Michael Darling is more than just a Waterspider. He's a 1st year engineering student, a shop lacky, a candy addict, and above all else one hell of a surfer. We had a chance to catch up on five questions with MD direct from Tofino, BC:
33MAG: Where does the nickname Waterspider come from?
Michael: Waterspider came from a local contruction worker here in tofino. He was surfing one day a few years ago when I paddled past him and he told me i looked like a waterspider. Probably because my legs are longer than my torso and my arms drag along the floor when I walk.
How'd it feel to get 5th in the Rip Curl Pro Tofino this year?
I was extremely happy about getting 5th this year. I was even more stoked to be able to surf in the semi-final with Pete Devries, Sepp Bruhwhiler and CC Unger.
Where do you find yourself when it's flat?
Usually trying to build something. Recently it was a 2 foot quarter pipe.
Where are your 2 favourite places to surf? (in and outside of Canada)
n Canada, I love surfing right outside my house in the winter. Outside of Canada either Honolua Bay in Maui, or Periscopes in Indonesia.
Where do you see your surfing in the next 5 years?
In the next five years I will probably still be in school in Victoria. So I see my self surfing south island and home with hopefully a trip in between. Hopefully I can keep improving and get a few photos in some magazines.
Michael is sponsored by O'neill, Sitka, Storm Surf Shop, I/S Eyewear, Surfcam.ca
