Après Bob Kithcart c'est au tour d'un autre californien de 24 ans, Trevor Solberg, de répondre aux mêmes questions. Discret et passionné depuis quelques années par le DK grâce encore une fois à Paul Roach entre autres, il travaille comme manutentionnaire dans une entreprise de produits chimique et réside vers les terres entre San Diego et Oceanside. Dans ses réponses, le ressenti d'une glisse qui s'estompe un peu; réservée à un noyau de puristes. Au milieu de l'itw il évoque son expérience intéressante avec le "Vektor fin System", qu'il perçoit comme le futur du Drop Knee:
When and how did you come to bodyboard?
From the age of so to sixteen, I grew up in Wisconsin, a place that has probably never heard of bodyboarding. Every summer, I would fly out to California to visit my dad. I would spend all of my time at the beach because we didn't have anything really like that where I was from. I couldn't stay out I the ocean. During those summers, I tried my hand at surfing because that's what everyone in California seemed to do. I never really cared for it but still had fun. In 2006, I decided to move out to California. I immediately started bodyboarding, and instantly got wrapped up in the bodyboard world. About a year later, I started to drop knee and now am hooked.
Where do you live in cali?
I currently live in San Marcos, California
Which type of spots do you surfe most of the time?
find myself at beach breaks or small reefs. Most breaks near me are beach breaks, which is why I surf them mostly. I like beach breaks because they have a lot of power which I feel is one of the key components to drop knee. The reefs around here can also be very good. They usually have much better shape than our beach breaks but don't always have the same power.
Can you describe the dk scene today in cali?
The drop knee scene in California has definitely changed. When I first got into drop knee, California had Roach and the best in the west contest and you would run into other dk guys all over. Today it seems like drop knee has started falling off the map in California. I hardly see other drop knee guys in the water. The contests have slowed down. Everything drop knee seems to be on the back burner of the bodyboarding world. It nice seeing the little glimmers of hope for drop knee like dropknee magazine and dk wars.
Here in france many bodyboarders has always seen california as certainly one of the best dk riders nation; do you think this is due to cali waves which are sometimes really well configured for drop knee?
The waves her can definitely draw people. I met two really good friend from Italy here in California because the waves drew them here. The waves in California can definitely get really good, however, we get our flat spells. The past few years have certainly seen their share I flat spells. Weeks on end with nothing over knee high doesn't provide much opportunity. At the same time, we can have runs for weeks where it's perfect. Mix in the variety of waves California has to offer from mutants like the wedge to perfect beach breaks and fun reefs to reeling point breaks. California has a lot to offer travelers if they are lucky enough to come during a swell. Because of the variety, it has a lot to offer dropknee. You can have powerful, steep, punchy shore break or a long reeling waves that allows you to throw a dozen snaps. It really depends on the swell and the conditions. Because it's always changing, it forces you to adapt to the waves which is why I think a lot of the guys around here could do really well on the world tour. California has the potential to produce world class riders and because of that, a lot of people are drawn to the waves around here.
Are you are part of dk wars?
I have had the pleasure of competing in DK wars. I competed in the second DK wars at salt creek, traveled to Hawaii for the third at off the wall, and competed in Buds DK wars salt creek. I think what Taloa started for drop knee is amazing. It's great seeing a bunch of guys out in the water all DK. It's always a great vibe with everyone cheering for each other and everyone pushing themselves and the sport. It's definitely helping to breathe life back into drop knee. Hopefully with the continued success of DK wars more events an support will flow into the dropknee community and allow guys to go further with what they love to do and prevent dropknee from becoming something of the past.
Wich template and core do you like to surf? do you use different boards depending surfing conditions?
I have ridden a lot of boards in the few years I have been dropkneeing. I've ridden the Nomad Lackey, Turbo Rose, Elemenohpee Bud, Cartel Roach, Cartel Machete, and others. There were certain aspects from each board that I liked and didn't like. From all I the experimenting with the different boards, I mixed the aspects that I liked and created my own shape. I currently ride a custom mixture of the Cartel Machete, Turbo Rose and Nomad Lackey with a Polypro core. I recently was picked up by Vektor and have began riding my boards with the Vektor fin system. The system is next level. That is undoubtably the future of drop knee. I was hesitant about trying the fins at first, but the control and speed provided by having the fin system is mind blowing. If stuck more, gnarlier floaters and air in the past few months than I have the entire time I've know how to dropknee. I've been able to confidently charge steeper waves because I know the fins will keep me securely in place. Vektor is definitely something everyone serious about taking their riding to the next level should consider from here on out. I do have different boards for different waves. I have junk board for those gnarly shorebreak days when I know something will probably break. I have a 44" triad bud model for the smaller days when I need more foam. I have a customer made for bigger days but also works for faster waves and lastly I have a board for more normal days.
Travels to come?
I have a lot of travel plans. I plan on doing a lot of traveling to central and Northern California this winter to paddle out with friends in the big winter swells they get up there. I'm planning a tip to Hawaii next February for a few weeks and also a trip to Mexico next summer. I'm working on planning a few trips in the years to come. I shooting for the pacific islands like Fiji or Bali and also to Australia.
Thanks Trevor!
