JEFF HUBBARD Interview / IDOL & LEGEND

At IBC, we’re excited to bring you the second installment of our “Idols and Legends” section in bodyboarding.

Meet a rider born in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. His favorite wave is Pipeline, and he’s been riding bodyboards for 36 years. He’s currently 49 years old, and honestly, he’s in better shape than ever. He’s a three-time world champion and a rider who’s raised the bar in bodyboarding across different generations. He’s known for innovating his aerial maneuvers, smashing the lip in super critical sections, and being incredibly versatile—riding in all kinds of conditions and on both sides.

But above all, what stands out is his personality. He’s a great friend, very family-oriented, always cheerful and grateful. Without a doubt, he’s a true role model in every way.

When we talk about idols and legends in bodyboarding, this is definitely one of the first names that come to mind.

We’re super proud and grateful to present this exclusive interview with the King of Aerials, the great:

What was your childhood like in Kauai?

Growing up on a little island of Kauai was very special we had lots to do outdoors and many nice waves to bodyboard and lots of great older bodyboarders to look up to and learn from! I was very lucky to get to watch and ride with all the older riders and see them ride in person and get to ride the same waves as them so I got to learn to ride like them easier.

What does bodyboarding bring to your life?

It is a wonderful sport to challenge yourself and get Good healthy exercise and have fun with friends in the water.

How did you get into bodyboarding and what are your first memories of trying it?

I remember going to the beach with my parents and using my mom’s bodyboard that was stored in the garage. I must have used it all day that first time as I came home with a lot of rash on my belly as the cat had ruined the deck of the board making it very rough on my little belly hahaha…

You’re definitely an idol and legend in this sport, not just for your competition results but also for your radical surfing style over the decades. What differences do you see between competition and free surfing?

Free surfing is more relaxing and a fun lifestyle and competition is nice to set goals and achieve them always have something to practice and train for and to have a day spent with your friends at the beach watching and doing what you enjoy!

We know how tough it is to carve out a spot in the surfing cathedral, Pipeline, Hawaii. Yet, many see you as the one who pulls off the craziest airs at Backdoor. A lot of us think no one hits the lip like you do in that dangerous zone. How do you manage to dominate that beast, and how do you pull off those insane airs at Backdoor?

Yes Backdoor is so shallow and scary but it is also offers a huge ramp to fly which I love to sometimes so it really exciting to use it try to fly as high as possible. Landing safely is the dream and happens naturally but also landing in critical situations happens a lot and as I am older I tend to try to want to avoid injury more and ride as much as I can. So sometimes I land the move and then cut out right before the wave crashes on top of me. My excuse lately is riding to the beach in a free surfing doesn’t get me any points hahaha…

You’ve been around bodyboarding since almost the beginning, witnessing all the evolution, generational changes, new technologies, social media, etc. How have you experienced this change, and what do you see as its pros and cons?

When I first started to bodyboard the first generation of bodyboarders was already well established and the second generation was coming up and pushing the limits even more. It was nice to watch this happen and be able to be dream to be a part of this wonderful community. We used magazines and vhs tapes to watch the first and second generations of bodyboarders flourish. Then magazines and vhs tapes and then dvds became more popular while the 3rd & 4th generation of riders was really pushing the limits of the bodyboarding this helped progress the sport faster and also helped make the sport more popular at the same time.

Images of: http://bodyboardmuseum.com.au/

Both you and your brother Dave Hubbard have been world champions multiple times. Now that you’re a dad of two, we’ve seen you surfing with them. Tell us about the importance of family and your connection to the ocean and sport with them.

I love the ocean and the healthy lifestyle energy and friendships it brings. So I definitely want to give my kids a chance to enjoy these gifts as well. Just being comfortable in the ocean is the first step and the second is linking having fun to going in to the ocean. Living on an island the ocean is a very important resource so my kids need to be able to understand respect and enjoy it. Going to the beach as a family and all 4 of us going out to share waves together is really special!

Aerials, aerials, and more aerials! It’s wild the maneuvers you pull off, both regular and goofy, with impossible landings on the world’s most powerful waves. How do you prepare your body and mind to reach this level after so many years?

I really enjoy flying on my bodyboard so I really do stretch a lot and do lots of core work outs each day. Also and try to eat balanced and stay in shape best as possible! The mind is different for doing huge moves as you have to want it and sometimes you feel the motivation to fly and sometimes you don’t so that part also takes a lot of commitment.

How do you remember the era of bodyboarding films?

Yes the days of getting VHS tapes at blockbuster video store and also buying dvds from the surf shops were really special! Watching the films with your friends and having fun going to the beach after watching the movies to surf really helped push the ideas that we could be like our idols on the screens.

Images of: http://bodyboardmuseum.com.au/

You have tons of titles and important moments in your career. Which ones are the most unforgettable for you?

It is crazy so many amazing amazing moments from bodyboarding I will never forget. Some moments that last forever are Winning my first pipe title, Winning all 3 of my world titles and my last victory at FrontonKing are all powerful!

Images of: https://www.surfertoday.com/ and https://www.staradvertiser.com/

What are your current and future projects?

Working on Hubboards new concepts and working on the kids bodyboard contests I help run in Hawaii like GIBBC and Hubbs Keikifest . As well as daily family fun and finding good waves to ride in Hawaii.

When did you decide to make bodyboarding your profession?

I really had a strong passion for it and was good at it and so I was studying business in college and thought I should enter contests to try and make connections and I get a job in the surf industry. I ended up being quite good and better than most of the other riders so I saw that maybe there was an opportunity to for something more from the sport for me and I pursued it.

There are many people of all ages who look up to you. Send a message to those who want to try or evolve in bodyboarding.

Bodyboarding is such a fun wholesome happy lifestyle so go out and enjoy it as much as you can no matter your age as it really keeps you young in mind body and spirit.

Name your 4 favorite bodyboard riders of all time:

– Kyle Maligro, Spencer Skipper, Haouli Reeves and Eppo.

Images of: http://bodyboardmuseum.com.au/

Is there any dream or goal you still want to achieve, either in or out of bodyboarding?

I am hope to help push the next generation of riders and do my best to help to keep the sport alive and relevant for everyone to enjoy watching it and practicing it!

Here’s a space for you to thank, mention, or elaborate on anything you’d like:

Thank you to all the amazing bodyboarders who follow the sport and cheered for me and always sent me positive vibes and to anyone who helped my during my journey I am forever grateful to you all.