Enter a world of magic and mystery, in my own head, where surfing and snowboarding are considered real jobs! Amazing feats of daring and skill are performed every day - and that's just getting the footage onto film!
Media anarchist, film guru, surf addict and web video blogger!
With the premier of Wok's first foray into cinema this evening in Cape Town, I had him on the radio show on Monday eve. Things got a little wild when Wok groupies invaded the studio high on vino and Rox from the Roxy Surf School and the Armstrongs, Ian and Max, could only raise their eyebrows.
Ok, so we all know about the Bobby drama last week in NY at the Quik Pro. The surf media have been aflutter with attempts at getting the man to do an interview to explain himself and why he told the ASP World Tour to go F**ck themselves. Little surprise then that our guy, Wok, was the only journo, hardcore enough, to face the wrath of the Tennis hating Mexican. I am pretty sure this interview will win a Pulitzer!
Dan, Ricky and Wok, the Tripod - did her breath stink?
A while ago I introduced you to Wok, who besides not giving a fuck about anything, told us he was part of a conglomerate of surf, party and mayhem, called the Tripod. So it was only a matter of time before I came around and introduced you to the other two parts of the pod. So, here we go with the official interview with Ricky Basnett and Dan Redman. Both of these gentleman were pro surfers - technically they still are, though both are off touring - they have very large opinions and love their woman and beer. None of these guys are scared of speaking their minds, often to their own detriment, but always ensuring that if you are around them, you are guaranteed to laugh your ass off. Until they turn their beady, beer infused gaze upon you that is... (Did I mention they rip?)
Dan gets a lot of air for a biggish guy!
Ricky bombed on tour, but got voted best free surfer in SA.
Kai - First off, both of you were pro surfers on tour, what happened and
what are you doing now? Dan - I was not good enough. Got tired of all the traveling and no reward. Was a reward in the beginning going to all the places for the first time and stuff but after a good 7 years or so my time was up. Now I just get to do the photo trips I want and been studying a bit. The latter is a ball ache.
Ricky - I decided that the tour wasn't good enough for me, I was just winning way too many heats. Nowadays I roam around just being really ridiculously good looking.
Kai - What is the Tri-Pod? Besides whats between your legs of course... Dan - Three mates. Two are weak excuses for mates but the one is a genuinely good bloke.
Ricky - The tripod could be your worst nightmare, if you happen to bump into them at a jol,they could irritate the hell out of you with the amount of bullshit they speak.
Kai - The third member is Wok, who I did a candid interview with a while ago, do you guys really like him? Dan - Wok who?
Ricky - Fuck Wok. He is very close to being kicked out the tripod... think he really needs to pull up his socks. Actually I hate him. I'm pretty sure Dan feels the same way as well.
Kai - What would you say your short term goals are for the next year or so? Dan - I would love to get asked a few questions for www.captainkaisworld.com. Then I am MTV made! (Kai - Dreams do come true Dan!)
Ricky - I'm just concentrating on growing my hair at the moment. it's looking pretty amazing!
Yes, these 3 are our Springbok surfing representatives.
Kai - Contests or free surfing? Dan - I enjoyed the “beating people” part of contests but that doesn't happen to often. Free surfing just makes me feel free for who I want to be. And stuff.
Ricky - Free contests! (Kai - I hear ya.)
Kai - How do you pay the bills? Dan - I’m lucky enough not to be able to afford bills.
Ricky - During the day I work behind the counter at Checkers (Grocery Store for the Yanks), night time is reserved for selling my body on the streets. (Kai - Ricky lives in the Bluff, that'pretty core!)
Dan airs on the cover. mmmh then...
Ricky Airs the cover. Similar?
Kai - Where is the future of surfing going to be? Dan - In Dane Reynold’s pants. What ever he says, goes. And what ever futuristic kid comes after him. And what ever Jordy says as well. Ricky - It's gonna go retro. Guys are going to focus way more on the basics, a good bottom turn or cutback is what guys will be looking for.
Kai - What are your thoughts on the massive surge and growth in female surfing? Dan - I personally would pull out of a comp if they started entering the mens division.
Ricky - Its the best thing ever, I wish it was only girls that surfed, guys should stick to bodyboarding or longboarding!
Kai - Durban looks pretty crowded with loads of burns and drop ins, you two are from either side of the bay, how do you find surfing the Piers these days? Dan - There are so many tools in that ocean these days. The problem is the dicks in the council have made the south harbour pier just wide enough and long enough to block any swell that would keep those muppets out the water. So the only swell new pier gets is maxing 5ft playful stuff. Its pretty frustrating surfing with a bunch of clueless pricks. The problem is I’m friends with over half of them.
Ricky - I enjoy surfing when it's really crowded,it just means that theres more people out there too see how good I surf. (Kai - Always looking on the bright side hey.)
Kai - Where can people follow you? Dan - www.thetripod.tv , twitter.com/THETRIPOD_TV, twitter.com/danredman84. If that’s not enough there is also one of those facebook fan page things that you “like”. If you feel its a likable page. If you need more than that I live in Umdloti and don’t leave very often. Its a touch north of Durban. You can come find me here and follow me around if you want. I normally just wonder up and down the Umdloti strip thinking such things to myself.
Ricky - Go check out www.thetripod.tv, PS: A few answers above might not actually be factual. Thanks
I highly recommend following these guys, even if it is just to watch them destroy each other in a booze fueled orgy of destruction!
Different things come to mind for different people when you mention Warwick "Wok" Wright. To some he is a great surfer and a man who won the ISA World Surfing Title, making him a world champion for SA. To others he is a cocky, some would say arrogant, loose as hell, party animal, who just wants to be famous. To some of us, he is just a good mate and always a good boy to have round for a laugh. Any way you look at it, the guy keeps himself in the public eye. After saying good bye to professional, competitive surfing, he has embarked on a path to celebrity, with his own blog, I am Wok, his partnership in the web exploits of the Tripod crew and now he is embarking on a mission to conquer Hollywood. I thought it was time to catch up with Wok and get the score...
Wok suits the Hollywood, I don't give a fuck look!
Kai - What was it like growing up in Durban, I understand you had a rather interesting childhood?
Wok - Durban is home, I grew up on south beach, it wasn't a good area, it was hard, kids had no money and there were drugs and all sorts of shit going on down there, I'm not saying I grew up in the ghetto and all that cry for help crap. My mom gave me everything I wanted and all my best friends today came from there, I learn't to surf there and coming from there made me street smart, which was a blessing I think.
Kai - Why surfing - how, who and why did you surf?
Wok - Living on the beach it was bound to happen,my next door neighbor surfed and took me a few times and I got hooked. I got hooked on it quick, I started when I was 6 and have surfed everyday since. Why? Because I'm good at it, hahah.
Kai - You had a good professional career in surfing, why leave it and what do you do now?
Wok - Ya I had a pretty good career, I never qualified though. I felt there were certain waves on tour that suited me and that's where I got my results, but myself and my sponsors agreed why keep fucking around and being a top 100 surfer forever... Now I surf, I party and I market myself through that. My site does really well and it benefits my sponsors more by me being around in the limelight in S.A and selling t-shirts than surfing 1 foot Brazil shit.
Never forget this guy can really surf!
Kai - What is the Tripod?
Wok - The Tripod is myself, Ricky Basnett and Daniel Redman. I don't know what else to say about us given the characteristics; We loose, we surf, we party, we sarcastic and we are 3 good friends.
Kai - If you could do anything what would it be?
Wok - I would own a club in Hollywood and I'd let everyone in besides celebrities and models!
Kai - Any plans to get married and have kids?
Wok - Right now, hell no. I love woman too much to be with just one, hahaha, and I love kids but I got a feeling I'm sterile.
Kai - You have been spending time in and around LA. What has it been like?
Wok - LA is the shit,I love it out here. The waves are not as bad as you think, there is so much to do as well. I'm looking into moving here, I feel like I'm destined to be here.
Kai - US Girls or home grown?
Wok - Woman here ,looks wise, will shit on our chicks,they are absolutely gorgeous. They look after themselves, a lot of them are rich which is always a plus, haha, but on intelligence basis our girls take the cake. I battle to hold conversation with most woman in LA. I get bored and tired of hearing about pretentious shit and there is a lot of it here.
Kai - World Champion Surfer or Hollywood Star?
Wok - Can I be Bethany Hamilton, because I guess she's both, haha. I've won a world title , I'll leave Jordy to that for now, Hollywood needs me, I can see this.
Kai - Finally, any advice for your adoring Grom fans out there?
Wok - My advice is this, if you wanna be a good surfer, then surf everyday and enjoy it, but if you wanna be a world champ you gonna gonna have to step out your comfort zone for the rest of your life and push yourself harder and harder each day. Its taken till now to realize how bad these guys want it...but if you wanna be like me, you need style, a sense of humor and good looks, hahahaa, I'm kidding!
After all is said and done, I can tell you one thing about Wok. Hang around with this guy and you will never be bored!
