Matt Meola
Sponsors: O'Neill, Ocean Minded, Dakine, Kaenon Polarized
Live: Kuau and Haiku, Maui
Matt Meola is from Maui and has a freakish talent for crazy turns. He surfs lightning fast and is always flinging his tail and the word "conservative" is not in his vocabulary. He is young, hungry and making a name for himself when it comes to pushing the envelope.
His strongest suit is his crazy ability to always land on his feet. In 2009 he posted a prefect ten at the Arnette Pro Junior held at 56th Street Newport Beach with a huge tail blow air reverse on a solid wave. He has been cracking quarter finals in the Pro Juniors and also pulled off one of the meanest backside air reverses in the Volcom Championships awarding him the Hill Billy Stomp award. Although he likes to compete and is something he enjoys, his main focus will be capturing his surfing on film and showcasing it to the world.
2009 was a break out year for Matt. He had the second most views on Surfermag.com with a incredible segment which him and video photographers Elliot Leboe and Marlon Lewis worked on and paid off handsomely. The video clip was an announcement to the surf world that there is another freak coming out of Maui. The video shot through the internet like a meteor and even caught the attention of the New York Times. The article features the new guard of progressive surfers and Matt is in the same conversation as Jordy Smith and Dane Reynolds.
2010 will be an exciting year for Matt where he will continue to build sick clips and more importantly travel to great locations building on this talent and momentum.
Favorite waves: Ho'okipa, Windmills
Crew you surf with: Kai Barger, Albee Layer, Billy Kemper, Marlon Lewis, Buzzy Statner, Dege O'Connell
Favorite movies: Stepbrothers and Stranger Than Fiction
Music: The Game, Lil Wayne
Grinds: Fish that I catch and Kuau Mart Shoyu Chicken
Readings: my email
Travels: Indo, Nicaragua, Mexico, Cali
Goals for 2010: Travel filmfilm, and shoot.
Other interests: Spear Fishing, Playing my Guitar
Introducing Maui Ripper Matt Meola
If you don’t know the name Matt Meola, you soon will. Matt has been turning heads on a consistent basis and has a HUGE future ahead of him. Don’t believe us…this video will change your opinion.
Introducing Maui Ripper Matt Meola
If you don't know the name Matt Meola, you soon will. Matt has been turning heads on a consistent basis and has a HUGE future ahead of him. Don't believe us…this video will change your opinion.
1. Most embarrassing moment?
I was dancing naked on top of a hill in the middle of nowhere and my friend ended up filming me without me knowing. The next thing I knew, everyone had the footage and they were showing it to everyone they knew.
2. Favorite quote?
Get Rich or die trying
3. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla
4. Glass on fins or fin systems? Why?
Doesn't matter to me. Fin systems are easy for traveling though.
5. Favorite surf destination and wave?
Home. The Mill and Hookipa
6. Favorite maneuver?
Cockroach
7. Celebrity crush?
Olga Kurylenko
8. What's in your traveling quiver?
Two 5'9 1/2s
9. Status (Married, single, whatever?)
Single
10. Favorite website?
Surfline
11. Sounds?
Britney Spears
12. Biggest influence in your life?
Bums
13. Favorite Surfers?
All of my friends cause they rip.
14. What traits in the opposite sex are most attractive?
All girls are annoying
15. Worst wipeout?
It's a toss up between tearing my leg open on a two footer and trying trying an air and landing face first on my board -- I bit a huge chunk out of my board, cut up my mouth and got a minor concussion. I had wax and fiberglass stuck in between all of my teeth.
16. Words to live by?
Do unto others as you would like others to do to you.