Jay Davies signs with RVCA!

Story by Lucas Townsend You’ll perhaps remember when Stab reported whispers of a potential Jay Davies poaching. Well, the trigger was pulled by the gents at RVCA, who clearly know a good buy when they see one and have coloured the blank fibreglass under Mr. Davies’ feet. Previously signed to Rusty until the end of this year, the spartan from the West was squeezed out by a top-heavy team with Josh Kerr and Noa Deane taking up the budget and any loose change. Sealing Noa’s signature was a big priority for Rusty this year with his stocks constantly rising. The changeover ended a 14-year relationship between Jay and Rusty and it’s been the happiest of break-ups, he says: “It’s been so smooth. Damon Hayes had a full head of hair when I signed so 14 years is a long time to be with a company. But when the RVCA offer came along, I wanted to do whatever I could to get onboard.” “I first got word in March when Rhino (Ryan Bautista, former Rusty team manager) said he was pretty sure there wasn’t going to be a spot for me next year. I saw it coming because Noa had been blowing up. They had to spend more money so he wouldn’t jump across to another brand.” Jay applies new logos on his first day in Hawaii. Photo: Tom Hawkins RVCA, who’ve spent some time in Jay’s backyard of late, have signed Jay onto a heavy incentives-based contract. It’s a smart buy for all involved, and a win for good surfing, because Jay offers the finest digital contributions (his parts in Wildfire and Cheese II, most recently) and is the kind of pro that all other pros love to watch. It means Jay will be hustling for the best content, more often! But the void of unemployment hurt, and Jay almost tapped. “Almost. I was super close. I asked myself, what’s next? I wasn’t going on trips and I’d hurt my knee. I was like, do I even surf anymore? Do I even bother looking for another company? I’m 28 next year, I’m probably past my used-by date.” “Then I got back into it, my knee got better and I went to Gnaraloo, camped out and had a few sick sessions. I was like, fuck no, I don’t want to get out of this game yet. So I was doing whatever I could to get some bangers for Kai (Neville)’s new movie.” Jay’s breezed until now, never sparing a thought to his bottom line. That was before it all threatened to unravel: “Then I was like, holy shit, I’ve never thought about this situation. I never studied at school, never concentrated in class or listened to teachers, hardly listened to my parents. I haven’t been smart with my money at all. I’ve enjoyed it way too much.” And if he wasn’t wearing a RVCA tee now? “I’ve got no idea, man. I’d probably have to work up north with the boys or do something with my hands, like carpentry, but I’d be going to the bottom of the pay rate, it’d be a struggle.” With the partnership, Jay has enough cash to bog the holes in his pockets left by his Toyota V8 LandCruiser (“the dumbest thing I have ever bought”), and the RVCA team adds another advocate to remain a “balance of opposites.” The thought of Mr. Davies in a room with Al Knost certainly makes us giggle. “I’ve got to work for it now. It’s all finally made sense that I’m not just on a constant holiday.” Power worth paying for. Day one of what’ll be a very big Hawaiian stay for Jay. Photo: Tom Hawkins