On the Couch with Umhlanga surfer, Beyrick De Vries



By Janine Moodley

DNN: Beyrick, tell us a little bit about who you are?
BDV: I'm 19 years old, I live in Umhlanga Rocks and went to school at Atholton Primary School (best school ever).  It was at Atholton where I met my friend Devin Lane who first got me into surfing.

DNN: Tell us about your surfing career so far?
BDV: Well, I started surfing and did my first contest when I was 11 years old.  I was very surprised when I came third in the u12 division at SA Champs and that is when the bug bit and I got really keen on contest surfing.

DNN: You have recently been granted a Wildcard entry into the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito, how do you feel about that?
BDV: Ecstatic, relieved, liberated.  In order to qualify for these events you have to have an international point rating.  It is quite difficult for the SA Surfers because they are up against International surfers who have a lot more events to surf overseas than we do here.  And every event surfed accumulates points.  

DNN: How do you prep for such an event?
BDV: I have had a really tough time because I have had a knee and shoulder injury.  But I have been trying to balance the amount of rest and surf and physio to prepare.

DNN: Which surfer are you most nervous in competing against in the Ballito surfing comp?
BDV: All the surfers who are in the event are top International quality surfers so they are all hard to beat.  I heard my friend Lincoln Taylor has been ripping.

DNN: At what point did you realise that you wanted to take on surfing as a career?
BDV: Well, when I was missing so much school because of travel my parents allowed me to finish school at home school.  I think that was a turning point because I had just been to USA and won a few events there.

DNN: Biggest wave you have ever taken on?
BDV:  I think the face of the wave was around 20 ft.  But I am not a big wave surfer.  That is a specialised field of surfing.

DNN: Who is your ultimate surfing champ that inspires you, especially on days when you don't feel so amped to go out there?
BDV: Dane Reynolds. I watch his surf DVDS constantly.

DNN: What else do you get up to besides surfing?
BDV: Downhill skating.  Gym, watching surfing dvds.  I also like to always watch my personal footage as it helps to see where I can improve.

DNN: Best surfing advice you've received?
BDV: Respect the Ocean

Just for fun:

DNN: What can you tell us about yourself that no one knows yet?
BDV: I have no secrets.  

DNN: What's your worst surfing fear?
BDV: To never be able to surf again.  Surfing is my life.

DNN: What would you do with half a million rand if you won it?
BDV: Take a couple of my best friends and family on a surf trip of a lifetime.

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