Interview with Dustin Barca

Do you practise ju jitsu with the french guys, and which boxing do you practise?

No I don't practise ju jitsu with the french guys, i've trained with them a few times, and I'm a thai-boxer. and regular boxer, mixed.

Why some people says you're strange ?

Because I just stay to myself.

Andy Irons says you're the same with everybody, that's pretty cool cause there is no more charisma on Tour.

Yeah, the ASP is getting boring, but I think that the ASP is like that just like in other sports, but I'm not going to change for that. I don't change for anybody I keep the same.

How are you considered in Hawaii since you're in the Dream Tour ?

I don't get treated any different...In Hawaii they respect you if you get big barrels or fight good ! hahaha !

Same as Bra Boys in Australia !

Very similar.

Would you be interested in surfing such waves as Ours, Cyclope ?

Yeah, because they barreled. I think those guys who surf those waves get addicted, they are made for this, you got to be ready.

This year seems to be amazing for hawaii, lots of young guns such as Kai Barger, Dusty Payne, John John Florence, Carissa Moore, how do you explain this explosion ?

Because they are really good, very motivated, they surf all day, watch surf movies all day ! hahaha ! Kai Barger is a good character, all he does is just..."whatever I don't care". The other kids are very focused, cause Kai Barger is not that focused but he wins every contests hahahah ! That's great for the sport.

Quik list :

Wave : Pipeline.

Spot: Pipeline.

Event : Pipe master.

Victory: Never won always second a lot lot of second.

Video: I'd like to, maybe after the contest finished, I don't have time now.

Hawaiian Dustin Barca, coming from Kauai, is rookie on the dream Tour. Freaky mix of new school, with his airs, and old school with his power carving. Some people says he is strange. The others think he is funny. But for sure he has enough talent to clinch a world title one day. I decided to catch him to make an interview. I sent him an email. It was during the Quiksilver Pro France, and cameraman Gordo, the great, told me, "you gonna see, Dustin is a good man, very cool and talented.."
Dustin called me back on my phone, to give me Rendez vous, at his flat. He received me with his beautifull wife Stephanie, lovely kid Nehoa and his mom Joi. Here is the interview of one of the most charismatic guy on Tour...

Freaksurf Mag : Thanks to receive me with your family

Dustin Barca : No problem...

Where and with who did you start surfing?

I started surfing at Hanalei Bay, Kauai, surfing with my friends.

Why did you choose this sport?

Well, you know in Hawaii, surfing is like soccer or something in other countries...

Whose surfer inspire you the most ?

Euh.... probably Mark Occhiluppo, Dane Kealoha, Kelly Slater, and Shane Dorian.

Where do you actually live ?

I reside in Kilauea Kauai.

Home spot ?

You are 4 with Kekoa Bacalso, Roy Powers and Freddy Patacchia ...

They have team Hawaii, I guess I'm team Kauai ! Sometimes I stay with Kekoa, they don't really include me in their team. I know Roy since we were in the kinderkarten, he was only one year old.

What are your relation with the other Team riders like Adriano or David Weare ?

I have pretty good relations with Dave Weare and Tom Whitaker, they are good friends of mine, pretty close.

Got some trouble in a free surf with Adriano ?

No, not in the water hahah,... not in the water. He had a confrontation with Occy, I don't like people disrespecting their elders! He paid people to give me troubles in Brazil.

Oh.. why ?

He is just not the guy everybody thinks he is.

Home spot... Pine Trees

Did the qualification to the World Tour change your life?

Not really...hahahah !

Is the ASP World Tour like you imagine it ?

No, not really, kind of corrupt, and the waves were shitty all year!

How do you define your way of surfing ? Favorite manover ?

Raw! Air manovers, backside 360 airs or barrels, a mix of new and old school.

How do you train ?

I don't use a coach, just specific training, a lot of surfing, boxing, ju-jitsu and I run.

Talent is everything or hard worker ?

For surfing ? Pretty much just talent ! hahaha !

Your goal for this year ?

Goal for this year is to requalify, get more serious next year.

Are you wishing to win the rookie title or you don't care?

Yeah, I would like to win rookie of the year, but the waves are pretty bad and it's gonna be better next 3 contests. It's my main goal to win the rookie title.

What is your relationship with the other hawaiians on tour ?

Who are you travelling with ? Your family ?

Yes for now, but not the whole tour, it's hard to live far from your family. That's a hard way of living especially with the kids. But that's work. Where I live is such an easy place to live...It's hard...

Why did you choose to make the World Tour, we can see Jamie O'Brien staying in Hawaii, the most beautifull place with the best waves.

Yes, I'm sure he's having more fun...hahaha !

You have the potential, is it a goal to be World Champ?

In the future, yes, I think I need to get my shit more together !

What are your hobbies when you're not surfing?

Training training training, that's all I do at home.

Event you want to win: Eddie Aikau

Best friend: Danny Fuller

Craziest surfer on Tour: Chris Wardo ! You never know what he's gonna do the next level.

The last one:

Teamates for a drive thru and destination:

Hawaii with Occy, Bruce Irons, Danny Fulher, Kai Borg and Parko. We are good friends with Joel.

Thank you Dustin

Aloha

Interview : Johann Mouchel - Photo credit : Ross Hennings/ Oakley - Raphaël Lerévérend/ Freaksurf Mag - Photo Portrait : Sandrine Legal