OCT/NOV 2017
9
GET2KNOW| YOUNG RIPPERS
KAI HUGGIN
Age: 13
Hometown: Bend
Sports: Surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding
Sponsors: Mervin Mfg. (Lib Tech, GNU, and Bend Metal Bindings), Nixon,
Aspect Boards & Brews, and Moment Surf Company
1. How did you get involved in board
sports and at what age did you first step
onto a board?
I got involved in board sports at a very young
age. My dad always had skateboards, surf-
boards and snowboards laying around our
house. I first stepped on a skateboard when
I was 2 years old and started making up my
own tricks. My signature move was called
the “Flappy Wappy”. I started surfing white
water at the Oregon coast when I was 3 ½.
My parents taught me to ski first. So I was
on skis from 2 ½ until 5 when I told them I
wanted to snowboard instead.
2. How much influence did your dad
have on you getting involved with board
sports?
My parents have been a big influence on
my board sports. My dad does all of these
sports and as a family we travel all the time
to surf and snowboard. They fully support my
passions and have helped me get to where
I am now.
3. Have you ever or do participate in any
traditional team sports?
I played kindergarten soccer. After scoring
1 goal I was all done…for good, but had
to finish the season because my mom was
the coach. I also played lacrosse for a few
seasons and really like it but the season
starts while I am at snowboard nationals and
interferes with spring riding on Mt. Bachelor
so I have stopped playing at this point. I truly
love to fly fish and mountain biking and want
free time to be able to do those sports as
well.
4. If somebody said to you, board sports
participants “aren’t athletes” (remem-
bering many skateboarders don’t
consider skateboarding a “sport”), what
would you say to them?
If someone told me board sport participants
aren’t athletes I would tell them they are
wrong. I would prove them wrong by having
them try surfing or snowboarding and show
them how physically challenging they really
are.
5. What do you think about going into a
contest? Since board sports competi-
tions are judged individually, how do
you handle the pressure?
I think of contests as just for fun and a way
to improve my riding so regardless of results
it is just another opportunity to progress.
With this approach, I tend not to get too
nervous or concerned with being judged.
6. Other than Bend, where are your
favorite places to snowboard, skate and
surf? Are there any places you really
would like to go and shred?
Other than Bend, my favorite places to
snowboard are Snowmass and Copper in
Colorado. They each have great parks and
halfpipes, but I would love to go to Baldface
to ride powder. I love to surf in Pacific City,
Otter Rock and Short Sands on the Oregon
coast and a few specific beaks in Hawaii. I
hope to someday surf in Bali, Indonesia. For
skateboarding, my favorite places are the
YMCA in Carlsbad CA, Granite Skateboard
Park in Sacramento, CA and the WJ skate-
park in Eugene, OR.
7. How does learning a new trick make
you feel? Do you set goals going into a
P: Scott Huggin
new season?
I love to learn tricks in all three sports. It
makes me feel stoked when I land it and
fired up to learn the next things. Going into a
new season I always set 5 or 6 new goals.
8. Who are some of the people you look
up to in the Bend board sport scene?
We are lucky to have such a progressive
board sport scene in Bend. In skateboard-
ing, I look up to Jake Selover. He rips and
is super fun to watch skate. In surfing, I
look up to Gerry Lopez because he is the
master. And for snowboarding I look up Ben
Ferguson because he is amazing at halfpipe
and that is the event I love the most (besides
riding powder).
9. Have you tried surfing the river wave
and if so, did you have any success?
I LOVE surfing the wave in Bend. I took my
time getting familiar with it so that I would be
safe but now I surf it every day I am in town.
It is awesome!
10. Do you think about board sports
every day, how much do love the feeling
while on a board?
YES! I think about board sports EVERY SIN-
GLE DAY…ALL DAY LONG. I live for these
sports and can’t imagine not doing them.
I love the feeling of being on a board; it
makes me feel happy, excited and satisfied.
11. Tell us your favorite surfer, skate-
boarder and snowboarder of all time?
I actually don’t have a favorite surfer, skate-
boarder or snowboarder of all time. I like to
watch these sports and appreciate unique
styles but honestly I just love to ride.
P: Marice A. Woodruff