Richard Mattingley is one of our favorite people in the world. Why? This guy personifies the word Stoke. He is a grom that never grew up and still loves to surf as much as when he was a kid growing up in Laguna. You cannot have contact with this guy and not experience his great love for life, people and surfing. He comes across as a really laid back easy going guy but when he gets in the water he is an absolute animal! He can ride anything but really shines on the Fish shapes and high performance boards that we make such as the Degree 33 Codfather and the Weapon Shortboard which are two of his recent favorites. Another cool thing about Rich is that he and his buddies started the annual Jesus Fish Fest event here in San Diego which has grown to a full scale surf contest now in it's fifth year. We caught up with him to learn more about his background and what he is doing today.
Homebreak:
Oak Street + Rockpile in Laguna Beach growing up
And Now Beacons in Encinitas
Years surfing: 20!
Stance: Regular
Favorite D33 Board: The Weapon.
Why do you surf?
Joy + Friendship. Nothing brings me more joy than surfing with friends. It’s for sure my favorite thing in the world. Whether its 2 foot or 12 foot, stoking out with friends in the water is unbeatable.
Peace + Faith. Surfing brings so much peace to my life. Fully disconnecting and just going for a surf is so healing. I also feel super connected to God while I surf while getting to enjoy his creation.
Favorite Surfer:
I have a couple...
Describe your style:
Goofy hahaha. I flail my arms a lot, but sometimes have moments of grace and flow. I am so frothing when I surf that I can’t seem to slow down and be relaxed. I go for everything… no matter how sketchy the section or weird the wave.
Favorite Surf Trip to memory?
Northern Baja with my Dad and Brother. We would go a ton growing up and just hunt down every nook and cranny. So many empty sessions. So many tacos. Couple times bribing cops to let us off the hook for “speeding”...
What is your favorite item you’ve bought this year?
Concert tickets to Black Keys and Modest Mouse
What is your favorite TV network?
I don’t watch TV… but reruns of Seinfeld are my jam.
You’re going to sail around the world, what’s the name of your boat?
Pray for Surf. If enough people see it...
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn't want to grow up.
What breed of dog would you be?
A lab for sure.
What gets you up in the morning?
I am super motivated by having an active and meaningful day. So purpose, friends, my wife, surf adventures…. And if that doesn't work than my dog will lick me in the face and wake me up!!
If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be and why?
Having an alarm before 6am ever. Even for dawn patrol surfs I can barely force myself up when its dark…. So ideally sleeping in a lot haha.
You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick?
Bohemian Rhapsody. Handsdown greatest sing-along of all time. Gets the crowd fired up too!
Pulling into a bomb at Blacks here in San Diego
Surfing Ponto Beach on the new EpoxySoft Poacher model
100% Stoked on Life!
Drawing a clean line in San Miguel Mexico
Having a blast in New Zealand on his Weapon Shortboard
