We spoke with world surfing legend Gary “Kong” Elkerton about why Jimmy Lewis boards remain unsurpassed and how paddleboarding opened a new chapter in wave riding for him.
Question 1: On Heritage and Longevity
Gary, you’ve been at the top of the surfing world for decades. In your opinion, why do Jimmy Lewis shapes remain so relevant today, even with the market flooded by mass-produced brands?
Gary (Kong):
The reason Jimmy Lewis boards are so good is because of coming from Hawaii and surfing big Hawaiian waves he has put all his knowledge into the best wave riding vehicles on the planet. He has been doing this for many years and his boards are of the highest quality in the world if not number one.
Question 2: On Power and Performance
You are the icon of ‘Power Surfing.’ What specific requirements do you have for a board to ensure it can handle that kind of raw force and won’t let you down in critical situations?
Gary (Kong):
What I’m looking for in a high-performance surfboard for Magic waves is a very good rocker a nice outline and the most important is the fin set up and Jimmy Lewis has all of these and caters for everyone.
Question 3: On the Transition to SUP
Most people know you as a shortboard legend. What is it about SUP surfing that gets you stoked, and why is a Jimmy Lewis board the right tool for the job?
Gary (Kong):
As most people know I was on the world championship tour for 18 years and after winning pipe Masters three world titles triple crowns 12 championship events around the world at 62 years old I’ve been having trouble with my legs and I found that stand-up paddle boarding has open my eyes to a whole Nother way of writing waves which I am really enjoying and when I contacted Jimmy we had a long conversation about my body my performance and he sent me across a quiver of boards which are just amazing and I am so happy to be back in the water and catching waves again.
Question 4: On Bali Conditions
We’re here in Bali where the waves are world-class and often heavy. How do these two boards that Jimmy shaped specifically for you help a rider feel confident on these local breaks?
Gary (Kong):
The reason Jimmy Lewis boards work so well in Bali and Indonesia. Is there a waves here that are very similar to Hawaii and again going back to the rocker of the surfboard his outline on all boards especially the stun gun in waves of consequence they just seem to work magically in Indonesia.
Question 5: Advice for the Next Generation
We are launching premium SUP camps here on Bali. What’s the number one piece of advice you’d give to someone who wants to stop just ‘standing’ on a board and start truly feeling the ocean the way you do?
Gary (Kong):
Stand-up paddle boarding has changed my life at 60 years old. I can only imagine for people who would like to try this sport. Please contact us in Bali and my friend Oleg and we can help you guys get started stand-up paddle boarding in Bali. Can’t wait to see you all. Kong.