SURFER Interview: Makua Rothman
Your father told me that he tried to raise you to be your own hero. Do you think he succeeded?
Yeah, he always taught me to be independent because he never knew how long he was gonna be around for me. Him and my mom got divorced, and I ended up living with him. I love my mom and everything, she always tried to be there as much as she could, but Pops just raised me to where if anything was to happen to him I could take care of myself.
Your father has a heavy presence on the North Shore as founder of Da Hui. Did that affect you growing up?
No, I was just born into Da Hui. Ever since I was small, I was just one of the little Hui boys, so I'll be that even when I die. There'll be a big Hui carving on my casket or whatever I go in for sure. But, brah, ask anybody, ask Raimana , ask Ross Clarke Jones, all the Australians, when I go to their place, I have total respect for everybody. I have a good time. I try to be friends with everybody, because that would be better. Life's too short brah, you could be grouchy and grumpy and try to go over there and take over, but you're not gonna have a good time. It's way better to laugh then fight all the time.
What do you think was the most important lesson you learned from your dad?
Just like I was saying my dad always raised me to be a good man. You know how most people tell you respect your elders? My dad always told me whoever shows you respect, show them respect. If they don't respect you, you don't got to respect them.
So are you pretty competitive?
Yeah, if I'm going to enter something, I'm going to win for sure. Even if we're playing for a Christmas tree or something. [Gestures to Christmas tree in living room] That's my Christmas tree, I want it. What's up? Get out of my way, I'm going. But I always try and have fun when I do it.
Do you have any desire to compete on the WCT?
I would really like to make the 'CT one day, but I just don't want to go to Rio de Janeiro and surf some blown out little spot, where these little flick tail guys are just going to rip me. If all the big six stars were at places like Teahupoo or Hossegor, or Mundaka, something like that, some good waves, yeah I would try. But I'm kind of over surfing France one foot or Japan half-a-foot waves. It's just not my trip. But I'm going to try to do a bunch of the big contests in Australia so I can get into the Haleiwa contest. I want to win the Triple Crown.
Would that be another ultimate for you?
If I could win the Triple Crown and the Masters or Sunset, I'd be stoked.
What did it mean when you won the Best Barrel Expression Session at Sunset Beach?
I was so stoked. I went out against all those 'CT guys, and I got the best barrel of them all. So I just showed them that, brah I can get barreled out here just as much as you guys can, for sure. I wanted to go out there and show them that I got what it takes to surf Sunset, so give me a wildcard. I'll show you what's up.
What are your goals for the future?
One day when a little kid goes, "I want to be what he was," I'll be stoked for sure. I'll look down from up there and give him a good one.
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