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Beyrick de Vries recently embarked on a surfing trip to the East Coast of South Africa with some close friends. Dane Staples was on hand to film the epicness and put together the killer edit Happy Daze. We hooked up an interview with Beyrick to talk about the video and his 2014 season, see what he had to say and watch Happy Daze right here:
The video:
The interview:
Tell us how your recent trip to the East Coast of SA and the Happy Daze edit came about?
Being at home for over a month is a very rare occurrence with my QS (Qualifying series) contest schedule, so when I saw the epic swell forecast for Ponta do Ouro, I knew there was going to be incredible waves and I had to be a part of it. That’s really where the name of the edit came from. A last minute decision to drop everything and go, and arriving to 8 foot all time Mozambiquean waves, ending off the day with cold beers on the beach, thus “Happy Daze” was born.
How much surfing did you get in during the 2 week trip?
The perfect waves continued for about 5 days non-stop until finally we had to head home, only to find a clean south swell lighting up the KZN coastline, offering even more perfect waves, not as big but perfect none the less. That’s where the remainder of the edit was shot.
Which spots turned out to be your favourite and why?
Ponta in Mozambique will forever be my happy place and favourite spot.
What were some of the memorable moments of the trip?
The most memorable moments of the trip were definitely whilst paddling back out and seeing my best friends having the time of their life, getting the waves of their lives and the overall “stoked” atmosphere that came with it.
Who else joined you on the trip and who shredded the hardest?
When the swell and wind forecast is looking god for Ponta a whole bunch of surfers are to be expected, generally from Durban as its only a 5 hour drive but the surfers that we drove up and stayed with consisted of Chris Leppan, Mathew Moon, Simon Fish, Ross and Steve Mcmuffin as well as the extremely talented surf filmer/ videographer Dane Staples. Chris Leppan was the stand-out surfer of the trip for me.
If you could choose anywhere in the world to go on a surf trip and with any surfers, where would you go and who would you take with?
If I could go anywhere with anyone I would go to Teahupoo in Tahiti with my surf friends Chris Leppan, Dale Staples together with the late Andy Irons to inspire us in the life and death situations the reef would put us in, and the trip would be filmed and edited by Dane Staples.
What upcoming surf trips do you have planned?
The free-surf trips are on hold at the moment as I am preparing myself for the first Prime event of 2014 which will be held in Saquarema, RIO, Brazil.
What contest during the rest of the 2014 season are you looking forward to competing in?
I would say the contest I most look forward to in the year is the Mr. Price Pro Ballito because its home soil but I am really looking forward to the next Hawaii season. I really enjoy it there.
Have you got any new manoeuvres that you’re working on that you will be throwing into the mix during the contests?
I wouldn’t say I am working on new manoeuvres but more trying to perfect the ones I already know in order to make my success rate of landing them higher.
How do you make sure you keep progressing to keep yourself on top form?
The best way for me to keep progressing is to continually be watching the best surfers in the world and trying to be as good or preferably better than them. I guess that’s the only way to get to the top.
What are your goals for the remainder of the 2014 season?
My short term goal is to win the Mr. Price Pro as well as to accumulate as many points as possible throughout the year in hope of cracking the top 10 on the QS which would cement a spot on the 2015 World Tour Season.
Any shout-outs?
The only shout-out I have is to my Glorious mother who has sacrificed so much to see me achieve my goals and dreams. I can’t thank you enough.
