“Jacob handles Pipe, Backdoor, and Off the Wall like the O.G. he is out North. He has a knack for always being in the right place at the right time to pluck off the best waves in the water. (A small piece of evidence showing his expertise in big Pipe was when he got, hands down, one of the sickest, longest barrels of the season a few years ago—the clip made it on Surfline.) He’s on a mission this year. Not only is Vanders in tip top shape and charging without reservation, but he’s putting in more time than anyone else in the water.”

-Evan Fa

What’s your name?
Jacob VanderVelde

Where are you from originally?
Central Oahu

Where do you live now?
Mililani

How old are you?
28

How long have you been bodyboarding?
22 years

Prone or DK? If both, how much of each?
85% Prone 15%DK

Who do you bodyboard with?
Mostly solo. The Hubbards when they’re not traveling. Maurice and Wesley L., Heights production crew always on it.

What is your favorite bodyboard spot?
OTW and 3rd Dip

Where have you traveled to bodyboard?
Hawaiian Islands and Cali

Where do you want to travel to bodyboard?
Tahiti and Shark Island

What board(s) do you ride?
42 3/8 Custom X Hawaii Limited Board by Pete Anaya

Do you compete?
Yes
If so, what competitions have you competed in?
Pipe, USBA Tour, and the IBA Hawaii tour.

What is the bodyboarding community in Hawaii like?
Different scene now. I grew up surfing with my brother Kaiona Whitaker and friends like Tharin Rosa, Tony Boy, Dean Marzol and the rest of the crew. But the new scene is awesome with guys pushing the sport like always. Lots of positive people in the scene. Lucky we live Hawaii.

Do you have any sponsors? What companies?
Custom X Bodyboards

What other board sports do you partake in?
Snowboarding

What bodyboard goals do you have?
Get as much long bus size barrels as I can in this lifetime. Blast big airs and always push bigger. Help push bodyboarding to a level to where it should be.

Where do you see the bodyboarding going in the future?
I see big companies in support of bodyboarding. More worldwide events. More people making careers as a professional bodyboarder. Guys putting it on the line, like today, and getting rewarded for it.

What riders influenced your bodyboarding?
My Brother Kaiona, Dean Marzol, Sean Wadell, Tony Boy, and Joey Vieira.

What riders are pushing the sport right now?
The Hubb brothers, Jacob Romero, David Phillips, Micah, and Bud Miyamoto.

If you were stranded on a desert island that already has a plentiful resource of bodyboards and fins what three things would you bring?

Kayak, lay net, and the internet.

What is the best advice you can give to a bodyboard grom trying to get recognized?
Respect and let your riding speak for itself.

Any last words of advice? Shout outs?
To all the photographers sticking it out for bodyboarding—Maurice A, Ryan Beppu, Danny Black, Heights production, Justin Pirdle, Colin M. and the rest… you know who you are. To all the spongers that share the best natural high in the world. We bodyboard because we love it.