The young Dylan Melamed is 18 years old, coming from the Island of Kauai, Hawaii and living in Hanalei on Kauai. He gave us a special interview, after a free photoshot session in a beach break during the Vendée Pro France. He told us about his goal for this year, his feelings from the wqs... He fears nobody on tour and he's waiting to make a result at home in next Triple Crown event. Check it out...

Freaksurf Magazine : When and where did you discover surfing, with who ?

DYLAN MELAMED : Because I grew up next to the beach so i have always been around surfing and just grew up into the water. But my dad taught me how to surf around the age of 5 and 6 years old.

Where's your home spot ?

DM : Pine trees

Tell us about your nickname you caught after a crash in body surfing ...

I have 3 titanium plates in my head from fracturing my skull when I was 13 and ever since then people have called me metal head. I couldn't surf for 8 months and when I got back in water I had to wear a helmet for a year and I was also called helmet head, ha ha. I have lots of other nicknames but I don't need to go into those.

Do you have relationship with big name of hawaiian surfer such as Sunny Garcia, the HO, the Irons, Mc Namara, Ian Walsch etc...

I don't know Sunny personally, but I'm good friend with the HO's, the Irons of course, I've been traveling with Liam Mc Namara quite a bit and I know Ian pretty good.

The Famous Kalani Robb give you one of his board, tell us about that...

When I was 12 years old I received The Most Inspirational Surfer award at the NSSA regionals, that one of the most memorable moments of my life and Kalani Robb give me one of his board !

Your meeting with LOSTENTERPRISES ?

Op went out of business when i was riding for them and my little sister was riding for Lost and i was trying to find a sponsor and it wasn't really working out and so Lost decided to pick me up

Who are your sponsors ?

Lostenterprises, Ocean and Earth, Electric Sunglasses, and Water Mans Sunscreen

How is your relationship with LOST elite teamers such as Chris Ward, Shane Beshen or Chris Davidson?

Wardo is the man , I have talked with him a few times, he's been super cool the times I've met with him. Beshen is a legend. I don't know Chris Davidson. Aaron Cormican a.k.a Gorkin is the man, he's one of the top Lost team riders.

You told me that you have good feelings with your shaper, tell us about that ?

Mayhem has been shaping me some super sick shapes lately and I feel confident in my equipment.

What's the size of your magic board ?

The Deal 5'8 1/2''

How many board use a young gun like you during a year ?

It would be safe to say 15-20 boards, maybe more ?

I see that you have customized your board with a fantastic drawing, Drew Brophy must fear you !

Hahaha, I'm the greatest drawer but I feel that I have good ideas for my drawings.

You came in France with Liam Mc Namara, does such guy like him inspire you, and are you gonna be one of those big wave riders?

Liam has been traveling longer then I've been alive and he is a great person to learn from. I have been spending some time on the North Shore, trying to make a name for myself, so I guess you could say I'm chipping my way at it.

The Triple Crown seems to be very important for you can you explain why?

The Triple Crown has the best surfers in the world i it and to do good there has a lot of sentimntal value.

Who travels with you during your trip ?

Pretty much whoever I can find that is going to that event or I'll meet up with someone who is at the event.

Do you play other sports ?

Once in a while I will play Tennis Golf and Ping Pong !!

Why every surfers play Tennis GOLF and Ping Pong !!!

They all take hand eye coordination and I feel that they help my surfing.

Can you define the way you surf and your favorite manovers ?

Some people say my back hand is like Bobby Martinez, so I take that as a big compliment. I like doing big carving turns front and backside.

Your ultimate goal is to join the dream tour, what do you need to drop in ?

We can see all those hawaiian young guns such as Dusty Payne, Clay Marzo or Kai Berger in videos, are we gonna see you in a LOST video this year ?

They're supposed to coming out with another movie in the next year or two, I might have a few clips but I don't know.

What do you think about those guys Owen Wright etc...they 're around eighteen too, do you fear them in events ?

If you fear someone in your heat odds are they're going to walk all over you, so I try not to fear anyone in heats. I had a heat with Owen last year in the Canary Islands, he wasn't having the best heat of his life, so it is possible for even the top guys to have a ad heat, but we both made the heat .

Do you prefer Event or Free surfing?

Free surfing always, I love competing but nothing beats having a relaxed free surf with no one out and around.

Whose surfer inspire you the most?

Flynn Novak and Andy Irons

Improvement on my surfing and contest strategies.

You don't speak like an 18 year old guy with crazy words, you are a good person, very intelligent, is that because of your family?

My parents care about my sisters an I very much and they try to give us the benefit of the doubt as well as giving us as much opportunities to become successful in ours careers. My whole family is great.

Now your favourite :

Reef : Desert Point

Beach break : Pine trees

Event : : Any event at Pine trees is my favorite event

Best friend on tour : Flynn Novak

Surfer : Hobgoods

Travel : indo

Trip : Canary Islands

Music band : Lil Wayne, Mac Dre, Gorilla Zoe

Film : Don't have one at the moment

Surfing Video : The new 5'5'' Redux Lost movie

A crazy one: Just imagine that you won the Triple Crown this year, first event against Dusty Payne in Final second event against Liam Mc Namara in big condition and the Pipe in final against Kalani Robb, Bruce Irons and Slater ! Tell us about your feelings !

I would claim it harder then any Brazilian has ever claimed a heat or win, then take all my prize money and invite a few of my best friends to a surf trip around the world.

Thanks Melamed always welcome in Freaksurf Mag

Interview by Johann Mouchel for Freaksurf Magazine

A few words on your team manager, you told me he is very important for you.

Ryan Simmons is my team manager, he used to be a professional surfer on the WQS, so he has useful knowledge about the tour.

What are your projects for this year? Are you gonna follow the entire wqs? Do you made a special preparation for that?

I plan on doing most of the events but I'm still not completely sure on which eents I'm doing.