Benny G
Collin Harrington Switch Nosepress 180 Out | Photo: Joey Meddock
You’re a pretty opinionated person, I’d say, but you keep to yourself a lot unless you’re asked. So here I am asking, what pisses you off about our sport?
Collin: Politics, I guess. A lot of times things are portrayed as they aren’t and I guess I’m a very realistic kind of person. You know, like people who deserve things should get things.
So even if you feel strongly about something you never say anything about it. Do you do that on purpose? Is that calculated?
Collin: I’m definitely a very opinionated person. At the same time I’m one of the most easygoing people, just down with whatever, whenever. But yeah, around close friends I’ll open up and state opinions and things that I feel strongly about. I’ve just seen it happen that if you open up to the wrong person, it gets into the media somehow, or the wrong person hears something and it can be taken in a really wrong direction and portrayed really badly. Then it comes back on you.
I would say in your case it has more to do with respect. I mean, I’ve never heard a bad word said about you. That’s extremely rare except for someone like Danny Harf — no one can say a bad thing about the dude.
Collin: Love that guy.
Yeah, rightfully so, but with almost every other person there has been some sort of controversy or issue. With you it’s like people are rooting for you. So even with your strong opinions about what is cool on a board and what isn’t, you’ve kept yourself out of the trash-talking scene. Would you say that’s more or less how you approached it?
Collin: Yeah, I never really tried to hide my opinions or anything. I guess it’s just kind of the way I am. I really respect everything that everybody does. Everybody has their own deal going on, and I guess it comes down to respect.
So you’re saying whatever you put out, you will get back.
Collin: Yeah, I don’t realize that I’m doing it, which I guess is a good thing.
That’s probably why it works for you.
Collin: Yeah. Sweet! Keep rooting for me!
Are there times you wish you had gone the surfing route and competed more in surfing and chased that down?
Collin: Yeah, pretty much every knee surgery! I‘ve had six.
I would have guessed three.
Collin: I did right knee ACL and meniscus in 2002. Left knee meniscus in 2004 and then redid it after like five months. Did ACL and meniscus again after filming for The Truth on that big rail at Watson’s. And then I did just meniscus in 2008 on my right knee and did just ACL in 2010 on my left knee.
Have you gone to the same doctor for all of those?
Collin: First doctor, I went back home and stayed with my parents. But the rest were with Dr. Randy Schwartzberg here in Orlando.
You think you’ve bought him a new Ferrari?
Collin: I’ve definitely bought him a new car or two. We’ve bonded and it’s not good when your knee doctor knows you. [laughs] For a little while after each surgery I always go, man, I should have gone surfing! But I love wakeboarding and I love surfing just as much. I’ve grown up doing everything and just love it all. I don’t wish I had done anything different. Sure, it makes me curious sometimes where it would have led if I had gone the surfing route, but either way I’m really happy with all the friends I’ve made and opportunities I’ve had. I’ve gotten to travel the world and I’m not even 30 yet.
