Kobe Hughes
Kobe Hughes is fun like how kids are supposed to be, only Kobe is 20.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Kobe has the joy and splendor and lightness and aspiration of youth that is so valuable, particularly in surfing, where a lighthearted, fun water activity can so easily grind a person down into one of those bitter locals who punches holes through boards when they get cut off. Kobe is ‘a chill ass dude’, as the kids say. All around stoked, the shaper, surfer, filmer, joker, and fuck-around-er is a pleasure to speak to and a pleasure to watch in the set. Glad to have you, Kobe.
Who are you?
Kobe Hughes, 20 years old, From Encinitas, California.
What do you do?
I don’t think I have much of a job title, so I pretty much just cruise. I’ll either be trying to find some waves, working on surfboards, or playing music with some homies.
How long have you been doing that?
Been cruising my whole life, same with surfing. Made my first surfboard a few years ago but didn’t really start doing it consistently until about 2 years ago.
What is your favourite song right now and why?
Favourite song at the moment is probably ‘Positive Reality’ by Mikey Dread. Keeps me stoked and moving at a slow pace.
If you weren’t surfing, what would you be doing?
If I wasn’t surfing, well hopefully I’d be riding some sort of board, playing music, or making something whatever it may be. Hopefully just staying creative.
Some slang you catch yourself saying? (Ie. That slaps)
I definitely have adopted some slang over my years. My dictionary includes words from pretty much everybody I surround myself with. It’s hard to think of them they usually just roll off the tongue. Crip has replaced good in my dictionary, scorched/fried/zorched, or adding an (ah) sound at the end of words like good (goo-ah) for instance. First heard that from Burch and Bryce Young on my first trip to Aus a few years ago. Correct me if wrong but I believe that was started from Jimmy Jazz.
What do you do outside of surfing and how does that thing influence or affect your craft?
Well outside of surfing, I enjoy playing the guitar and jamming with my homies. However, I like to try new things a lot and keep learning. I like to keep the list of people and things that inspire me constantly growing so I can continue to learn and find new ways to express myself either with surfing, making boards or anything.
The best/worst thing about the surfing industry?
Best thing about the surf industry is that there are a bunch of cool people you can meet and places to go because of the surf industry. I haven’t experienced much of the surf industry to be honest but maybe the worst thing in my eyes is probably how corpo things can get especially with social media. Seems like if you’re not in the top ten you gotta be selling your soul to Zuckerberg influencing or vlogging to have a carreer unless you’re just a go-at.
“Seems like if you’re not in the top ten you gotta be selling your soul to Zuckerberg influencing or vlogging to have a carreer unless you’re just a go-at.”
Something you’re most proud of?
Something I am most proud of is probably to have a part in Jack Colemans recent movie Natural High. Everybody in the movie are all pretty much heroes to me and to be included among them is super special.
Biggest lesson learned about your craft so far?
Biggest lesson I have probably learned in either surfing or making surfboards is to stay patient and take things slow because good things take time. It is better to be more precise but slower than to be fast but sloppy.
Something anyone can do today to make the world a better place?
Try and keep the footprint small, and be compassionate and selfless to others. :)
What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome so far in your industry?
Learning how to take it slow and be precise, which I still am learning how to do.
What was surprisingly easy to do?
Honestly I don’t think anything was surprisingly easy to me. I don’t think any of it is necessarily hard I find things to be more meticulous.
What advice might you give to you from five years ago? Ten years ago?
Mmm five years ago, maybe like lose the skinny jeans. Ten years, save my money.
What is your hidden talent or thing you are good at that is completely unrelated to the thing we are interviewing you about?
I’d like to think I’m alright at playing guitar and coming up with cool riffs. I feel the same way about nunchucks. Compared to a professional, i’m horrible but maybe compared to somebody who doesn’t know how - I’m good.
Who do you think is doing it the best/coolest in your industry right now?
The best/ coolest people in the surfing/surfboard industry are Balaram Stack, Noa Deane, Tosh Tudor, Ryan Burch, Derrick Disney, Bryce Young, Tom Morat, Beau Foster, Alex Lopez, Noah Collins, Frankie Harrer, Caity Simmers, shit I could go all day.
How did you get into surfing asyms?
I got into surfing asymmetrical boards because of Ryan Burch. Ryan is my uncle and growing up I looked up to him the most and still do. Being surrounded by him and seeing how interesting and expressive his board-making and surfing is was pretty much a no brainer.
Have you got a favourite board you’re riding at the moment?
Favourite board I’m riding right now I made for myself, it is a 5’2” asymmetrical fishy but shreddy little board. I been calling it the glitter stick because of my bedazzled Volcom sticker.
Reckon you’ll competition surf again or just keep doing the free surfing thing?
I enjoy fun, small local competitions. I don’t see myself ever competing seriously. I don’t tend to find drive out of competition.
What is style in surfing?
To me style in surfing is a lot like you’re personality. I think style really says a lot about a person and I find a lot of my friends having very similar personalities and traits on land as they do on waves. It is easy to find enjoyment out of good style as it is when hanging with good/cool people.
