The SURFER Interview: Chris Ward

SURFER: But today you're the same age as Andy Irons, who's already got two World Titles under his belt. Plus, you're friends with him and you guys surf together a fair bit. Do you feel like you're surfing at or near his level?

CHRIS WARD: Yeah I do. When we're free surfing together I think there are a lot things I have to offer guys like him, and vice versa. That's why I've been trying for the past two years to get up where they are.

SURFER: In your opinion, how many other surfers are in the echelon that Andy and Kelly reside in?

CHRIS WARD: I think there are at least 10 guys now who're on the super freaks level, and the coolest thing-at least for pro surfing- is they're all on the WCT tour pushing each other every day. They watch each other surf all the time and it seems to me like they're progressing more rapidly because they have that opportunity to feed off each other. This is a special time on the WCT, because I don't remember a time in my life where there's ever been this many freaks all going nuts at the same time. That's the main reason I want to get up there. I want to get better.

SURFER: Are you pretty encouraged by the success Bruce Irons finally had cracking the WCT?

CHRIS WARD: Yeah, I am, because he and I are a lot alike in our approaches. I think the reason he finally pulled it off was he put some real effort into it last year. He kept his focus all the way through the season and didn't let little things bother him. He watched the waves closely before his heats and got to bed on time, did all those simple little things that help. I think his girlfriend helped a lot in that area too. She sort of got him off the frat party tour and settled him down.

SURFER: You have a girl you're traveling with this year too, right?

CHRIS WARD: Yeah, it's great to be able to have that because she basically brings home on the road with me. That allows me to get down to business. My huge party days are over. The tour is a lot like college for us. You party hard the first few years and you learn the ropes, but eventually you want to get the hell out of there so you buckle down and start doing your homework so you can graduate. That's pretty much where I'm at.

SURFER: You have a girl at home, too.

CHRIS WARD: Yup, my daughter Malia is already 6-years-old.

SURFER: Does having her in your life put things in perspective for you?