Surf's Up

Topsail Advertiser’s Cory Withers: How long have you been surfing?

Featured Surfer William McGowan: 39 years.

CW: What kind of boards do you use? Do you remember your first board?
WM: Impact, Walden Magic.

CW: Do you compete? If so, what have you won?
WM: No.

CW: Dawn patrol or evening session?
WM: Both.

CW: Describe your dream wave?
WM: Double overhead, Durban Pier.

CW: Highest number of stitches ever earned in a surf session?
WM: Lots of blood. No stitches.

CW: What’s your favorite place you have surfed or would love to surf in the future?
WM:  Honolulu Bay.

CW: Name two rules of surfing etiquette every beginner should live by?

WM:  1. Don’t drop in. 2. Don’t paddle out then peak.

CW: What is the best advice another surfer ever gave you?
WM: In Hawaii. Don’t drop in on locals.

CW: Any shark or sea creature encounters?
WM: Pago Pago and American Samoa.

CW: How did you learn to surf?
WM: I learned in Cape Cod

CW: What surfing story do you never get tired of telling?
WM:  Point break south of Durban, S.A. It was 6’8”. There was one other person out there.

CW: Would you ever mention your favorite place to surf locally?
WM: Only to my best friends.