CHERRY GETS THE D-LOW ON TARP SURFING

Posted by Cherry on 21 August 2010 | 1 Comments

Tags: Interviews

Unless you've been living under a rock this past month chances are you've heard about the new craze on the block - Tarp Surfing. Love it or hate it, doesn't matter, we think it's pretty classic...along with almost 1,700,000 other You Tube viewers. I caught up with Santa Cruz Tarp Surfer Omar "O-Dog" Etcheverry to talk about the tarp, the television coverage and the tension out on the canvas.

Cherry: So, you just finished an interview?

Omar: Yeah, for German and French television. It's just me here right now cause one of the boys had to go do another video shoot.

Cherry: (laughs)

Omar: It's pretty hilarious (laughs)

Cherry: Oh God. (both laughing) How did it all start?

Omar: Homer (Henard aka "Wizard of the Tarp") saw some kids doing it on you tube in San Juan, he just bought a bigger tarp and took it to a whole new level.

Cherry: Did you expect this to blow up the way it has?

Omar: Did I expect things? No, not at all.

Cherry:  Does a lot of responsiblility come with being You Tube heroes?

Omar: (laughs) Well you know we've made so much money off of this, you know we're all multi millionaires now, so we can retire (laughs). My dog who's in the video, he got a little caught up in the whole thing and you know, he has uh been going out with some other dogs, drinkin' too much. He also got an appearance on the news as well. I think that went to his head. He's out pulling some hot bitches (laughs).

Cherry: Do you have a lot of problems on the tarp with goat-boaters?

Omar: What's that?

Cherry: Uh...like stand-up paddleboarders, but even lamer.

Omar: Oh yeah, there's so many! If you watch some of our videos, there's a couple of stand up tarpers, we have to deal with it.

Cherry: Tell me about localism. Is there tarp etiquette?

Omar: The localism? It's pretty heavy, you know? I mean it's hard to get hold of a tarp, so it's pretty territorial over whose tarp is whose. (laughs)

Cherry: What do you guys have to do to keep in good tarp shape?

Omar: Pretty much just going to the gym every single day. You know, learn what you can to ride the tarp properly. Definitely studying Kelly Slater and Homer Henard in the water and watching what their doing.

Cherry: With "Rob's Tiki Adventure", the "Screaming Hand Show" and all this tarping, does any work ever get done over there at Santa Cruz?

Omar: No, work never gets done at Santa Cruz. It's all tarp and no work! (laughs).

Omar Etcheverry, from Santa Cruz California, has been on the WQS for 10 years, started an entertainment company called Ruse Entertainment with his friend Chris Killen and also DJs once a month at a local club. This kid's alright.

Tarp on.

www.tarpsurfing.com

www.santacruzskateboards.com

www.santacruzbuilt.com/family/surfers/omar-o-dog-etcheverry/