoriks. Jess your sister is a NZ National Surfing Champion. Why do you think the passion and skill is passing down through the generations ?
Possibly because we grew up in front of one of the best waves in the country haha. I think the main thing for us was that there was a playground made out of water, so it was easier than doing anything else. In saying that, we had outrageous support from the olds regarding them dedicating their weekends to competitions and trips away. Dad devoted his time, and Mum gave us coin.
How did you encourage Tava to take an interest and build his confidence in the water?
We brought him his first foam board when Tav was around five or six. I guess he has kind of self-motivated in some way in the early years, which Aja and I have always backed. He would want to go surfing and we would support by taking him to the beach. Any confidence in the water comes from repetition – encountering the ‘firsts’ that seem scary at the time, but once you have been through it, you move on to the next and naturally start getting better.
What benefit do you feel that surfing gives them in their teenage years?
Other than doing something amazingly cool, I think it is good for not only their physical health, but also for their mental health as well. Its also excellent for a young brain to learn how to set goals without the frustration and bore of a school book or work-related activity.
What is the ultimate family surfing holiday?
Somewhere with shithouse reception and quality uncrowded waves.
You live at the Mount now – what are the things about Raglan that you miss?
I have lived and worked over here for well over 10 years now, but keep in touch with Raglan and all my buddies on a regular basis. I miss the waves from time to time when I’m busy, but there is something magic about being away from Raglan and appreciating how good it is when you drive over that divi. When you live there full-time, the magic can be harder to find sometimes.
Tava:
Surfing runs through many generations of your well known family. Tell us about your first memory of surfing ?
The first vivid memories I have of surfing would probably have to be when I was around five or six getting pushed into what could have been the smallest waves ever recorded down the Mount at a place called shark alley.
Who was it that encouraged and supported you in the water?
Definitely mum and dad, they both helped motivate me getting into surfing and are always there taking me to surf contests and helping me chasing waves.
How did they influence you and what has been their main surfing advice ?
I think the influence side of things were pretty much all unspoken, just watching dad surf and wanting to be just like him seem to have influenced me in a massive way, Though “don’t be a pussy” has probably been his favorite piece of verbal advice haha.
When did you discover that you were fully into surfing and wanted to pursue it at a competitive level?
I’ve always been surrounded by surfing, and always been a “surfer” but I didn’t really find the proper love for it until I was around fourteen. That’s when I guess I began to properly want to do well in contests, but even now contests are just a way to challenge my mental game and my surfing ability against others with the real joy and love coming from just being in the ocean and riding waves.
How do you find the Surf academy experience ? What are the benefits for you?
It’s been amazing, the surf academies really everything it’s been talked up to be. It’s been so cool learning about everything that goes into surfing from Larry and Dean (the surf academy teachers) whether that’s the actual technique side of surfing with technique and learning new maneuvers or the physical and mental training side of things like training our body and minds towards surfing. I feel like I’ve already benefited so much from the academy this year and feel like a totally new surfer in comparison to the start of the year.
You have had great success in the comps. Where are you placed currently? What do you hope to achieve moving forward?
Yea i’ve done alright this year, i’m not actually sure what i’m placed right now but its not high enough haha. Na but im really just focused on improving my surfing as much as possible and i’m sure the contest results will follow. Same goes as what I’d like to achieve, I’m just going to keep working to improve and having fun whilst doing so and I’ll see where it takes me.
