Name:

Andre Phillip

aka:

dre, drizzle

Sponsors:

Cabrinha, NPX wetsuits, Kaenon sunglasses, UGP, Kitescoop

Homespot:

Antigua, Maui, DR

Website:

Kitescoop.com, Undergroundproducts.com

Main activity:

Chillin

Others sports:

Surf, Wake, Chillin

Things you like:

Sleep, warm weather

Things you hate:

Not having toilet paper.

Yo Dre, thanks answering our questions, let’s get started!

Where did you grow up, and how did you start kiteboarding?

I grew up in Antigua, which is a small island in the Caribbean. Eli Fuller traded some windsurf gear for some kitesurf gear back in the day and brought kiteboarding to Antigua. I had seen it a year prior and thought that the sport had heaps of potential and looked like fun cause it was a mix of all the current board sports. So I begged him to teach me that year (2000) and the rest is history.

How was it the first time? - Nah, not losing your virginity man! Come on - I mean, the very first time you had a blast riding with behind kite ?

It was wicked! I couldn't believe a kite could be so powerful and it was just really cool to get pulled around by mother nature.

Why opting for wakestyle (e.g. boots) kiteboarding style?

I like to wakeboard and snowboard so for me the proper wakestyle in boots is the only way that I feel at home with my riding. Not to

mention that I feel a bit exposed if my ankles are out.

I really respect the path paved by all of the other boardsports and I

think we have to pay respect to them by trying to make kiteboarding a legit boardsport.

What advice would you give to a « newbie » wakestyler ?

If you used to ride straps then go up a board size and throw some boots on that thing! In the beginning it will feel like your board is really heavy because of the extra weight but give it some time and you'll get use to it. It will also be more difficult to do tricks but when you stick them you will be more satisfied :) Just give it some time for you to get dialed and you'll never go back to dangling. Ride fast and powered and have fun.

What other boardsports do you practice, and how does it influence your riding ?

Surf, wake and a bit of snowboarding. I really respect how far those sports have come in regards to progression and the different styles that have been built by the riders around them and I draw my influences from the bits and pieces I like the best.

Among wakeboarders, who would you give props to? Among kiteboaders?

Anyone throwin it down with style in wakeboarding or kiteboarding or any boardsport gets my props. As for the wake world I prolly give most props to Scott Byerly which was one of the main guys involved in taking wakeboardings early gay roots of trick skiing and helping the movement of trickski/wakeboarding to a real board sport. I think in the kiteboard world Elliot, Lou, Mauricio should get props for doing the same. For this sport to really "make it" it needs to become respected by the other boardsports and they are helping to pave the way down that road. Also bigups to all the guys on KITESCOOP.com cause they are pushing the real boarder movement.

You're traveling a lot ; what do you think of the wakestyle scene, in US, Australia, Europe, Caribbean, other places ?

Back in 2003 I would say that wakestyle was dead. You could probably count the wakestyle guys on one hand. Even up to the time that we did Autofocus in 2005 I travelled the world and there was still a really limited number of guys devoted to this style of riding. At that time no one built obstacles, hardly anyone wore bindings, but right now I travel all over and there are more and more people in boots and almost everywhere I go someone has built some kind of obstacle or is building. It's cool to see. Adam Anton started the first wakestyle forum (KITESCOOP.com) back in 2002 or so and these days there are people joining up all the time and becoming part of the movement. At the moment I'd say that Australia and US are leading but new wakestyle crews are poppin up everywhere!! There's no stopping it now.

Why is there so few people out there kiteboarding with steez?

uhhh... I donno, you either have steez or don't.

Do you think "one day" kiteboarding could be respected as a "board sport" like skateboarding, wakebaording or surfing?

Yea i think once the dangling board handle sea spec reel leash kitepant foothook goblin wearing riders don't mess it up before the right guys get a chance to show the sport to the other boarders then it will. :)

Do you know the next big thing named "HWA" aka "Hanglos Wakestyle Academy" ? In fact, do ya remember "Police Academy" the movie - supposedly the same for boots riding w. load of steeze!

Nah I haven't heard of it but hope it comes out sick. It always good

to see people representing!

No matter ; be proud to be named as Damn Steez Master of it!

Sweet!!

You've been hitting sliders, kickers and stuff for a long time. What stuff would you like to hit now? Bigger obstacles, jib stuff?

Yea, I been hittin obstacles for a while and I have my moods. Sometimes I just wanna tech out on somethin wide and mellow, sometimes I wanna charge somethin big and scary and sometimes I just wanna jib around. It's all boarding and it's all good fun.

Here at the HWA, we noticed that riding with boots can be dodgy

for knees at times. Any tips on how to crash properly (?!) without

too much damage ?

I haven't had any knee problems (knock on wood). I'd say if you have weak knees then maybe work them out at the gym and beef them up. Also listen to your body, if you are going way too big for it to handle the landings then take it a bit slower and lower. People associate boots with bad knees but it's not really so. Your ankles are pretty safe and supported so your knees are the next weak point but the knee is stronger than the ankle so it's pr