The Status Quo, with Patty Gudauskas

Patty Gudauskas is leaving for New York today. The archetypal Californian got bundled out a little early at Chopes (round two), as can be the luck of the draw. But, having grown up shredding Lowers, the kid’ll be so dangerous on those Long Island beachbreaks that you’d be pretty safe throwing some scrilla on him via Surfbet. Stab called him to talk all things Quik Pro, NY.

Stab: It almost wasn’t on!
Patty Gudauskas: I guess so! I came home and saw an email, that was like, “the rumours are circulating that it might not go on!” It was like, oh, shit! Then I got another email saying it was on… I was gonna catch a flight back to Tahiti (if the event was cancelled). I’ve never been to New York. I got a ton of family there, so I’m kinda frothing to go there and get in the vibe. Checking out the city and some fun events, and stuff.

What would you do if you won? It’d be a massive pay day. I’d have to burn down San Clemente at that point, just come in and fricken blindside it. The prize purse seems a little surreal. To think you’re going to New York to compete in a surf contest is one thing, but to go compete in a surf contest in New York for the biggest prize purse ever, for that much money, it’s very surreal. I don’t know if it’s good or bad.

How so? It’s funny, you kinda think after coming off Teahupo’o, whoever won that event would deserve $300k, but… I mean, I’m all for it, I’m embracing it, but it’s definitely a strange feeling.

So it’s like, someone who won in the waves at Tahiti would be deserving of $300k, but winning in a shoulder-height beach is a different story? Yeah, I mean, it’s a different arena. At Chopes, it’s such the gladiator pit. There’s so much carnage and it’s a sick energy there. But what we’re going to now is a completely different energy. I mean, in a good way, too. Hopefully there’ll be a ton of people down there, kinda US Open-style. But with this kinda event, it’s as much… Kelly’s game as it is… I dunno, my game. There’s no advantages there.

Yeah, f’sure. Oh, I heard the hotel you guys were gonna stay at got flooded. That’s what I heard too! I heard that the lobby got flooded out. I think we’re still staying there, but I’m kinda floating through a coupla places (‘scuse the pun). I’ll be there, then somewhere in the city with a coupla buddies.

Hey – who’s gonna win the world title? Hmmm, I kinda feel like maybe Fanning’s gonna win. I kinda hope he’s gonna win. He’s surfing super sick. I have this weird hunch. He’s been super under-the-radar. I’d be stoked too, if one of the young guys like Jordy won it, or even Owen. But my money’s on Fanning. Kelly, well, he might just not show up to a coupla events, y’know…

But he’s first now. Then Jordy, then Joel, then Adriano, then Owen. Oh shit, so Mick’s not even in that one? Well, still, I’ll hold true on Mick. But, y’gotta think Kelly’s always in the mix. And deservedly so.