Dane Reynolds at a WQS event is kind of a rare thing. Photo: Matt Dunbar
Dane Reynolds is notorious for not giving a shit. It’s refreshing to some. To others it’s frustrating. Some wonder why he’s wasting his talent. After dropping off the tour in 2011, the guy that Slater once called the best surfer in the world followed his own path, one that included starting his brand, Summer Teeth, designing surfboards with Channel Islands, and continuously blowing people away with clips and video parts. But contests just didn’t seem to be his thing, which is fair. Contest surfing isn’t the only measure of a good surfer, and no one on earth will deny that Dane’s not a good surfer.
But every now and then, Reynolds pops up in a contest. It’s always a matter of some fanfare when he does – his go-for-broke attitude is what makes him one of the most exciting surfers to watch. It also makes him one of the most inconsistent, at least in a contest setting.
With the Quik Pro France looming on the horizon, Reynolds has been awarded a wildcard, along with Australia’s Matt Banting. In the last few years, he’s popped up as a wildcard on both the Gold Coast and in France. Reynolds is currently sitting at No. 135 on the QS, while Banting is in the pole position. Reynolds’ ranking on the QS is indicative of his focus: clearly, it’s not on the competitive aspect of surfing, which isn’t a bad thing. He’s not a competitive surfer. I’m assuming his sponsors don’t consider him one, or he wouldn’t have any. He’s one of the best surfers in the world, and like I said before, one contest does not a great surfer make – but it sure does make for a good show.
Here’s Dane’s 10 point ride at the 2012 Hossegor event. Impressive, right?
The Quiksilver Pro France has a waiting period from Thursday, September 25 to Monday, October 6.
