Wave-riding legend Robby Naish turns 50 on April 23 and we had a chat about kids, SUP and BBQs...

Could you try to put into words what the ocean means to you?
When boardriding, it’s probably the sense of walking on water to a degree, and the freedom that comes with it is very unique. It’s just you and nature… no motors, no lifts.

You became a father at age 18 and you also used to be a babysitter as a teenager. Are you easy around kids and what does their presence do to you?
I do like kids, though I am not really the world’s most patient person. I love to hang out with young people, and most of my friends are not quite my age…

You are known as one of the advocates of stand-up paddling. Were you hooked the first time you tried it yourself or did it take a while to grow on you?
It took a little while. Initially SUP started out with a few guys taking paddles out on their 12 footers. I made a couple of 12 footers that I was surfing with, and tried paddling early on but did not get too thrilled by it. In the beginning the SUP thing was more of a novelty than anything. Slowly a few more guys began to get into it, and here on the North Shore of Maui the “downwinder” began.

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