Mark HealeyMark Healey is crazier than he looks. On the surface, he’s just your wholesome all American looking guy ...who happens to ride really, really big waves. (And if you’ve seen that Surfline video, you know his mere survival is almost as impressive as his surfing.) But that’s not the half of it.
Healey is immune to fear. He free dives as a hobby. He spearfishes every night for his dinner. Sharks? Prey, not predator. He is the kind of guy who needs no dare; he’ll take the path never-before-traveled every time, whether it’s the biggest wave you’d never tow into or the sheer rock cliff that looks like the fastest way to get back to his truck from the beach.
The way Healey puts it, if you’re gonna be dumb, you better be tough. And it’s exactly this combination of tenacity and fearlessness that makes him one of the world’s most electrifying big wave riders. Growing up on the North Shore gave Healey the chance to learn the intricacies of the island’s most infamous breaks, both above and below the surface. His comfort level at Pipe, Waimea and Sunset means he’s not afraid to experiment. And when he charges even bigger waves elsewhere—Jaws, Todos, Teahupoo, Puerto, Tasmania, Cortes Bank—his expertise as a waterman serves him well. He can stay in the moment and in control no matter how big it gets, a reflection of a lifetime spent learning how.
Being crazy gets you noticed, and that’s certainly the case for Healey. In addition to regular props from the holy trinity of surf media—Surfer, Surfing and Transworld— mainstream adrenaline pubs like Outside and Men’s Journal have made Healey’s swell- chasing lifestyle and poster boy abs the envy of Joe Average everywhere. Ever in training for the next wave, the devoted Quik rider has also been tapped to front the brand’s new performance apparel line, EQPT.
Some have deemed Healey the next Laird Hamilton, but a better comparison might be Healey’s favorite movie star, Steve McQueen: a guy who lived hard and liked to go fast.
But really, Healey defies comparison. This Pipeline aficionado is driven but humble, reckless but smart: a guy who laughs in the face of danger as much as his own folly.
Q & A - Mark Healey
Q: Fantasy Spots:
A: A Teahupo'o peak that runs 100 yards left and right, on sand
Q: Local Spots:
A: Pipeline
Q: Nicknames:
A: Monster
Q: Pets:
Q: Tunes:
A: Johnny Cash
Q: Trips:
A: Fiji & NYC
Q: Books:
A: Kon Tiki
Q: Movies:
A: "Papillon"
Q: Surf Vids:
A: "Beyond Blazing Boards"
Q: Cheesy Reality or Regular TV Shows:
A: History Channel & Comedy Central
Q: Video Games:
A: not into them
Q: Complaints:
A: the thousands of blow in kooks that show up on the North Shore every year
Q: Grinds:
A: Lei Lei's
Q: Bro's
A: Birdface, Merle Dog, Jim, Rodeo Dave
Q: Honey's:
A: extremely single, although, Brooke Burns might be able to lock me down in a serious
relationship if she plays her cards right
Q: Rides:
A: '91 Mazda pickup
Q: Toys:
A: my spearfishing gear
Q: Boards:A: 7'2" Pat Mulhern pipe board
Q: Hobbies:
A: freediving
Q: Bad Habits or Guilty Pleasures:
A: the occasional dirt stick when I'm out partying
Q: Shout Outs:
A: If Brandon thinks that his 40lb Ulua will win the tournament this year, he's got another thing coming.
Q: Jokes:
A: What do you call a smart blonde? A Golden Retriever.
Q: Surfers/Influences/Inspirations:
A: My Dad
Q: Words to Live By:
A: Live every day like it's your last.
PHOTOS:
1 comment:
Dude you could have used your ProBalance here im guessing
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