Just to remind some of you, I’ve left all the questions written as is. I’ve figured, why go out of my way to make some of you guys look smarter than you actually are and correct all your grammatical errors? Fuck that. - Christian
Hey Dibi, my father is racist and doesn’t want me to date a Mexican guy from Santa Ana. How do I tell him to back off?” - Mary Jonas
Dibi: How do you know he doesn’t want you to date a Mexican because of his race? There’s a lot of different reasons parents have for their decisions concerning who their kids date. Make sure you have yours correct before jumping to conclusions.
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Hey Dibi, am I just as bad as a Soccer Parent if I keep pushing my kid to surf and get upset with him during his NSSA heats when he loses? - John Michaels
Dibi: If the kid doesn’t want to surf, all the pushing in the world is not got to make much difference - whether it’s surfing, soccer or whatever. Losing is part of the process of learning how to win. Life is filled with competition and it helps us grow to learn both sides of the coin early on.
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Dibi if you strongly believed in a particular religion and raised your children to have the same beliefs, how would you feel if they decided it wasn’t right for them as they got older? Would you support their freedom to choose that or would you be honestly disappointed? - Theresa Ballou
Dibi: I hope that I’d support my kids in whatever they strongly believed in. I, like most parents, want my kids to be happy and hope that I gave them the intelligence and guts to make their own decisions.
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Dibi, my wife complains that all our vacation trips are based on where I want to go surf. I work all year round while she stays home with the kids. I feel like I deserve it and should be allowed to pick the destination. And what’s so bad about her laying on the beach and getting a tan in Barbados while I catch some waves? - Ernie Gallagher
Dibi: Sounds like all my vacations, and it seemed to work out fine for us. As the boys got older I stayed home while they went on surf trips and that was cool, it was a vacation being at home with out them.
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Hey Dibi, I have a problem. I am really fit and active and go skating and surfing every day. My problem is that I want to try rollerblading to extend my activities. Should I care what people think? I don’t want to be called a fruit booter! - Glen Wilden
Dibi: I don’t think anyone has to live with constant group acceptance. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have done most of the things I do now. I think it was people making me think I couldn’t or shouldn’t that made me have the drive to succeed.
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Hi Dibi you have any suggestions on what to fuel up on before a 5-hour surf session where the sun is beating me down? I get so hungry and thirsty but don’t want to come in right away! - Justin Young
Dibi: I’m a very light eater and don’t like food in my stomach when exercising, but load up on water and carbs after. There’s a zillion great book on diet for athletes, check them out and see what works for you.
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Dear Dibi, my parents are pressuring me to go to college and become a physical therapist. But I just kind of want to put off school for a year and travel and do my thing and IF I do go to college definitely have no interest in becoming a therapist. But my dad won’t pay my tuition unless I take those courses. What should I do? - Keith Paulsen
Dibi: Take the courses, all learning is great. I’m sure if you show initiative, get good grades and decide you want to academically change course, I’m sure your Dad would listen a lot more intently.
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Hey Dibi do you think if you are a surfer or skater and you are being interviewed by a surf or skate magazine, it should stictly and only be about surfing or skating? - Ron Haarksen
Dibi: When I interview people, I try to ask questions that cause them to stretch a bit, but I try to respect they’re privacy as well. I also try to do my homework and learn about them so there’s a more intimate feel without being intrusive or just plain nosy.
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hi Dibi does it ever get tiring when people constantly ask you for free Astrodeck pads or sandals or something? - Deacon Mallory
Dibi: Yes, they’re not free to me, I have to pay for every pad and pair of sandals and work my ass off everyday to keep it all together. It’s interesting that anyone that goes to the market expects to pay for goods, but gets offended when they’re expected to pay for pads or sandals.
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Hey Dibi, I’ve tried and tried and just can’t stand up on a shortboard! I’m really bummed because I really want to surf. I can paddle, I can duck dive, but I can’t stand up. What am I doing wrong? - David Stinson
Dibi: Get a bigger board!!
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I work for a popular skateboard company. One of our top riders recently got a local girl pregnant and he’s not claiming responsibility. The girl got a hold of me and is desperate to reach him because he’s ignoring her calls. It’s none of my business but at the same time, this guy is a jerk and I feel terrible for the girl. If I stick my nose in, what if i get fired? on the other hand, she’s young and alone and needs his support. - Josh Carper
Dibi: So sad, but my advice is to stay out of the middle. They’ve gone down a road carelessly and it’s time for both of them to grow up without your interference. They’ll have to make the decisions that will change both of their lives and that of the unborn child forever. I’m very sorry for all of them.
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Dibi, is it wrong for me to stuff all my problems and pretend they don’t exist and just let them linger or fester or should I bite the bullet and address them all, no matter how gnarly or trivial they may seem? - Scott Childress
Dibi: I’m for facing whatever there is - and I always start with the thing I’d like to run from the most.
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Dibi, I’ve noticed that a lot of my friends are always fiending to get their hands on Japanese wetsuits. And Christian seems to like them. Do you know what the appeal is? Are they made with a different kind of material? Thanks. - Richard Wheeler
Dibi: I asked Christian what’s the difference and he said ” Everything!” They just don’t hold up as well.
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Hi Dibi, do you think the type of music people listens to kind of shows their personality in the water as far as their surfing skills go? I mean, if a guy listen to Jimmy Buffet do you think he just cruises? Or if he listens to Metallica, is he just going ballistic in the water? Or does it not even matter? - Tommy Muehller
Dibi: Yes, I think it makes a difference in every aspect of what you do. It’s all about choice.
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Hi Dibi. I’m really frustrated. I’m 16. I save my money so by the time summer rolls, I have a brand new board. Well I have a little brother who’s 12 and my mom tells me to share my new board with him. He’s careless with it and bangs it around. I must have 4 dings on it already! But when i complain to my mom about it she thinks I’m being unfair and selfish. We don’t have a lot of money where she can buy him his own board - not even a used one. - Carl Simolay
Dibi: I’m sure most any surf shop has a used board section that you can get a deal.
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Hi Dibi. This isn’t a surf related question but just thought I’d ask your opinion on it anyways. I have a great uncle who… well, he just lies all the time. He’s told people that he was one of the original Little Rascals and that he was in a lot of movies back in Hollywood’s Golden Era. I don’t know why he keeps doing it only than he gets away with it because people don’t want to make him feel bad. I don’t want him getting this rep as a weird lying freak. Should I just let the old guy keep living in this fantasy world? Thank God he doesn’t know a thing about surfing otherwise he’d probably tell people he taught the Duke how to surf! - Ray Berkshire
Dibi: He sounds like quite a character; the kind of guy I think is interesting. I’d go along with it and enjoy the story.
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Is there a union for professional surfers? If not, do you think there should be one? - Owen Lehman
Dibi: NO, NO, NO!!!!!
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Why is snowboarding an Olympic event but not surfing or even skateboarding? Geography wise, I would think that snowboarding is as difficult as surfing for there to be more of a mass audience. - Drew Wenders
Dibi: I don’t want to see it become an Olympic event, but I believe there are a whole bunch of people pushing for it, so I’m sure with all the big publicly traded companies running things, it won’t be long.
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Hi Dibi. I’m really pissed off. I just saw this video clip where Biden told these 5th graders that he and Obama “inherited” a lot of problems from the Bush administration. What the hell! What’s with the excuses?? Do you agree or disagree? - Taylor Sewell
Dibi: Every administration inherits the problems of the last but it’s time to MAN UP and accept the mess that is now theirs.
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Dear Dibi, I was watching the pro junior event and wanted to know why Hawaii is separate from USA as far as teams go? - Daniel Breck
Dibi: I really don’t know, I’m sure you could Google it and follow the trail.
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Dibi, I have a question. What do you think about all these young kids and their parents who are so eager to be sponsored and all they see are dollar signs or getting free product. Now it seems like so many of them just feel they’re owed this! - Ryan Kragen
Dibi: I think it’s sad; I hear about the parents quitting their jobs and pushing the kids to be the next big thing, Be careful what you wish for. It’s a long, tough road and rarely turns out how one would think.
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My friend is starting his own clothing line and showed me some of his designs and ideas. I think they’re really ugly and terrible. How do I tell him this without sounding like I’m being jealous of his new endeavors? - Shane O’Dell
Dibi: When any of us designs something, we all give our opinion… and there’s plenty of OPINION. Bottom line for us, it’s not personal. A lot of time, money and energy is going to go into it to bring it to market and it’s got to have legs (sales), for it not to be a huge costly mistake. If your friend just wants a pat on the back great, but if you’re a friend, tell him the truth. It’s a lot friendlier to save him from a huge mistake then spare his feelings. In business you need to learn to hear the truth and not get it mixed-up with anything personal.
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What is the value of the media? Do you think there are topics that should be off limits? Have they gone the way of trashy reality TV where they just want to pry into the lives of people and get “the dish”? - Sarah Crowther
Dibi: The media can be a great format and has become so much more with the internet than could have been imagined just a few years ago. But it has gotten a bit bizarre with everyone wanting to be famous. We’ve been approached numerous times to do a reality show, but none of us are interested!
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Hey Dibi, why do you think Skateboarding has a more universal appeal than surfing but the surfing lifestyle “look” is more trendy and popular with fashion and attire? - Kyle Russe
Dibi: The whole world is made of cement and it’s about 100 bucks to start up, so everyone has a chance to enjoy skateboarding. Surfing needs the ocean, so right there you’re down availability. The “look” was originally based on the dream of a beach lifestyle that appealed to the world when it became more affluent.
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Dibi. I’m conflicted. I’ve been with my shaper for 15 years. We’re great friends. But recently I’ve tried riding a competitor’s board and it really works well for me! I don’t know how to break it to my friend. - Jerry Wilson
Dibi: If your shaper is a great craftsman, he should be able to shape you anything you want. So, get the right dimensions and give him a chance.
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Do you think the social media monster Facebook will be around for awhile or will there be something to knock it off it’s tracks? Let’s say, within the next couple of years… - Brandon Murphy
Dibi: Everyone’s going to try, like with anything that’s a hit. We’ll just wait and see.
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hi Dibi. please don’t laugh because this is really bothering me. i bring my lunch to work every day. i am lactose intolerant so i bring a special type of diet lunch for myself. well someone keeps messing with me cause they take a few bites out of my lunch and then put the rest back. this is driving me nuts and i can’t nab the culprit! i would keep my lunch with me at my desk but it needs to be refrigerated. should i complain to my supervisor? - Aaron Tremaine
Dibi: I’d first talk to everyone casually before going any further.
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Dear Dibi, my son is 4 years old and already a great swimmer. He loves the pool. But he seems to be afraid of the ocean. I really want to start taking him out with me on my board but do you think by doing this, I’ll just make him even more fearful of the waves? - Wayne Laughlin
Dibi: I’d take him to the beach as much as possible and get him a boogie board to play with. Before you know it, he’ll be so water-stoked you won’t be able to keep him out of it.
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Hi Dibi. Last week I passed by someone on the highway who had a flat tire. I just drove by because I was in a hurry and didn’t have the time. Well low and behold just a couple of days ago a rock hit my window and now it’s about to shatter any minute. Do you think this was some kind of karma or am I thinking too deep into it? - Alex Martinez
Dibi: I think you’re thinking way too much.
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Hey Dibi, my friend is a total wigger and I’m really embarrassed of him. He’s nice but he thinks he’s some kind of thug and so hardcore especially when it comes to impressing the ladies. He has a scar on his leg that he got from a bike accident and he’s told chicks that he got into a knife fight. When he talks like this to people I just want to call him out and call him a liar. Should I do that next time or just let it go? - Travis Mondale
Dibi: Pick out a new friend!
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Dibi, I’m asking because I’m not really sure but is it mandatory now for a kid to turn “pro” only after he reaches the age of 18? I remember back in the ’80s when kids were only 15, 16 years old and were signed on as pros. I mean Kolohe Andino gets paid big and is backed by huge sponsors but is he still amateur status competitive wise? - Roger Baldwin
Dibi: No, it’s not an age issue. But I’m not sure anymore what constitutes “pro”. When Christian was 13, he appeared in a Stussy ad. He wasn’t paid or anything. Stussy was a friend, but the NSSA wanted to insist that he was then a pro. Man, times sure have changed!!
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