Fifteen year old Riley Laing took to the North Shore with pal and filmmaker Owen Milne with those pipe dreams in mind. The Central Coast duo were there to climb the pecking order that is no more omnipresent than on the North Shore. Riley charged solid Waimea for the first time and Owen nailed a ‘Black Friday’ clip that went viral. The relationship of a surfer/filmmaker partnership is unique especially when one good clip can launch your career.

Tracks caught up with Riley and Owen to talk about the experience.

Describe your first impressions of the North Shore?

Owen: Simply shocked, I couldn’t believe how close and how perfect the whole North Shore was, it was like it has been pieced together by a surfing god.

Riley: It was so sick to be on the North Shore were all the best surfers and biggest companies come for six weeks to surf in and watch the triple crown on just a little stretch of sand.

How important do you feel it is to ‘make it’ in Hawaii as a surfer or filmmaker?

Owen Milne: I felt relieved to even make it to Hawaii after watching back to back years of pumping waves on the internet. To be there with one of the best up and coming groms with my camera in hand was truly a ‘Hawaiian Dream.’

Riley: As a surfer it is really important to make it in Hawaii because it is the proving ground for charging big waves and surfing good in small waves as the whole surfing community is there watching.

How did you find negotiating the hierarchy of the lineup?

Owen Milne: I always knew that there was one of the heaviest pecking orders, but I never knew there was a photographer pecking order! In the water the well known photographers are located closest to the action while we are stuck behind their heads in every shot.

Riley: The hierarchy can be frustrating at times one day I spent eight hours in the water at Pipe and only got four waves but thats the way it is there and you just have to keep paddling out.

What type of strategy do you have to employ on the North Shore?

Riley: In Hawaii you have to do the time in the water to get any waves. You have to be respectful to the locals as its their back yard your playing in. It’s about earning respect.

Owen logging some time and respect at Rocky Point. Photo by Scott Laing

What was it like traveling together, banking footage and putting out weekly clips?

Owen Milne: It was a super fun experience traveling around Hawaii with Riley due to the fact we got fun waves and he was actually the one showing me around.

Riley: It was sick having Owen there on the trip filming we had a good time together making the Hawaii Riley Episodes. Its was fun and hilarious and there was some debating over the edits.

Describe a typical Hawaiian day?

Owen Milne: Wake up at first light and ride around to check the best surf spots on our weathered bikes. Surf and shoot for the next few hours then jump back on our pushys and ride to Pupakea Grill and go mad on Spicy Tuna Bowls! Surf through the afternoon during a classic Hawaiian Sunset and fall asleep waiting for the footage to download.

Riley: Excatly what Owen said. Yeewwww!!

A rite of passage is also seeing the seven mile miracle from above the pineapple fields. Photo by Owen Milne

Riley, you’re only fifteen and comfortable in big waves. What do you put it down to?

Riley: I started surfing big waves at home with my dad when I was about 10. My dad bought a jet ski and started towing me out at our local bombies. I just loved it and wanted to go even bigger waves.

Before Hawaii you were in Bali with charger Justin ‘Jughead’ Allport. Is he a big influence on your surfing?

Riley: Yes Jug is a huge influence on my big wave surfing. He teaches me about swells, tracking, locating and chasing them around the world. It was sick going to Ulus with him and knowing he was out there with me. He’s a good mate.

Will the Central Coast produce another WCT surfer in the years to come? Photo by Owen Milne

Do you see yourself embarking on a career as a competitive surfer?

Riley: 100% I want to be on the CT and be one of the best surfers in the world. My coach Glen ‘Micro’ Hall has shown me never to give up on my dreams and to keep persisting and I’ll get there.

What are your plans for next year?

Riley: I’m going to go in a lot of the Pro Juniors in the Australasian leg and go in some grom comps as well as chase down some big swells.

I would just like to say a massive thanks to my mum, dad, family and friends, Billabong and all my other sponsors who have helped me achieve all my goals for 2013 and Ill try and make you all proud in 2014.

Owen Milne 2013 – Motion Reel from Owen Milne on Vimeo.