CATCH UP KORBIN HUTCHINGS
Several years ago this tiny tack of a grom appeared on the surfing scene and immediately turned heads, it had been a number of years since NZ had produced a grom that looked as if he could be the next big thing. Then along came Korbin Hutchings and within a few short years he developed into the surfer that could carry the future if our sport. Not only that, the other young groms all lifted with his presence and they fuelled off each other pushing grom surfing to a level that hadn’t been seen for some time. Then last year Korbin packed his bags and moved across the Tasman. This can be a great move for young surfers, but the question we all asked was, would he be lost to us forever? Korbin shares with us what he’s been up to over the last year, and sets the record straight as to where his loyalties lie.
You left NZ a year ago now to go live in Oz, where are you living? Yeah I left in June 2011 and I’m living in Coolangatta about 200m from Snapper and Duranbah.
Why did you move to Oz? Well mum always wanted to move to Aus but we never actually did, we always used to go for holidays and would say next time we’re going to move. It wasn’t until my parents separated that we actually did.
Where do you spend most of your time surfing? I spend most my time surfing at D-bah and Snapper but also surf a lot at Currumbin because at the school I go to there is a special excellence programme for all sports, I made it into the surfing program after trialling.
How are the waves and level of surfing over there and does that push your own surfing? The waves over here are super fun, and the water is so much warmer, so you can spend more time in the water and can be more motivated to go surfing, unlike winter in Gizzy where you make up heaps of excuses about your wettie being wet and it being too cold. The level over here is very high, like I have sessions surfing with the pros like Mick, Joel, Dean and all the other boys that come to the Goldy for the Quikky Pro. You meet a lot of them and surf with them, but there’s also the pro-junior kids like Jack Freestone, Mitch Parkinson, and Noa Deane that surf amazing. Even all my mates rip so hard, but yeah everyone pushes each other and it definitely has worked out best for me and my surfing.
Are you still a Kiwi? Or are you gonna do a Quade Cooper? I’m still a Kiwi. It’s funny I have these chats with my mates and they put scenarios into play, like if you had the opportunity to surf for the Aussie team or the NZ team what would you choose? I always say NZ because that’s where my loyalty stays.¬¬
Do you miss NZ? I don’t particularly miss NZ but I’d love to come back and do a sick roady, surf all the pumping uncrowded waves with mates and catch up with everybody.
Will you be coming back home anytime soon? Yeah I’m back for Nationals and I’m going to stay an extra week or two and go find some waves, then I come back for all the Billabong Grom Searches and King Of The Groms! Can’t wait, gunna be so sick yeww!