Claude Codgen was 20 years old when Petersen's Surfing magazine interviewed him. “A Candid and Casual Conversation with the first Eastern Surfing Association Champion” ran in the June 1968 issue.

Now that you're the 1967 East Coast contest circuit champion, how do you feel?

I feel that I was very fortunate, and also very lucky. I think it was just a lucky break.

What do you think about the contest circuit in general?

I think it's, as long as there you know where you have to be, when you have to be there, and what you have to do when you arrive. But taking into consideration what happened last year, what with chasing contests around and running all up and down the coast 20 times, it’s a little bit monotonous and insane on your head. It got out of hand. So as long as there is a set number of well-run contests, there shouldn't be a problem. That's what I'm hoping for this year. Contests can be a lot of fun.

Next year, as defending champion, where do you think the most competition is going to come from?

Do you plan to enter any West Coast contests this year?

No, I don’t plan to go out of my way to enter contests in California.

How do you place yourself in the international or the national picture?

I think I’ve got a long way to go, as far as international competition, and especially in the big-wave department. I have very little experience there, compared to the top international riders, but I plan to pick up more this year, especially in the coming winter.

To be honest, I think this rating thing has been getting out of hand, and I don't think they're going to be as vital as previously. People are getting tired is saying "This guy is Number One," or "This guy is the greatest." Surfers are becoming more educated. They're beginning to realize that a good surfer is a good surfer, whether he is Number One or not rated at all. You always have people who don’t care to enter contests who are very good surfers. You have people who don’t want to participate, or maybe they choke up and don’t do well in contests. So as far as anybody being "the top surfer," that's just a matter of opinion.

You recently went to Hawaii for the first time and surfed in the Duke Contest. How was that?

It was of great value experience-wise; just being able to
see all of the top surfers that you hear about, but rarely get to see in person. You not only watch, but you also get to talk with them too, and hear what their real feelings are. That is really valuable. You know, it doesn’t matter, all this malarky about what a person's personality is. That means nothing in terms of learning. I think you should be able to pick up something from every great surfer, whether he has a good or bad personality. If a person is a great surfer, they know something that you don’t know. And that’s what I try to look for in all the top surfers that I meet, something that they know that I don’t know. I learn from them all.

What were your feelings when you paddled out at Sunset for the contest?

I went out that morning before the contest, but I had never seen Sunset before. I had ridden only one day in Hawaii at that point, at Makaha, when it was about eight feet. So frankly, I was pretty scared when I first paddled out for the Duke. But I had the newest equipment, a baby gun, so I had confidence in the board.

I played it very safe, just rode four or five waves, that’s all. Like I said, I was really scared, but Paul Strauch and Jock Sutherland helped me out quite a lot.

How do you rate the East Coast surfers in Hawaii?

Of all the East Coast surfers who have gone to Hawaii, I'd say probably Bruce Valluzzi is Number One. Bruce has spent a lot of time there over the years, and he has gotten to know Hawaii pretty well. He really likes big waves, and he rides with the best of them now. Mike Tabeling and Fletcher Sharp also did well, and Dick Catri surfed great in the Duke Contest. Something you have to take into consideration is that most East Coast surfers have never seen anything that is the equivalent of a big Hawaiian wave. Asix-foot day at Chun’s is about the biggest we get on the East Coast.

It varies with the individual. Personally, it didn’t take me long to adapt to Hawaii. Then again, I don’t have any great feeling or great love for big surf. I like to ride waves up to maybe twelve-feet. Above that—well, I don’t think I would like to do big wave riding for my own enjoyment. Maybe if I had to for a contest occasionally. Otherwise, I don’t think I would.

In your mind, who are the guys who really stood out in Hawaii this year?

For me, without a doubt, the top two would be Joey Cabell and Jock Sutherland. I had never seen Cabell before going to Hawaii, but of course I’d heard a lot about him. I was real impressed by his surfing one day at Haleiwa, when every top name in the water. It was a real battle, and Cabell came out on top, at least in my mind. He just really impressed me. So did the Australians, especially Bob McTavish and Nat Young. Both of those guys really bring a lot people’s opinions out, which I think is good. It steps up the pace, and surfing progresses from it.

What do you think of the new boards, and what are you riding these days?

I picked up on a lot on the small board design this year, as I guess a lot of people have. Right now I’m riding an 8'5" vee-bottom,

How do you think the new shortboard concept will work on the East Coast?

I think it’s going to catch on big here, just like it did in California and Hawaii. At first, my thought was that the shortboard would never work on the East Coast, because we have slower, mushier waves. I still don’t think the new boards are going to work in really little surf, like one- or two-feet. But I don't really know. I usually ride a nine-foot lightweight. But now I think I could go from my 8'5" vee-bottom to an 8' vee-bottom, no problem. With the vee in the tail, the board has a lot of extra flotation.

What do the new boards mean in terms of competition?

A lot. There are so many good surfers today, and if you don’t have the right equipment, you’re out.

Subscribe or Login

Encyclopedia of Surfing

History of Surfing

Interviews

The Sunday Joint

Videos

Contests