Damian Conway was becoming a bit of regular in Carve a while back and we were more than happy to have the bouncy young Irishman gracing our pages. Then the fun loving scamp got a, little too heavily involved in the partying side of life in Eire. Hey, it happens.
Today after a concerted effort Damo in back surfing and 19 months sober. Anyone who has been hooked on the drink, or has seen someone enjoying themselves a little too much will know that is hell of a feat.
Back In Black is reference to Damien returning to his wetsuit and surfing. Damo was a really good prospect as a grom coming out of Ireland. He was supported by Nike 6.0, Rip Curl, Beach Beat and a couple of other sponsors. All of which had fell by the way side as the party scene seemed to occupy more and more of the 18 year olds spare time. He surfed as much as he could but realistically most of those sessions were either the next day after a party or just before heading off on another binge. He picked up a couple of injuries. The worst was a knee injury which really set him back physically and mentally. After attempting to juggle surfing and partying the now established fondness to drink and a dwindling interest in surfing, meant it was a rare sight to see Damo in the any line up on the west coast!
In the last 12 months Damo has gotten himself back on track. He is healthy, sober and in love with the sport that gave him so much good times! |Back in Black| goes from dark turbulent imagery to brighter scenes of him expressing himself through surfing. This is also shown through the changing face of Damien visualised throughout the edit by profile shots. The darkness to the light is a true representation of the transition Damo has endured this last year, something of which his friends and family have being very proud to see!
Reubyn Ash is Britains best aerialist and producer of some of Europe’s best hi performance clips. He has just set up a surf school in his hometown of Bude to pass on the stoke and skills… We thought we better catch up…
So what’s up. Usually around now we get a really cool Reubs Indo edit. Is it on the cards? Did you go away this winter?
I’m all good man, this winter I pretty much spent here in Cornwall which was really fun. I scored a lot of really good waves at home. It’s pretty cold back here in the winter but there’s tons of swell and some great spots to surf on most conditions. Also it’s great to score great waves with very few people around which makes a change. I did also a trip to Ireland on a big swell and that was amazing… apart from being scared out of my mind ha ha ha! Most of the time it was huge, but I also got some great barrels and some fun turn waves too.
Just after Christmas my bro, sister and I went to Bali for a few weeks which was a good little break to get some sun and some Indo quality waves. I made a little edit from on YouTube, check it out if you get a chance and I also made an edit from here in the U.K. With my friend Olly on Vimeo.
I see you just qualified as a surf instructor? What is the plan?
Yeah I just set up my surf school as a way to make money so I can still fund my surfing career. These days I don’t get the support I used to have. Anyway I plan to do a good job for anyone that wants to learn as a beginner or for the up and coming stars that my need some fine tuning with technique and fitness training through video analysis and other forms of methods that I’m using myself.
Winter at home is not so bad…
And comps wise? What are your plans for the next year?
Comps wise I’m just doing what I can afford to get to at the moment.
Got any other trips lined up?
If I can make some money this summer I’ll be stoked to get away some where.
Have you go a website? or do people just hit you up the phone?
Another excellent surf film by the talented Eddie Obrand
What is the legend of the enchanted Pedro’s Bay?
A secret whispered from one to the next. Somewhere on an island far, far away is a parallel life on a forgotten beach—with emerald waves and mushroom forests. Where toucans talk and trees grow full of fruit. Where wine trickles off rocks and mermaid lagoons meet black jungles.
The sun shines here everyday.
What is the power behind this strange book? Where is Pedro’s Bay?
Can this magical Earth potion possibly exist?
Join one brave traveler as he sets out on an extraordinary journey to discover the holy grail of paradise.
Ellie Turner has ended up runner up at this weekends European Pro Junior, securing her spot in the WSL Pro Junior International Final in Australia next January.
Ellie finished second to Frances Neis Lartigue, but earned enough points to compete with the worlds best in 2018. Ellie Turner finally caught one of the best looking waves of the final scoring an 8.00, and only needed an average score to take the lead again and win the event but i failed to materialise.
It’s been a busy year for Ellie competing at the World Championships in Biarritz, attending the International Rip Curl Grom Search Finals in Brazil. Not counting all her victories in the events she has entered this year back home.
But no matter how busy she is, Ellie and her family always manage to squeeze in an extended spell in Indonesia each year.
“I’ve been going to Indo for as long as I can remember really. Most winters we get there. It’s good to escape the cold of Europe for some time. We do it as a full family trip normally. I love going mostly because the waves are super fun and there’s always a number of perfect days each trip. It seems like there’s more power than at home in the UK and there’s a lot of good surfers and that all helps trying to improve.”
“We tend to do a fair bit of searching and moving around. Some small spells in Bali but mostly hunting out more quiet islands and spots. My favourite bit of this trip was going up to Simelue and staying a the Mahi Mahi camp. It’s a super friendly resort with buffalo’s walking along the beach and straight out front there’s an amazing peak.”
The enticing, yet fickle beast that is Puerto Escondido. Never has the divide between ride or beating of your life been so thin.
Starring: Greg Long, Tom Lowe, Pedro Scooby, Red Dog, Ryan Seelbach, Nahuel Amalfitano, Angelo Lozano, Mikey O’Shauhnessy, Sebastian Gomez, Raul Suinaga & Owen Schultz.
