HUMAN TOUCH: From Filet Mignon to Lil Wayne with Roy Powers

After throwing the opening pitch at a recent Padres game in San Diego to the delight of thousands of cheering fans with his video segment from the upcoming O’Neill movie playing in the background, we caught up with the Kauai local to get his take on ’80s dance music, what makes a good steak, and how in the hell he found himself on the mound at a Major League baseball game.

So how’d you end up on the mound anyway?

Somebody at O’Neill used to work for the Padres and they set it up. When I heard about it I was pretty psyched and thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I and went for it.

Were you nervous once you got up there?

Before I got up there, I wasn’t really nervous at all. I warmed up and everything before I took the mound. But once you get up there, you have no idea how far it looks from the mound to the catcher. I got a little nervous right then, I was just hoping not to ground the ball. That was the big thing.

Did you ground it?

Nah, it went good. I didn’t ground it, so that was good. Maybe a little high, but overall it was a decent pitch.

You got a few minutes for a quick interview?

Yeah, let’s do it.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

The great dependency on oil...it makes us weak to other countries.

When was the last time you were scared for your life?

When I hit my head and got caught inside on a 10- to 12-foot day at Off the Wall. Ironically, it was on my birthday. I was really disoriented and unable to swim; it was some scary stuff.

What was the last movie you saw?

“Don’t mess with the Zohan”

Words to live by:

Family, respect, and loyalty are everything to me.

Who or what inspires you?

My dad has always and will always inspire me to keep pushing my surfing.

What’s on your iPod right now?

Lots of random music. Everything from electronic ’80s-style stuff to Lil Wayne and everything between.

What’s your favorite thing to do if you’re not surfing?

Hanging out with my girl and other sports…that’s when I’m not watching TV.

What would you eat for your last meal?

Ruth’s Chris steakhouse. Their filet mignon is like buttah.

What would be your favorite place to go in the entire world that’s not a surf trip?

Anywhere fun and different from an island!

Favorite place to go in the world for a surf trip:

Bali.

What’s the last place on Earth you want to go?

Iraq...seems like a hellhole.