The best of 2010 with Freddy Patacchia

Freddy Patacchia’s an honest, out-spoken and talented Hawaiian surfer. Freddy gots power. And he’s getting married soon! When Stab caught up with the man himself, he was nursing a two-day hangover after his buck’s party. Here’s what he thought of 2010 on tour.

Stab: The best heat of 2010? 
Freddy P: It’s pretty recent, but I’d have to go with the Jeremy Flores final at pipeline, with Kieren Perrow. Kieren had it in the bag the whole time. One crucial little mistake in the dying minutes and he saw the Pipe Masters slip through his fingers. So Jeremy got a wave and become the first Frenchman to ever win the Pipe Masters. it was his first time winning a world tour event, as well. I like the kid, so I was stoked for him.

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The best turn of 2010? I think it was the heat in Puerto Rico, where Dane got two 9’s or something. He got this wave and it was a 9, and he seriously only did two turns on it. I don’t know which one was the best, but one of those would’ve been the best turn of the year.

The best aerial of 2010? Kelly’s air in Portugal, to beat Davo. That was retarded. it was a huge alley-oop. He had to stick it to win it. Either that one, or Pat Gudauskas’ aerial at Tahiti where he had to stick the rodeo to stay on the tour. Thos were too crucial moments, and they were both pretty sick.

The best barrel of 2010? We didn’t get big barrels this year, it was small barrels everywhere. Kieren Perrow’s barrel at Backdoor, that should’ve been a 10. It was one of the early rounds. He got so ripped, that was a fucking 10 if I ever saw a 10. I mean, what else does a guy need to do to get a 10? Oh, that other barrel, too – in France, Luke Munro got this barrel that should’ve been a 10. The whole crowd booed the judges. They were the two best barrels I saw on tour this year, and neither of them got 10’s.

Who was the best rookie of 2010? I thought it was Owen Wright. Owen really impressed me. I don’t know if he finished higher than Jadson (Andre) did – Jadson’s a great surfer, I don’t wanna take away from him, but I was expecting what I saw from Jadson, I wasn’t expecting what I saw from owen. I was really impressed with him.

What was your biggest let-down in 2010? The most let-down I felt, was… when we went to Trestles, we’d just cut down to 16 guys so we could utilise time. But they fucking sent me out in one-foot slop. I told them I didn’t want to surf, and the whole reason for cutting 16 guys was so that we could utilise swell. And the fucking swell came after that. They didn’t have to run my heat. They even told me that. They didn’t have to run Bobby (Martinez)’s heat either, and Bobby lost too. It was a bullshit call, and it was the biggest disappointment of my whole career. They ran my heat in shit when they didn’t need to, and it could’ve cost me… well, it could’ve cost me my career.

The biggest surprise of 2010? Losing three-time world champion and one of the greatest surfers in the world, Andy Irons.

What was the best event of 2010? Y’know, it wasn’t very decent. We didn’t really get the best year this year. I wouldn’t say there was one that was better than the other. But I guess the Tahiti event was the best for me, ’cause Andy won. He was my bro, and it was great to see him win one last time. he said before it that he was kinda down on himself and saying that he can’t really win anymore. And winning that kinda got him all pumped again. It was nice to see him smile and hoist up the trophy.

What was the best moment of your whole year? I was there the moment that Lyndie (Irons) found out she was pregnant. Andy and I were at Bells (beach), hanging out. I knew they’d been trying for a while to have a baby. We were just hanging out on the couch, and she must’ve just taken the pregnancy test, ’cause she just came out of the bathroom and told him she was pregnant. She just came out and had the thing in her hand, and it was the positive colour. It was really special to be there for that.

What was the best instance of camaraderie on tour in 2011? It’d have to be when we found out that we lost Andy. There was a moment. Everyone just felt the same, we all did the paddle-out. Everyone came together and remembered Andy.