In it for the long haul - the Teddy Navarro Interview
Ted the Shred Navarro, one of the hardest working pros in the business, dropped by the office to give us some face time. If you’re a young surfer who lives miles from the ocean, you’ll be happy to know that Teddy is originally from Whittier, CA which is at least an hour from the coast! Teddy has proved that if you work hard, want it bad enough, and shred good enough, you too can make it as a pro. Of course, Teddy now lives in HB and shreds the pier daily when he’s not competing in contests or traveling the globe. Here’s a look into Shreddy’s world.
Freestyle: T-Nav’s, Ted the Shred, Shreddy, and the list goes on. What’s your favorite nickname?
Teddy: I prefer Shred Doctor, Yeoman’s calls me that.
Freestyle: You’ve been at the pro surfing game for a long time, how’s the ride?
Teddy: Ups and downs, stagnate at times, but bottom line is you get what you put into it, so I been putting in a lot.
Freestyle: You’ve been a busy lately, we heard you’ve been collecting some hardware?
Teddy: F-ya! I just pulled three 2nd’s in a row, then a first round clown, then refocused and won the Switchfoot Bro-Am with Team Reef, and backed it up with a win at the SunDiego Pro/Am Championship Event. 3-Grand deep! I raked in about $6,600 from the SunDiego contests this year, got to love it!
Freestyle: So now that you got some fresh cash in your pocket, you got any plans?
Teddy: Costa Rica tomorrow, then to Teahupoo for round 2 at the end of July. I surfed the pre-trials swell this year, so I want to go back and get some big deep barrels! I’m just trying to keep up with Nic Lamb, even though he’s younger than me.
Freestyle: What do you think about Kelly Slater dominating the World Tour…again?
Teddy: Old Guys Rule!
Freestyle: So who is currently supporting the Teddy Navarro Freedom Fund?
Teddy: Freestyle of course, Reef thanks Nutty, Hoven Sunglasses, and Katin Surf Shop.
Freestyle: When you are not shredding, what do you do with your time?
Teddy: Nothing, I’m always shredding!
Freestyle: Do you see any local HB groms stepping it up, you know, trying to take your pro surfer job?
Teddy: Ya, there’s a couple, but they got to get their heads straight first. Once they snap out of it, I’ll be out of a job. By then I’ll be looking for a Team Manager Position – you know…Coach Shreddy!
Freestyle: Right on Teddy, thanks for the knowledge, any last words for the people?
Teddy: Never say quit!
