“I Don’t Want To Be Seen As Just A Longboarder”

The further north you travel on the NSW coastline, the lower proportion of shortboards you’ll find; Crescent Head, the location of the above O’Neill O’RIGINALS short, sits somewhere in the mid-north, allowing for an eclectic mix of long, short, and abnormal craft.

After Dan Johnson made the move to Crescent Head at 15-years old, he began to fully embrace the fruits of a diverse quiver which Crescent Head allows.  

“I’ll pretty much ride any board that I can get my hands on.” 

Crescent, like many smaller towns scattered across the coast, is home to what can loosely be described as a ‘world class point’. But when it’s flat, particularly in the warmer months, it doesn’t particularly lend itself to obvious nor easy entertainment.

Dan, however, found his own creative and constructive form of entertainment; shaping

He started shaping at 15 and does so with his own developed methods and theories. He made his first board down in Sydney with his Dad – where neither knew what they were doing – but has since built his own bay at home, gradually progressing his abilities and range of craft: longboards, alaias, finless cruisers, you name it.

He’s not interested in competition outside the Crescent Classic nor necessarily keen on having a career in surfing; Dan’s just a youthful reminder of what surfing’s meant to be about – fun.

“I just want to be seen as that guy who can take anything out and is always out there having fun.”

Watch the short film on Dan above.

Just another craft on another day at Crescent

Photography

@Travlinwhack