3 Minutes Worth Of Reasons To Reacquaint Yourself With Riley Laing

His name was getting thrown around a few years back when footage emerged of the then 13 year-old tearing down the Shipsterns staircase. Since then, we’ve seen a number of edits drop featuring Riley Laing, each one superseding the previous, as his surfing gained maturity over the years. Now, after recently stepping over the 18 year milestone of life, Riley thought he’d call up his pal Shane Fletcher to dig through the drives and put together a reel of high performance material that never saw the light of day. If ‘Underage’ is a snapshot of what young Riley is about, then we’re looking forward to what his adult equivalent can put together. 

So Riley, what’s ‘Underage’ all about besides a young man surfing exceptionally well? Basically this is my hard drive clean-out. I just turned 18 and kind of wanted to start afresh so I asked Shaneo (Shane Fletcher) to help me go back through some random footage from this year and we’ve scrambled this up.”

Where’s it shot? It’s really just a mash up from a bunch of stuff. I had random clips from back in May. You know, the standard stray days around home. There’s some Indo plus a strike to South Australia just before my 18th. I didn’t really plan it as a project at all.

How about that wild ride at Super’s (Indonesia)? (Laughs) mate. I’d got one just before it and then that thing popped up. I was next to this Brazilian but he didn’t want it. It didn’t look that big or anything but I got it and I guess it just hit the reef perfect. I’d been wanting to get a deep one so I kicked-stalled but then it stretched out and I thought I’d blown it (laughs). But I didn’t wanna jump off and get flogged. So I just held on and waited for my board to fall through the shocky and hopefully break my fall a bit. But then it just kept letting me run. I was that baffled I made it and next minute my arms where up near my head (laughs). Shaneo tried to cut the claim out (laughs). I got a barrel and was stoked with it, roast me all you want.

Anything else worth mentioning around the life and tales of Mr Laing? I guess people still think I’m a grom who tries to surf Shippies, I’m hoping this edit shows that I want to do more than just chase big waves. I really want to try travel a bunch more now that I’m 18. Obviously try to get good waves, but also see some places on the backends. Just soak it all in you know? Cruise around, take some photos, meet people, learn as much as I can. I don’t really want to chase the comp thing just now. I have some ideas for film projects I’d love to try and do but I guess I just have to wait and see what opens up and get as busy as I can. I’ll probably be torched by this time next year (laughs).