It’s pretty hard to get a surf clip to go viral these days. That is, unless it shows a shark or a 90-foot wave. Or a shark on a 90-foot wave. It was quite a surprise to see the Internet buzzing this weekend around a short clip from a small country, featuring a 1-foot wave and a beginner board. It wasn’t long before Dor Damari’s water acrobatics flared up and reached several different major surf media outlets, including the Instagram of famous photographer Clark Little. I talked with Dor, who is no stranger to media after participating in Israel’s Big Brother.
Dor, tell me a little bit about yourself and what motivates you to surf this way.
I started surfing at age 13. Around the same time I picked up an interest in acrobatics. As a young kid I spent all my free time in the Mediterranean, swimming, diving, and mostly surfing. I couldn’t get enough saltwater, so I tried just about everything just to have more fun. At 16, I started instructing at Topsea Surf School in Tel-Aviv. Now I’m working on Chasing Fun, a global project to bring fun and freedom to more people. I organize extreme trips and activities that involve the ocean and other extreme sports.
How did this video happen. Was it planned?
That day was really small, not really a day for surfing my shortboard. So I decided to fool around a little bit. Photographer Guy Lumer takes pictures around my local spot sometimes, and that day he really pushed me to try again and again until we got this video. We had no idea the video would go this viral. It was just two friends having fun. Big thanks to Guy for that.
And how long have you been doing acrobatics on surfboards?
I’ve been doing acrobatics on land since I was a child. About three years ago, I started practicing with a surfboard. We use soft longboards for the kids at the surf school, so I had a lot of time to play and try out new things. After I started training with jumps and backflips, it took me about two years until I was able to do it smoothly and accurately.
Your clip reached nearly two millions views. Thoughts?
I hope it gives inspiration to surfers and non-surfers around the world. Every day, we see there are new ways to enjoy surfing. Maybe this video will inspire people to start practicing surf acrobatics. I’m just trying to find new things that will open my eyes and mind. Someone who is maybe a gymnast or a professional acrobat could take this hobby to whole new levels. Could you imagine surf acrobatic schools?
What’s next?
These days, I’m focusing on all the different things I do for Chasing fun, an Instagram project of videos that showcase a free and exciting lifestyle. I have a weekly SUP group for non-surfers, called Supday. I will keep doing backflips for sure, but by the end of this year, I hope to be landing them on my feet every time.
