Asher Wales In One Session Down South

Asher Wales is kinda my favourite surfer. Not because his clips are astounding, or even that he surfs incredibly well, simply because he’s a genuinely good bloke. 

Whether he’s sliding into the office with his puppy named Hannibal, infiltrating our impromptu Christmas party, or asking where we’re surfing this weekend just cause he’s interested.

The above clip isn’t much to ogle at, but it’s a fun-ish surf shot over a single session at one of Asher’s recent trips south of Sydney. He’s currently residing on Sydney’s Northern Beaches after relocating from the Gold Coast. The below conversation – it’s barely an interview, it’s more of a chat about having a real job – was recorded one day back in the summer of this year with the intention of dropping it with a clip. I can’t remember the reason why that never happened, but here it is, an interview adjacent to the surfing, but a bit of an insight into the young gent known as Asher Wales.

Stab: So you’ve deferred uni for a while to chase surfing a little more, right?

Asher Wales: My body is already falling apart, I’ve got a semi broken neck, a compromised nerve, a hernia and god knows what else. So why would I put [surfing] now when I have absolute legends willing to take me on cool shit all the time. I could get a job, make some money, and pursue a career right now but I figure I can do that later on.

While surfing is still an option, and while I can have fun with it I figure I should make the most of it. The piece of paper I get from my degree is always going to be there. The wordly experience I’m getting feels just as important to me as the education I’m getting at university.

In saying that it is a huge privilege to be able to travel, I’ve been incredibly blessed in the opportunities I’ve had in surfing, but I’m happy its given me the ability to meet people in difficult situations and develop a lot of empathy for what they’ve gone through.

Wait, what were you studying again? You started in business and switched didn’t you?

I was doing property economics, but when I go back I want to shift towards a marketing focus, sort of digital marketing. When I was there [at uni], I realised I had more of a passion for that rather than property. I went in wanting to focus on sustainable developments in regards to property, but my focus changed due to a multitude of factors. One being my chances of actually working in a project I cared about ­– something that’s sustainable – was unlikely, and I didn’t want to end up involved in something I hated.

Of course everything is moving towards sustainable products and renewable energy sources, but in Australia it just feels like we’re a little behind the curve. 

And before you decided to take pen to paper you were a chippy (that’s a carpenter)? Fully qualified? 

Yeah, fully qualified. [Being a chippy] was such a good trade to have but it just didn’t feel right for me at the time.

I’m thankful for my folks who were onto me though when I was younger and gave me a back-up plan, because it’s hard to realise as a grom that it’s going to end someday. At the time it’s awesome, and I’m still lucky now, but it’ll all dry up eventually and you need a job to fall back on.

And now on the side you’re mowing lawns [laughs].

Yeah [laughs]. Yeah I went and bought a mower, whipper-snipper, and started doing that because it worked well around everything else. Worked well with Misfit and I can do it when I want, I don’t have to work for anybody else which is hard on my current schedule.

If you’re on the Northern Beaches let us know if you need your fucking lawn mowed. Cash only though. I plan on taking over one lawn at a time.

Actually, would you be able to put a banner on the site for me, that would help.