A KID CALLED SANDY...

Sandy Kerr grew up in the industrial region of the North East, he still calls the brown barrels up there his home. When you watch him surf you realise he's spent a long time studying the old school crew. With curious eyes and ears, he's taken their words of wisdom, he's waited his turn, watched thousands of waves and now he's slipping under the radar, picking off the biggest barrels of the day and doing it with a big smile on his face. We sat down with our youngest ambassador and got to know him a little better.

Sandy Kerr surfing in Scotland

Photo - Lewis Arnold

Where’s home Sandy?

Tynemouth, in the North East

When did you start surfing?

My parents had a beach cafe so I spent most of my childhood in and out of the water, but it was in my teens I really got into it.

If you could spend one day surfing with three other people, where would it be and who with?

Good question! It would have to be a local wave on the Northumberland coast which I love, it's a pretty heavy left hand barrel. The three people i'd share it with would be;

1. Gabe Davies, a very good friend and such a good surfer.
2. Mike Stewart, a total legend. I just read a great article with him surfing Teahupoo for the first time, so I think he would have some incredible stories.
3. Shane Dorian, I love his surfing and he would really raise the bar.

Photo - Lewis Arnold

Who is your role model? And why?

It would be Gabe Davies who I mentioned earlier. He is from the same village as me and he has achieved so much in surfing, from winning every national title to pioneering Mullaghmore with Richie Fitzgerald. A few years ago he moved back up to the North East from France and surfing with him has pushed my own surfing so much, his style in all types of waves is inspiring.

If you had only one word to describe yourself, what would it be?

Rushed.

Tell us about your dream day?

A solid swell in the North East, summer or winter, I wouldn't mind. But I would want three tides, so actually it would have to be summer with the lack of light in winter. Surf an undisclosed low tide spot for hours, hit the local cafe up the road get filled up on northern goodness. Surf a fickle high tide slab that you can watch whilst eating lunch, we are just starting to surf that wave and figuring out a spot for the first time gets you really stoked to get a good one. Following that, back to the low tide spot. Basically a day of left hand barrels, food, coffee, and possibly a Guinness to see the day off.

Photo - Lewis Arnold

What are your goals for 2016?

I am currently in Portugal so hopefully bag some good days out here and then focus on being available for swells at home, Scotland and Ireland and anywhere else I can get to. Really try and be in the right place for larger swells too.

Featured photo - David Gray