Channel Islands i Sverige & intervju Matthew Baxter
Foton bildspelet: Alla foton av Mathieu Turries
Plats: Skåne - Sverige
Nu ska alla i Sverige surfa som Slater!... Red Snapper i Malmö kommer att ta in Channel Islands brädor och de går att beställa redan nu! Kontaktinfo hittar ni här: redsnapper.se
Vi tar tillfället i akt och lägger flera bilder och en intervju publicerad i NSM #2 med Matthew "Red Snapper" Baxter här.
Matthew "Red Snapper" Baxter by Freddie Meadows
“Yep deffinitely call Matthew, he’ll help you out on where to go and when. He’s for sure one of the guys who has surfed the most down here... “
So there i was, 14 years old, just started surfing, and, even more recently, started surfing in sweden; and Matthew Baxter was one of the 1st names i heard about down here from my longterm surf buddy Anders “Andiss” Ingelsten. Since then Matthew has shown nothing less than love to me. Always keen to help, talk and talk especially about surfing! I’d often call him when i came back home to check what the swell has been doing etc.. and it always ended up in a long discussion about the things that us surfers always talk about and it never seems to get old.. Epic sessions, “you should of been there” and all kinds of stories that we could think up. So since then i have continued my tradition of ringing Matty and the tradition of our never ending surf talk still stands strong...
Anyway, a few days ago, the cheif editor of Nordic Surfers Mag, Mat, shoots me a mail asking if i know Matthew Baxter and if i could ask him if he was interested in doing an interview. I jumped on the opportunity and didnt really give Matty a choice... I just rocked up at Red Snapper, walked straight in and gave him the deal. A little confused, Matthew, as cool as he is, agreed and the rest is as follows....
Freddie: Yo Matty, good to see ya! Pretty good surf last week eh?!
Matty: Oh mate! You missed the best of it!
Freddie: Fu*k i know! I was just soooo cold. 40 minutes in a 2’2 short arm was enough man! Anyway, my loss. Bro I got some questions from Nordic surfers for you. Cool?
Matty: errrrr? okidoki....
Freddie: So man, how long have you actually lived in sweden? And why did you move here?
Matty: well I moved here in 1996 so almost 13 years ago now! And the reason being was my lovely wife that i now have 2 kids with and one’s in the oven cooking!.
Freddie: hahahaha Same story everytime. i still haven’t met an ozzie, kiwi or american in sweden that has moved here for any other reason than the lovely Swedish ladies! So mate, how long have you owned Red Snapper???
Matty: 3 years now...
Freddie: Why a surf shop?
Matty: well mate, just wasn’t gonna be having a typical 9-5 was I. Also it gives me the opportunity to live from what i love so much and isn’t that what its about?!
Freddie: For sure man, I feel you. How is it being a Kiwi surfer here in sweden?
Matty: I mean its frustrating at times, but when its on it’s great, but how often is that?! Nah i love it here!
Freddie: yer i agree. great place. would be nice with more consistancy.. But are you satisfied as a surfer here?
Matty: Ahhh mate im old and its been done for me! All downhill from here!! (laughs) No but for me now its about getting my son in the water. Just bought him a new 5’8 soft top twin fin so he should be stoked! So watch out freddie! He’s coming to get ya! (laughs) .
Freddie: haha great! cant wait to see him in the water! on that subject, how do you think surfing has grown in sweden since you moved here?
Matty: Too much!!! haha Nah it’s great seeing the younger guys out camping when its on and basically improving every time they surf. I mean Surfing has really progressed here. Great to see but not so easy for us old blokes in the lineup anymore! laughs
Freddie: And how do you see it in the future? In, lets say, 10 years?
Matty: Well, as everyone’s traveling, greater knowledge of their equipment, surf videos, higher and higher level in the water: the next Slater could come from Sweden!!! haha Also, these days, we have the internet so no surf really go’s unridden anymore like back when we only had teletext! I also see greater interest in surfing in the media so more people are starting all the time... Man, i just see the level getting better and better just hope it doesn’t get too crowded!
Freddie: What about Mölle?
Matty: You know, mölle has always been the spot that provides good waves and often to.. it works more than any other spot here in skane. All the local boys meet up and release all excess energy and talk surf and whatever else comes out of our mouths.. thats what molle is. it’s a super fun right hand point break that has great shape and power for a swedish wave plus it’s us surfers’ social club! so all in all i think it would be a disaster to lose it... and if surfing keeps growing the way it has been in sweden, in 20 years, the kommun in hoganas will regret its decision because surfing can and will bring money to local businesses and, molle, if any spot in sweden, will be one of our first proper surf villages or destinations in sweden...
I know i’d be sad if, when i drive into the picture perfect harbour, i dont see those green and peeling righthanders that once dominated the bay and provided a little bit of heaven to us surfers... the machine must live on!
Freddie: Well Mat, thanks for your time buddy and i’ll see ya next week. Swell looks hopeful...
Intervju: Freddie Meadows
Publicerad i Nordic Surfers Mag #2