Featured Rider of the Month: Mark Yonkers
North Carolina's Mark Yonkers has spent a decade of winters on the North Shore, eating loco mocos for breakfast and then working it off at Pipe.
Actually, we don't know what he eats for breakfast. But we do know we've seen him out here before. And, he likes fish and beer. Observe:
Check out Mark and co.'s first couple days of surf here, then read on to learn more about all things Yonkers.
Hometown: Wrightsville Beach, NC
D.O.B: August 9, 1984
Local Spot: O Street
Sponsors: Xcel, Electric, Matix, DVS, Wave Riding Vehicles, Eastern Surf Supply, Tower 7.
Local Crew: Noj, Rob Brown, Gilligan Brothers, Zach T, Joe W, Wes, Perrymon, Ben B n' crew, Mullet Brothers, Bland, Sean G... Things can get a little out of hand.
Tunes: Into a little bit of everything. Been on an electronic music trip lately... gets me fired up to rip. Ha!
Favorite Wave: G-Land.
Travel Highlights: Spending the past 10 winters on the North Shore. Every year out here is completely different than the last. But everywhere's cool... surfing different waves, meeting cool new people.
Dream Trip and Crew: Teahupoo, with anyone from home who wants to rush. I have a few in mind who'd be up for the challenge.
When I’m not surfing, I'm... Usually skating or fishing.
Best video to amp to?: I hate to say it but... Modern Collective.
Advantages of growing up in North Carolina?: Everything. North Carolina's really one of the raddest places to grow up in. Good waves, clean coastline, pretty girls, friendly people.
Looks like the years you've put in at Pipe have earned you the nod to get some top-notch waves there this year. What's your biggest focus now and through the rest of 2011?: Hawaii's my main focus right now. Keep building on a good start to the season, and get some more bombs. Then plan to get to Tahiti for a bit this summer. Other than that - just stay on my skateboard and keep living.If you were born and raised in Kansas, what would you be doing right now? Probably playing in a country band... those guys get tons of hotties.
If you could take over as front man for any band, past or present, who would it be? Daft Punk.
When it's all said and done: It was all worth it.
Parting Words: Yewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!*
* Accuracy of this particular point of the interview cannot be guaranteed. We may have missed a "w" or an "!".
