The chronicles of Chad Walrus

If you were a keen viewer of my blog when it first started all of about 6 weeks ago, you would have read somewhere me calling Chad Waldron by the moniker of "Digital Walrus". I also said somewhere that there might be a time when I would reveal the story behind that name whilst also insinuating that I would most probably not.

Well it comes to a time where I have nothing interesting to blog about and racking my brain I remembered this empty promise in the dark recesses of my mind.

I met Chad 6 years ago at my home break Box Beach, I was 15. He was there filming Dave Crowley and Kingy. I remember being so amped cause I had just finished school for the day and knew the surf would be good. And really it wasn't that good but because there were people filming and Kingy was out, it was a big deal!

I did this invert (and a bunch of other tricks for that matter) Chad filmed it and that ignited our filmer/bodyboarder relationship. 

Because we didn't really know each other and Chad and Kane were still grommets themselves, there was no writing off or grommet abuse - so to speak. They hadn't even released Raised Heights yet, so they were still small fry in the bodyboarding world with no ego's! 

A year passed and they released RH. I'd stayed with them in Hawaii my first year over there but didn't get too many vid worthy waves. I got to know them pretty well and was stoked. I went to the prem, got drunk, watched the movie, watched my only wave on the movie then realised - They didn't put my name on the movie! FUCK. I was pretty devo for a grom but stoked all the same having a wave on a vid. I asked them (Waldron bro's) what happened and they hadn't even realised yet! But what did they care, I was just another grom to them now as they soared into the stratosphere of stardom.

Another year passed and they released Denis. I didn't have any waves on it because I surfed at home all year and they didn't come to Boxy (stay away!) but I went to the prem nevertheless to show some support. I got drunk, watched the movie, got devo I had no waves on the movie then realised - I should have had waves on that movie! FUCK. 

Then jokes started to fly as their ego's grew. One trick, One trick pony and well that was about it...

They were big wigs and I was some grom with one wave on a vid that didn't even have my name on it.

Motivation kicked in and I decided to organise a trip with them and some fellow groms. It worked out well and we went to the Cook Islands and scored fun waves. For some reason Chad thought it would be still relevant to call me One trick. He said the first move I did in the Cook's would be my second trick. I think I did a reverse. So now I was Two trick. ha ha very funny Chad. But the truth was I had nothing on him. He was older and he was the filmer, we had to show some degree of respect if we wanted to get anywhere in his vids.

I think it was once Leroy was released they knew I could do many tricks (I knew you knew all along Chad!) They signed my copy of Leroy as, "We made your's and Dallas' career one trick", ahhh fucking c@nts I thought to myself. They still had one on me.

Another year and a bit had passed and the bro's were into their new movie, "There's no I." Through chance and luck I got selected for the two last trips as a guest. The first being Chile. I was psyched and had a fun trip - that might have been because Kane came, not Chad! haha Although I still copped some "abuse" (see TNI) I shook it off and the team headed to the Philippines. We scored sick waves straight up, then it basically went flat. Being the youngest I copped some more "abuse", namely bb shotguns fired at me and Chad was still trying to conjure up witty names for me. I'd heard that this was probably going to be one of their last movies so I decided what the hell, I'll start dishing some back at him.

Now, anyone that has seen Chad will agree that his incisor teeth are akin to a Walrus'. That and he kinda just looks like one! It wasn't even that relevant, but all the other guys loved it because someone had served him and it was me. It stuck and his new name was either Chad Walrus or just Walrus. As I mentioned above after we scored it went dead flat. Nothing to do. Unless of course your on a tropical island like we were. Dallas pointed out to me how much Chad was in love with technology. When we would go snorkelling or whatever Chad was on myspace, skype, MSN, hotmail - you name it. He was always talking about getting newer cameras or a better ipod. Your typical Y generation consumerist. 

So one day Chad is just roasting me and I blurted out, "Shut the fuck up Digital Walrus", and well, I don't think I've ever been happier burning someone. It was perfect. The smiles and laughter from everyone was a testament to it. The score was settled. I think Chad might've even raised me a couple of notches in his book of respect...ibook that is haha

This is a true story. And I truly do have to thank Chad and Kane for helping me get to where I am today. I also think that without their video's, bodyboarding wouldn't be where it is today. So thanks guys! 

Ever the Digital Walrus that Chad is, WBP have moved onto Podcasts which we all know are broadcast over the internet. They've even started a new website, check it out here.