Well the dust has settled after a successful year at BASE in 2009 and we caught up recently with DH for a chat about his, Mick's and Steph's success.



BASE: Well another successful year for you and your team, how does it feel?

DH: Victory is sweet. It was a long year and the whole team had a pretty amazing year. To see Mick and Steph clench it in Hawaii, at the last event with all the hype around it was sensational. To have another double world title like in 2007, I am a pretty happy shaper.

BASE: With two of your team riders winning 5 out of the last 6 world titles do you feel like you have achieved your shaping goals, or is there more to come?

DH: Oh there is definitely more to come. I am still young as far as a shaper is concerned. With some of the new young talent coming up the ranks and the more world titles Mick and Steph are going to win between them. It is going to be a fantastic twenty years. I love being at the coal face of surfing and surfboard design, keeps me fresh, keeps me young and keeps me on my toes.

BASE: You have been working with Mick and Steph for most of their careers what have been some of the memorable highlights?

DH: Watching Mick develop from a kid into a young man and now a man has been great to watch. Just travelling around the world with Steph and Mick, taking the time  to sit with them, watch them compete, talk about surfboards and talk about their goals has been a great experience. There are a lot of memories and good times, that are best kept between me, Mick and Steph. But I feel really proud when I see them up on stage collecting their trophies, winning competition and titles. It feels good and I like it.

BASE: Parko used to be one of your team-riders with Mick. How was it watching them go toe to toe last year?

DH: It was going to be good either way, knowing that the world title was coming home to Australia. Yeah I was pretty nervous watching those two go toe to toe. Of course I wanted Mick to win he has been with me for so long. I like Joel and his surfing, but Mick is my boy. It is really going to make this year exciting.

BASE: After winning world titles how do Mick, Steph and yourself approach the next year?

DH: The same, if it is not broken don't fix it. We start making the boards in October and test them as soon as they arrive home from Hawaii. Then we make more adjustments and test again. We do this a couple of times over up to two weeks before the first competition and make sure we are ready for the year. We may look at doing slight adjustments after Tahiti to see where we are at. This worked last year for Mick when we cut down his board to a 5'11 and he came home to win.

BASE: Over the years what have been some of the significant design changes that you have seen make a major difference to Mick and Steph's surfing?

DH: There has been no radical changes over the years. Just a gradual development of slight refinements from year to year. With the design, plan shape, rockers, rail volume, bottom's of the boards, materials and how we finish the board. Probably the biggest change has been in the weight and strength of the boards. These days they are so much lighter than they used to be years ago.

BASE: On the topic of materials and board finishes, how has BASE influenced the development of your team-rider boards?

DH: Yeah the BASE manufacturing team have been incredible over the last few years, it is amazing to see the progress we have made in the quality of our boards. It has taken me ten years to build such a great team of guys. Once I have done my bit I can throw one of my team boards into production and not have to worry. I know that the guys know the level of quality expected and they always deliver. They are just as stoked to work on their boards as I am to shape it. These guys are the highest skilled in the industry, I am lucky to have them.

BASE: Mick has a lot of input into his boards, how often do you and Mick discuss his equipment and the changes you want to make?

DH: Early in the year we are talking a lot, nearly every day. Once he has his quiver sorted and ready to go we talk once or twice a week. We are always talking after competitions, especially if he wins.

BASE: You have quite a large team on the WCT and WQS. Does the work you do with Mick & Steph filter through to your other team-riders or is each rider a case by case scenario?

DH: Mick is a big influence on some of my designs, particular the pro models. They are a reflection of what I have been doing with him and the changes we are making. But a lot of my WQS guys are riding the D1, which Mick doesn't like, I don't know why, it just isn't for him. When I am working with the other team riders I give them a bit of what Mick is riding and a bit of what everyone else is riding until we find the right balance for each individual surfer.

BASE: How does Mick select his boards for competition and freesurfing?

DH: He picks them up surfs them, understands how they feel. He might decide that is a good board for bells or Jbay and he puts it aside for those events. Then he finds a couple of magic boards and he nurses them, they are perfect for everywhere, like his cut down board from last year. Then the others become back-ups for each event.

BASE: As their shaper what goes through your head as Mick & Steph are surfing big heats?

DH:I get nervous watching them, especially if I am watching with Mick's mum. But I know we have done the work and it is up to Huey to serve them the waves. They know how to surf them so I don't get as nervous these days. Like all good champions they thrive on competition, I don't know how they do it.

BASE: Do you talk to Mick & Steph throughout the competition or do you reflect on the equipment after the competition?

DH: Before, during and after. I will give them an honest answer I will say that board looks good or that board looks shithouse. A lot of things go on behind the scenes at a WCT event, because of the changing surf condition we are always talking about what boards should be ridden  and they want feedback on the board. Unfortunately I can't make it to every event, but I talk a lot with them when I am there. Which is why it is so good the first two events are in Australia. I can easily be there watching and talking with them, make sure we are all happy with how the boards are going. I think this is a real competitive edge for Mick and Steph.

BASE: We noticed this year Simon made Mick a wide tail step down board over in Europe. Is this one of the bonuses of having some of the best shapers working together under the BASE roof? Does the feedback from Mick in regards to another shaper's design help with your designing?

DH: Yeah it was good for Mick to have Simon Anderson watching the contest over in France, as I couldn't get over there. He made him a version of the KB and he really liked, in fact he has just ordered another one. Yeah Mick rides other shapers boards all the time. We talk about them, what was good what was bad and why. Then we put this knowledge into the think tank to use when we need to.

BASE: When the average punter buys one of your boards how is your work with Steph & Mick influencing their experience on one of your boards?

DH: The stock and standard board we make whether it is a MF Pro or a D1, D2 or a Bobby Monster, are all being tested by myself and the team. It could be Mick and Steph testing or one of the BASE workers, or anyone from the past twenty years of team-riders. I don't just pop out a model and put a name on it and there you go. I actually ride and test it, have others test and make sure it is up to scratch with the DHD reputation before I put it out there for the average punters to ride. So yeah Mick, Steph and all the team help me with design of my models, also when I am working in the retail store and travelling around the world  I am always listening to what our customers and others are saying and put that into my designs. If something is or isn't working I want to know about it. I suppose it is a lot like putting a Ferrari engine in a family sedan. you may not be demanding the ultimate performance or have the best skills, but whichever model of mine you are riding you will enjoy the features and benefits of what the best surfers in the world are riding.


BASE: So how many boards do you think you have made for Mick and Steph over the years?

DH: For Mick I would say at least 1000 boards and for Steph, probably over 300.

BASE: Do you still feel the same excitement and passion when you shape them a board?

DH: That never goes, I am sitting here at the moment wanting to go and shape the two boards I have waiting in the bay for Steph. I surfed with her this morning and I want to get this idea into foam and glass and under her feet.

BASE: Got any secrets in regards to Mick & Steph's equipment for this year?

DH: Yeah I have got heaps of secrets, but you are dreaming if you think I am telling you today. Ask me again at the end of the year after we have won this year's title.

BASE: Thanks DH and good luck to you and the DHD team this year.

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