Surf News

Dagan Stagg by Chris Williams

When this kid isn't blasting the top off waves down at Tamarack in Carlsbad, he's ollying the bowl with style at the local skate park. In between you'll find him throwing blows with his mini-grom brother Curran, teaching him the finer points of hand to hand "grombat" in a world gone mad with frothers.

CSF recently caught up with Dagan to talk story about surfing and life as an 8 year old in 2009. Much like his surfing, his thoughts and drive are clearly ahead of his time.

Name:
Dagan Stagg
Age:
8 years
Hometown:
Carlsbad, CA
Sibs, parents:
lil' bro (Curran), Mom (Camille), Dad (Ryan)
Pets: Sugar Glider (Fibi)
School and grade: Pacific Rim 2nd grade


Home break:
Tarramar, Tamarack, Ponto

Sponsors: Hoven, 21-13 Boards, and DC flow

Board you ride, size and shape: 21-13 G-Bomb, 4'7"

Fav surf vid: Kelly Slater Black & White

Fav pro surfer: Slater (of course), Dane Reynolds cause he always keeps it fun, Kolohe Andino cause he rips, and of course we can't leave out Occy & Tom Curren!

local heroes: My Mom & Dad, Mrs. McGowan (my awesome teacher), Shawn White & Taylor Knox

Best tacos in Carlsbad: Rudy's... Nothing tastes better after a fun surf.
Barrel or air: Air, I am constantly trying to somehow work an air into my waves

Clean waves and crowded or messy with friends: clean waves & crowded, and I'll chillax with my friends after getting some good surf in.

Mom's best grinds: Can you say everything?
My mom loves to eat! I'd probably say Spaghetti Factory, sushi, chips w/ salsa, and anywhere with a good steak...

Dad's best surf move:
I think his best surf maneuver would definitely be his reverse


Dagan- talk about your first wave, what was it like?

..out at Ponto, my Dad took me out on his Longboard and I remember thinking the waves were huge. A big set came in and my dad dropped into it and I stood up on the front of his board. He picked me up and put me on his shoulders. It was a really long ride and we took it all the way to the sand. It was so awesome! The best feeling ever. I was hooked to the ocean after that. I constantly wanted to paddle out with my Dad, and even when we weren't out surfing, I was thinking about being out there. I'd have my mom make up stories about me riding huge waves and doing cool tricks, every night when she was putting me to bed. I was born part fish.


What's the best thing about surf comps?

... being able to surf so many killer spots, that I wouldn't probably get to ride if the contests didn't take me there. I also love being able to hang out with my friends and surf with so many insane surfers who I can learn so much from.


Tell us about your best comp:

One of my favorite comp memories was in my first "official contest" when I won a surfboard. I was so stoked! I also always love doing the CSF contests with my dad. I have a lot of good memories surfing in those. I guess, any comp that I can learn something from is a good one... which really is all of them.

Do you like surfing in comps with your dad?

Yeah, it's so cool! I am really lucky that we are so close and get to hang out doing something that we both love. Those contests are awesome!


What's it like out there in the heat?

...Heats kind of become an addiction ... whether it's because I am mad at myself for not performing my best or because I was able to pull into an insane wave and make it to the next round ... it somehow always pushes me to want to do it again and to better my skills and learn new things. The
heats with my Dad are super fun and kick back. We have such a good time in those ones. In a few of our heats we've been able to ride the same wave ... since he's goofy and I'm regular footed, I'll take the right and he'll take the left. No other sessions can compare with getting to surf those heats together !

Dream surf trip?

It's a tossup between Indo (Bali) or Fiji (Tavarua) ... with endless perfect waves, friends, hot tub, lots of good food, and maybe even some cute girls (just kidding Mom!)


Word on the street is you're a ripping skater? How'd you get into skating?

I would actually skateboard before I could even crawl. From as early as I can remember my dad would take me out on his board. Everyday at about the time he was suppose to be coming home, I'd scoot his longboard over to the front door and sit on it waiting for him to get there. I'd make him take me out for a ride before he could do anything else. He'd cruise me to the ice cream truck and get me an ice cream, then we'd ride all over, and even sometimes down to the beach so he could check the waves. It was my favorite time of the day.

Fav Skater?

Tony Hawk, Danny Way, PLG, Ryan Sheckler and my best friend Jackson


You have a younger brother, Curran, how do keep him in line?

Curran? Ha, more like how does he keep me in line. He's such a tough little warrior. You wouldn't want to mess with him. He's little but with a lot of fire! He's my best buddy and I would do anything for him. I love my little Curran!


Where do you go to youth group?

I am involved in a few different youth groups. The most important one being the one through my church, and I also participate in The Boy Scouts of America, Kids Korps, and of course Surfers Anonymous.

What's that all about? What are they talking about in there?

... Service for God, the Needy, the Earth or whatever... We all need to live our lives in service; it's what makes the world go round. I've also been taught how prayer can help me to cope in getting through those long school days when the waves are going off. Ha, but for reals I always try to remember & thank who has blessed me with such an incredible ocean and the opportunities I have to utilize it.

Favorite Bible story?

Noah's Ark, David V. Goliath, Christmas?
Jonah of course! He got to chill in a whale.

Where do you want to take your surfing?

All over the world!

Thanks Dagan, God bless you little bro-