Rob Machado he is not. And those words are typed with the utmost appreciation because so often we attribute the idea of “style” in surfing as simply riding waves with grace and calm, yet Ollie Henry certainly has style in abundance. And describing it certainly doesn’t conjure images of a relaxed slide across a glassy face, standing tall atop a twin fin.
Ollie Henry is frantic and fast. Watching his alley-oops and flyaways in small surf give the slightest bit of anxiety but never from a lack of control. It’s more an acknowledgment that you’re watching somebody carry an ungodly amount of speed from the moment they reach their feet. And then you watch the guy in bigger, slabby surf. He still stands tall with that same sense that everything’s hanging by a thread.
Honestly, Ollie Henry is fun to watch. And his particular style certainly stands out in a crowd – which, when it comes to surfing, is the ultimate compliment.
