Second Chances with Nate Yeomans

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Nate Yeomans was "this close" to accepting a job in the surf industry this January. He was "this close" to accepting the fact his career as a pro surfer was coming to an end. After more than four years without a major sponsor and funding his own way around the world, he just didn't see things coming together. But he was fine with it. But then came the O'Neill Cold Water Classic. His last shot at extending his pro career. Of course he would have to win the event to make that happen, but it was worth a shot. And so he traveled to Santa Cruz, made some heats and found himself in the final. And won!! We caught up with Nate a couple days ago on the North Shore as he was taking out the trash where he's staying at the Pagan Family estate across the street from Log Cabins. To say he's stoked might be an understatement. G+J interviews…

Ghetto Juice: You've been making the pilgimage to the North Shore since you were a grom. What pumps you up about going to Hawaii every year?
Nate Yeomans: I think everything. The waves, the people, the lifestyle, the temperature, the warmth of the water, the surfing that's going on, hanging out in board shorts, riding your bike down the path, the waves that are produced, and when it's small going for a swim when the water's crystal clear … the local guys and seeing how they approach the waves…. seeing all that. It's a really simple, pure lifestyle and being able to soak that in for a month every year is awesome. You know, it can be as scary as s#!t to super fun rippable to everything in between. It's pretty damn rad.

G+J: Do you still get scared sometimes?
N+Y: (Laughs) Yeah, pretty much anytime the buoys are 9 feet or bigger at 12 seconds it's scary to some degree. When it's larger it gets, well, yeah, it gets scary. I like it. It's a good thing but it's different than San Clemente, that's for sure. I like charging situations though.

G+J: Speaking of charging situations. Congrats on the recent birth of your son!
N+Y: Thanks. Yeah, it's insane. A week ago Monday. A little boy. We didn't know either, before he made his appearance, so it was a total surprise, which was insane because we've got a little girl and now we've got the little boy. Life's good.

G+J: Things are looking up for you right now, big time, yeah?
N+Y: Yeah, some exciting things that happened for sure.

G+J: So you took out the O'Neill Cold Water Classic, that's huge!
N+Y: Yeah, it's insane. It was such an awesome thing and almost took me awhile to accept it, or realize it. I was like wow, okay, did that really just happen?? I'm part of a great team, a great company and I'm so stoked. I got an extension. Another opportunity and I'm not going to waste it, I'll tell you that. I'm so fired up! I've got a second wind and a whole 'nother year to go for it again!

G+J: Biut what if you didn't win that contest. What path would you be taking right now heading into 2015 without a major sponsor?
N+Y: Well I'd been trying to hook up with different companies and wasn't getting too much excitement, just trying to figure out if that was still feasible, and it seemed like that wasn't really working out. So I was actually kind of working toward starting a sales rep job in January. My plan before going up to Santa Cruz was to go up there and have fun, and whatever happens is meant to be. I didn't make it to the Haleiwa event because my little son was being born but my plan was to go do Haleiwa and Sunset and that was probably going to be it as far as surfing contests and living the life of a pro surfer.

STAY TUNED TO GHETTO JUICE ISSUE #33 HITTING IN DECEMBER FOR THE REST OF THIS AMAZING INTERVIEW WITH THE GREAT NATE YEOMANS.


Posted by: Ghetto JuiceGhetto Juice at: 25 Nov 2014 18:02




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Nate Yeomans was "this close" to accepting a job in the surf industry this January. He was "this close" to accepting the fact his career as a pro surfer was coming to an end. After more than four years without a major sponsor and funding his own way around the world, he just didn't see things coming together. But he was fine with it. But then came the O'Neill Cold Water Classic. His last shot at extending his pro career. Of course he would have to win the event to make that happen, but it was worth a shot. And so he traveled to Santa Cruz, made some heats and found himself in the final. And won!! We caught up with Nate a couple days ago on the North Shore as he was taking out the trash where he's staying at the Pagan Family estate across the street from Log Cabins. To say he's stoked might be an understatement. G+J interviews…

Ghetto Juice: You've been making the pilgimage to the North Shore since you were a grom. What pumps you up about going to Hawaii every year?
Nate Yeomans: I think everything. The waves, the people, the lifestyle, the temperature, the warmth of the water, the surfing that's going on, hanging out in board shorts, riding your bike down the path, the waves that are produced, and when it's small going for a swim when the water's crystal clear … the local guys and seeing how they approach the waves…. seeing all that. It's a really simple, pure lifestyle and being able to soak that in for a month every year is awesome. You know, it can be as scary as s#!t to super fun rippable to everything in between. It's pretty damn rad.

G+J: Do you still get scared sometimes?
N+Y: (Laughs) Yeah, pretty much anytime the buoys are 9 feet or bigger at 12 seconds it's scary to some degree. When it's larger it gets, well, yeah, it gets scary. I like it. It's a good thing but it's different than San Clemente, that's for sure. I like charging situations though.

G+J: Speaking of charging situations. Congrats on the recent birth of your son!
N+Y: Thanks. Yeah, it's insane. A week ago Monday. A little boy. We didn't know either, before he made his appearance, so it was a total surprise, which was insane because we've got a little girl and now we've got the little boy. Life's good.

G+J: Things are looking up for you right now, big time, yeah?
N+Y: Yeah, some exciting things that happened for sure.

G+J: So you took out the O'Neill Cold Water Classic, that's huge!
N+Y: Yeah, it's insane. It was such an awesome thing and almost took me awhile to accept it, or realize it. I was like wow, okay, did that really just happen?? I'm part of a great team, a great company and I'm so stoked. I got an extension. Another opportunity and I'm not going to waste it, I'll tell you that. I'm so fired up! I've got a second wind and a whole 'nother year to go for it again!

G+J: Biut what if you didn't win that contest. What path would you be taking right now heading into 2015 without a major sponsor?
N+Y: Well I'd been trying to hook up with different companies and wasn't getting too much excitement, just trying to figure out if that was still feasible, and it seemed like that wasn't really working out. So I was actually kind of working toward starting a sales rep job in January. My plan before going up to Santa Cruz was to go up there and have fun, and whatever happens is meant to be. I didn't make it to the Haleiwa event because my little son was being born but my plan was to go do Haleiwa and Sunset and that was probably going to be it as far as surfing contests and living the life of a pro surfer.

STAY TUNED TO GHETTO JUICE ISSUE #33 HITTING IN DECEMBER FOR THE REST OF THIS AMAZING INTERVIEW WITH THE GREAT NATE YEOMANS.

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