Check out Dylan's interview on the following link:

http://www.zigzag.co.za/features/exclusives/8050/Dropping-in-on:-Dylan-Lightfoot

(if u can't read the interview below clink on the link above:)

There's a new kid on the block, or so it seems, with his name popping up consistently on the pointy end of junior contest heat draws both locally, and internationally. 16 Year-old J-Bay shredder Dylan Lightfoot has had a consistent year in the junior ranks, with the high point of his year probably coming when he placed second in the U16 division at the ISA World Junior Champs in Peru, held in May this year. He's giving a lot of the older guys some competition by making numerous Pro Junior finals, and he's been selected to represent the SA team again, this time in the Pro Junior division, and the grom is pumped. We caught up with the on-the-rise natural footer to talk about his successful year so far...

Zigzag: Howzit Dyl, let's start with the important question. We've noticed you've had some big results this year. What would you say has attributed to this?
Dylan: Thanks bru, well I've got an amazing coach, Graham Hynes, who I train with three times a week. I have been surfing a lot more and I've really been pushing myself and loving it. I have a personal trainer who I work with twice a week in our local gym. I've been focussing on getting dialed into my surfboards with my shaper and my father, who has played an important role in my surfing career so far. Then I also have to attribute a lot of my success to having Fox as a sponsor, they are committed to helping me achieve my goals. All these things have collectively played a part in my achievements so far.

You seem to thrive on competition. Why is this so?
I have always had this competitive nature that makes me thrive on competing and constantly bettering my performance. I suppose it is in the genes, for me winning is a great feeling, but it all comes down to getting that kick out of surfing a wave to its absolute best.

Your surfing has improved a lot this year. More rail in the water during your turns, smoother style and it keeps getting better. Who or what has been helping you with that?
Definitely Graham Hynes has played a huge role in that aspect. He is always telling me, "Rail-to-rail, hard off the bottom, hard off the top, Combination, Variation..."

Graham has been preaching that for years, and it still works. Anyways, seeing young guys like Gabriel Medina and John Florence qualify for the World Tour, how does this make you feel?
Those two surfers have blown my mind watching them live. From John John charging Ballito this year at the Mr Price Pro at solid 10 to 15-foot, and Gabriel Medina with his explosive aerial approach in the ISA World Junior Champs 2010. It has definitely made me realize I must compete harder and have a more balls-to-the-wall approach.

What do you feel you still need to work on with regards to your surfing to become the complete package?
Well I believe that there is always room for improvement in every aspect of my surfing, but the progressive side of surfing when putting down combos is a side that needs improvement. Coming from a hometown where perfect right handers are directly in front of my doorstep, my backhand surfing is always bugging me. But I enjoy surfing backhand which gives me confidence to surf my best in contests.

You've been doing good in those so far this year. What would you say are your surfing strengths?
Hollow pointbreaks with huge walls. Carving and tearing up an open face gets me super amped, same as with a little beach breaks with peaky aerial sections, I feel those are the two bests.

You've just qualified for the U20 Springbok team to compete at World Games. You pumped?
Super Pumped! Bali and Brazil are two places I have dreamt of going to! I was fortunate to go to Australia last year and I am very excited to go back there for the third time.

You'll be surfing against some of the best U20 surfers in the world. Nobody goes to a contest not expecting to win the whole thing, but what kind of a result will you be satisfied with at the end of the day?
I am only 16 so it’s a learning curve but at the same time there is no pressure, so I am going all out and taking it heat by heat which will hopefully take me to the top.

What is your favourite thing about surfing right now?
I love getting barreled on those clean glassy days! There is nothing better than taking off on a solid wave and getting so deep that the foam ball starts to hit your tail and then getting spat out - That same sort of feeling when riding a perfect wave to its absolute full potential

Have you planned ahead at all with regards to a surfing career? A five year plan perhaps?
I want to win the U18 ISA World Games, then I want to win the Pro Junior world title, or to place in the top four in my last couple of years in the Pro Juniors. Then I plan to get onto the World Qualifying Series and get my points up, and hopefully make it onto the world tour within a five year period.

Does anything distract you from your surfing goals?
Maybe a week of onshore, the odd girlfriend, Nah not really, I start doubting myself a bit when I have had bad results, but realise it's all part of the learning curve and thankfully I haven’t had many bad results this year.

Who do you look up to the most, in surfing and in life?
Kelly Slater with his humble attitude towards his achievements over the years. My parents who give 100% to all they do, and Graham Hynes who at 80 plus runs up and down the beach like a teenager.

I've seen you go hell for leather on a dirtbike, no fear... You still ride much?
Unfortunately I haven’t been riding much lately, but when it comes to my motorbike there is no holding back for me, so my bike can become a bit dangerous as my dad points out to me every time I go for a ride.

You guys have been getting some incredible waves lately in J-Bay, which we're terribly jealous about. Any days in particular stand out in your mind?
Well the Xcel Showdown was a day with incredible waves and that stands out as one of the highlights of the year, but for me the days that you least expect to have amazing surf are when I have my best sessions.

Dylan and his dad in Peru, where he earned a silver medal at the ISA World Junior Champs.

Who do you surf with mostly, and who pushes you to surf better?
I surf everywhere each day, so I am surfing with new people, but some mornings I train and I surf with my mates and old man who push me a lot. But I would have to say my coach Graham Hynes pushes me the most.

Lastly, who is the best surfer in the world?
KELLY SLATER definitely, a person who is the most consistent and has the most fun. He is the man no doubt. But my favorite surfer is Mick Fanning who trains non-stop, surfs incredibly smooth, lightning fast and when he puts on that contest vest his facial expressions indicates he means business!

Shot Dyl, go give 'em hell at World Games.
Thanks bru, will give it my best.

GERAGHTY TEAM RIDER : DYLAN LIGHTFOOT:

Runner-up in the U16 division, by the smallest of margins (0.06) at the recent World Surfing Games in Peru:

WELL DONE DYLAN !!!!

(Dylan was riding his favourite: 5'9 x 18 1/4" x 2 1/16" r-sq tail with 4 way fin system)

Lluwellyn Whittaker, i highly respect surfer and surfing coach from Waves School of Surfing (based in Mossel Bay) has just joined the Geraghty Surfboard team officially!

For me personally working with surfers who share the same passion and vision for progress is what inspires me to get surfers like Lu onboard!

Our very best wishes got to Lluwellyn and Dylan Lightfoot ( both riding Geraghty's) at the upcoming World Games in peru ...

this was from

Lluwellyn's blog on www.wavesschoolofsurfing.com

http://www.wavesschoolofsurfing.com/more.php?show=news&id=52&headline=Geraghty+Shapes

This board flies!!!

Dean Geraghty Surfboards

 

 

Have you ever had one of those boards that you jump on and from the very first wave it goes? Well, my latest Dean Geraghty  is exactly one of those. It’s like a freaking flying carpet under my feet.

I am the type of person that likes to stick to what works; however in this case I decided to follow the masses and get myself a short, stubby pig type board.

So I chatted to Dean and ordered a 5'8 x 19 x 2 5/16, very different to my normal board so it was to my surprise that the board went so well from wave one.

I was totally blown away by how much drive I was getting from the board especially in flat sections. The way that speed, too, maintained when cutting back towards the white water and how the board continued with speed up the face of the wave.

This was the kind of board I was looking for; a board that I could put in any part of the wave I wanted to, the type of board that would also allow me to go for more futuristic turns.

I think that part of the success of this board is the 4 way fin system. At first I was a bit skeptical. Being a Virgo I don’t need more options  - that will usually just confuse me. I decided anyway to give them a go as Dean had an idea as to how we should set the fins up to make it a magic board.

It ended up being very simple. In fact, we put two monstrous outside glass fibre fins with a smaller middle plastic fin. This combination worked like a dream and only after I had all three large fins in place.

The board is of superior quality with the X-tra foam blank and solid but light glassing, Dean promises me that’s it not a one off and that every board will be a magic one. If you’re looking to invest in a new stick then you should definitely try one of his PIG models. Please tell him you ordered the board after reading this and I’m sure he’ll make a special point of ensuring it works for you, too!

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