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Interview with Pro Rider Chase Hazen
Discovery Bay, California, USA January 28th 2011
Wakesurfers.net caught up with Shred Stixx Teamrider Chaze Hazen to talk about how he got into wakesurfing, new tricks and how the sport is progressing.
AGE: 20
HOMETOWN: Discovery Bay, California, USA
HIGHLIGHTS: Vice-world champion (surf division) 2010, 1. Place Ohio Nationals 2009 (were I landed the first pop shuv on a real surf style), 1. Place King of the Lake 2009
SPONSORS: ShredStixx, slayshTank, Futures Fins, Freestyle and Prolite
STANCE: Regular
STYLE: Surfstyle
WS: Hey Chase it's a blast to have you on Wakesurfers.net. How are things?
CH: What’s up guys, thanks for having me! Things are good, just been spending a lot of time at the beach trying to surf as much as possible before the wakesurf season starts up!
WS: So when did you start wakesurfing?
CH: I started wakesurfing in 2002 on the delta in my hometown. I started ocean surfing a couple years before
in 2000. It was funny, I heard about a guy down the street from my house that made surfboards. I went over to this guys house knocked on the door and met Jerry Price. At that time I had only heard about wakesurfing and was really stoked to figure out if I could surf without the ocean. I ended up buying a board from jerry with some money I saved from mowing lawns and that was it. From that moment on jerry started taking me out on the boat, teaching me how to wakesurf, and showing me what good style and power was about.
CH: Wakesurfing has progressed tremendously since 2002 when I started with Shred Stixx. I remember going to boat shows with jerry and people couldn’t figure out why we had surfboards at a boat show. Everyone just kind of laughed as they walked by now every major wakeboard company sells a wake surf/skim board.
The level of riding as taken off too, I remember if you could do a 360° you’d win the contest now that’s a entry level maneuver.
WS: In what direction would you like wakesurfing to evolve?
CH: I’m all about progression, doing everything higher, smoother, more consistent and doing maneuvers with more power and style. The wakes behind a few of theses boats today are very good, and are making it possible to take wakesurfing to the next level. I get so stoked to ride with the Wheelhouses, that Malibu 247 they have throws the biggest, steepest, nastiest wake I’ve ridden. A wake like that is going to help evolve wakesurfing in the right diretion.
WS: Tell us something about the new Hazen Model from Shred Stixx coming out this season.
CH: The new Hazen model is insane!! It is basically the same concept as last years but is tweaked in a few places, and has been greatly fined tuned. Thanks to the help of our great shaper Nick and my feedback, the 2011 Hazen model is the best board I’ve ever ridden. The thing looks like a rocket ship and it fly’s like on too, as far as pop goes I don’t think any board can compare.
CH: I don’t like to call tricks before they’ve been done but I’m always working on a few things. Hopefully this year you can look forward to full rotation air reverse’s and if you get lucky maybe a big spin here or there haha.
WS: What motivates you to keep riding and progressing?
CH: My motivation comes from my love for surfing. Even if there were no contest or ShredStixx or slayshTank and all these opportunities I would still be in the water as much as possible. Simply because I enjoy it, and I couldn’t picture life without it.
WS: Where is your favorite place to ride, and why?
CH: Favorite place to ride will always be Discovery Bay, CA, on the delta. It’s my home spot and one of the best kept secrets in the world. The riding is awesome and most of the time it’s glass. There are hundreds of miles of waterways and canals so you can always find a good spot to ride.
WS: What are your doing when you're not wakesurfing?
CH: When I’m not wakesurfing I’m surfing, skating or wakeskating. I spend the winters back home in Northern California where we have some great waves!
WS: What kind of music are you listening to at the moment?
CH: I listen to bit of everything but right now on the iPod I got a bunch of Steel Pulse, that new lil wayne CD, the new Roots Album (which is really good), and my bro and slayshTank wakeskater Collin G.
WS: Where do you see yourself within the wakesurfing industry in 10 years?
CH: That’s a tough one, well see how wakesurfing progresses over the years. I definitely want to play a big role in ShredStixx and slayshTank. I really believe that wakesurfing has the potential to become the biggest behind the boat sport ever. If that happens who knows were ill be, I’m just going with the flow and seeing were life takes me.
WS: Which Event are you most looking forward to in 2011?
CH: I’m actually really looking forward to the world championships. I’ve never won that contest for some reason, I decided that my new years resolution is to win my first world title. Also I heard that there might be a ShredStixx slayshTank contest coming this spring, which should be a really fun contest.
WS: What's one of your greatest memories from your wakesurfing trips?
CH: Theses trips that I get to go on are all amazing. I get to meet the coolest people everywhere I go, and experience all these different countries.
This last summer I got to wakesurf in front of the Red Square in Moscow, which was insane. Traveling your always doing something and going somewhere. Sometimes you don’t really take it all in, riding in front of the square was one of those moments you take a look around and just say…wow!
WS: Any chance that we will see you coming to next years wake surf festival in switzerland?
CH: I would be stoked to come over and ride in the festival! I’ve heard great things about that contest, and I love coming to Switzerland. I’m definitely going to be in Europe this summer and planning on traveling around and doing lessons and demos. If any one is interested in booking lessons or demos send me an email at chase@shredstixx.com
WS: Anyone out there you want to say hello to?
CH: Yeah, want to give a big thanks to Jerry Price for making all of this possible without him I don’t know were
I would be. Also want to say what’s up to all the boys at ShredStixx and slayshTank and our crew of shredders!
WS: Thanks Chase, for your time and talking to Wakesurfers.net. Hope to see you soon back in Zurich.
CH: For sure!! Thanks for the interview, see you guys soon!
Interview: Wakesurfers.net Photos: Mike Shore, Ryan Slack, Aj Aguirre & Vsevolod Vlasenko
THE PROGRESSION OF WAKESURFING WITH CHASE HAZEN
 | July 11, 2011 2011 Supreme West Coast Wakesurf Open: Results |
 | June 20, 2011 Shreddin Switzerland with Chase Hazen |
 | April 29, 2011 Interview with five-time World Wakesurf Champion Drew Danielo |
 | February 28, 2011 Interview with Pro Rider Chase Hazen |
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