PHOTO By Elijah Crowell

ZOLTAN TORKOS: THE MAGICIAN’S KICKFLIP

Layback · 2 days ago
August 22, 2012
INTERVIEW · SURF · VIDEO
In 2012, California Santa Cruz, Zoltan Torkos, achieved an unprecedented feat in the history of surf: hit a kickflip front of a camera that was filming from atop the cliff at Steamer Lane, his homebreak.

The film garnered much controversy, since at that time the Volcom offered for more than three years to award $ 10,000 to the first record of a kickflip on a surfboard, and many outlawed maneuver by Zoltan have been made on the basis wave, not the lip.

As the rule of the contest said nothing about this detail, the Californian ended up taking the award and we had the opportunity to know a little more about this figure and its mission to innovate in surfing maneuvers.

The incentive would come from his best friend, Carl Reimer, who supported him a year ago to take seriously the maneuver during a session at Steamer Lane. That same day, Carl was accidentally killed, the victim of a shootout between street gangs. The “Reimer Flip” then became the target of Zoltan, who until then had a career as a surfer, but like magic! A year after hitting its target (dozens of times!), Talked to the mage’s kickflip:

Layback: What has changed in your life after that shooting and award of Volcom? Zoltan: I had another daughter, Abbra – My best trick so far – I won an endorsement from SRH Clothing and Surfboards Wavetools, and made ​​my first event “Pull Not Tricks Triggers “(Pull Maneuver, not triggers) where I donated skateboards and equipment for youth from underserved communities. I have been very busy, but I hope to do even more!

Layback: How kickflips more after that you completed? Zoltan: I think I’m more or less in number 30, and just over 15 filmed.

Layback: Which, in your opinion, was the most well executed? Zoltan: The number 9 is very angry, off the lip and connecting on a double up.

Layback: Would you say that the kickflip has been his primary goal in recent years? Zoltan: Yeah, one of my main goals, but also try the Darkslide and other maneuvers executed in creative ways, like a skateboarder. And also do fingerflips wherever they can.

Layback: Do you think kickflips can be made ​​from 100% functional forms in a wave? Zoltan: I think the maneuver is already at that level, because I’ve got to do a kickflip and then a Darkslide in one wave.

The possibility of connecting the kickflip on another maneuver makes it a functional maneuver like any other air.

Layback: By now, you’re still the one posting footage of kickflips successful on the web. Do you have a desire to see other surfers doing the same? Zoltan: I think the skate-surf is legal for anyone and my intention is to start a revolution in the surf, and make the world embrace this kind of sport, and the people most underground.

Layback: How do you see guys like Dane Reynolds, Gabriel Medina, Matt Meola and the air they have done? Zoltan: I think we have to join forces and make a trip to a surf video of just about fun and progress. I think this would be an angry crowd and an angry movie!

Layback: What next? Got some new trick goal? Zoltan: I would like to do a kickflip landing base exchanged, or a varial flip, kickflip but Reimer will always be in my arsenal of tricks.

Layback: Regarding Hippy Jumps and Acid Drops, they are at least unusual. What you want to achieve with this kind of maneuver? Zoltan: I want to inspire creativity and do a great sport, boring, showing the endless possibilities

Layback: How are the sponsorship and also the life of magician? Zoltan: Things are great, a dream! The last day of this earth my friend showed me that I should be a professional and complete the kickflip. He was killed that day, then have the support of SRH and Wavetools has been a blessing and a dream come true. I have mixed a little magic in their day-to-day creative and to continue doing some art.

Watch below some of the many kickflips Zoltan “The Magician” Torkos, and other surtações like Hippie Jump, the Fingerflip and exchange of planks on top of the wave. The Play button is guaranteed fun: