Q&A with NJ Pro Surfer Sam Hammer | ||
| I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Sam Hammer--one of the most accomplished pro surfers ever to come out of New Jersey. While Dean Randazzo broke the line open for pro surfers in the state, Sam took the ball and ran with it like no one else. His career spans 12 years now and there's no sign of anything slowing down anytime soon. He's traveled to more places than any of us will see in a lifetime, has won a slew of local contests and will always hold the unbridled respect of everyone in the water. But he didn't get to this level through hot surfing alone. |  |  |
| Photo by Mike Reynolds | ||
Our conversation revealed that Sam's career has been built on extremely hard work, ingenious business decisions and a strong ability to network. He's a sharp, engaging guy who saw what he wanted--in an area not so conducive to a pro career--and figured out how to get it. Of course, a penchant for big waves (Puerto Escondido-Mexico & Pipeline-Hawaii) and a hardiness born from our wicked NJ winters didn't hurt either! Below you'll find Sam's thoughts on his chosen career path, deep love of New Jersey, travel and his views on equipment. Enjoy! Q: What beach did you grow up on? Sam: Born and raised in Lavallette, NJ and grew up surfing Jersey Ave and Trenton Ave mainly. And then when I turned around 13 or 14, I kinda moved on to [Casino] Pier and started surfing there alot. I surfed up my street on Jersey Ave more than anywhere though. It just had some really good sandbars. Q: Did you have a crew that you grew up with down there? Sam: Yeah, my one buddy-this kid Jimmy Pasche. We were just inseparable and we'd surf every day when there wasn't school and there were waves... Q: And occasionally when there was school? Sam: No, I never skipped (laughs). I surfed in high school during lunch break and my science teacher would let me come in late sometimes and that was cool...But I couldn't really skip. My parents would kill me. (laughs hard) Q: First Board? Sam: My first board was a 5'6" Blue Hawaii twin fin. Martin Potter ['89 ASP World Champ] was my hero and he was Blue Hawaii back in the day. Q: Twins were not the easiest thing to start out on. Sam: No, but they're fast. You learn how to go fast. And then from there, I went on to a 5'6" Live Bait, which was an Ocean Hut board. Q: Did Tony Giordano shape those? Sam: No, he had someone else shaping them. Q: Was the Live Bait a twinnie as well? Sam: No, it was a tri-fin, with rounded pin and glassed-on fins.
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