SKIN DOG

Big waves like Mavericks, Puerto and Jaws , recognition with Ride Of The Year, Monster Tube .........and his motto being- Big Waves, Big Barrels, Big Airs, and Big Nights!!!  Ken Collins is one of the top big wave surfers in the world.  He has  documented tow in with fellow big wave surfer Peter Mel and made a big impact by being in the movie     Step Into Liquid.   Collins continues to make history in the surfing world every year by chasing the biggest swells.    His    new site called "Chasing Monsters" helps promote the worlds biggest wave surfers and the huge waves they charge.   

Name:Ken Collins

Nickname: ...I've heard that you have a bunch:  Started with Skinny kenny. then Skinny Dog to Skin Dog, Puerto Dog, Mavz Dog, Dogfather, and then there are the ones I can't say

Age: 43

Weight: 170

Stance: reg

Home Town: Santa Cruz Surf City

Home Break: The Lane

Fav Board:  9 foot 3" fin mavz gun by Channel Islands

1)- How did you get into surfing and how old were you?

Moved a couple blocks away from the beach at 5, saw guys sliding on waves and didn't know what it was called, but knew I was going to be doing that.

2)-Fav big wave?

Mavericks and Puerto

3)-Do you enjoy surfing smaller waves?

I love surfing small waves. I really like punting airs on punchy small waves and like to long board long lil waves with friends and fam.

4)-What have you been up to, any projects you have been working on?

chasingmonsters.com is my latest project. it is a web site platform dedicated 100% to big wave surfing.

5)-What are your thoughts and feelings when you see a huge set coming and you know you are going for it??

Half the time I feel like a nut case even sitting in the path of a giant wave, but then my instincts kick in and I go total animal and just do what I do.

6)-I always see your posts on FB about Puerto, have you been surfing there a lot this year?

I go to Puerto 3 times every summer in search of the biggest tubes I can find. I really love the wave and the community around it.

7)-what was it like to grow up in Santa Cruz?

I feel really lucky to grow up in Santa Cruz, the place has so many waves and so many guys to be inspired from. It is like a training ground for big wave surfing, combined with performance shredding to. There are so many big wave surfers here that can shred and do airs. 

8)- your thoughts on steamer lane? 

The best office in the world. Love the Lane. 5 generations That still surf it daily.. Teaches you about family values and respect of our elders. I feel that I am in the middle of this peeking order and never take waves from the legends. I try and always be a good role model for the groms.

9)-biggest wave you have surfed?

Probably that Jaws wave I eat it on in 2004. 70 foot.

I got a massive one at Ghost Trees in 2007 65 footer that I made. Size does not matter unless you are in the tube.

10)-Do you do any special training or diets?

Yep I paddle all summer on a 18 foot Joe Bark, and then I stand up paddle in flat water. I ride mountain bike as well, Santa Cruz has the most amazing redwood mountain trails over looking the Pacific. Try to eat at home as much as possible. Santa Cruz has an insane organic food selection. Never eat processed foods or crap. 

11)-do you like any other sports?

Love snowboarding, mountain biking, 10 mile paddles, camping, fishing, and drinking beer

12)-What are your plans for the rest of the year?

Wait for a massive swell to appear and chase it.

13)-Ken skindog collins and the inner circle website is def one of the coolest websites............

Have not taken an in the tube photo in over a year, time to get that going again. I have a new idea and just need the right wave to do it.

14)-Have you ever been or surfed Delaware??

No but would love to do a upper east coast family surf trip, I really like the look of that coast line.

15)-your advice for people wanting to take their surfing to big waves?

Work your way up. Don't just grab a 10 foot board and paddle out to Mavz or Jaws. You need to be able to paddle at least 10 miles on a paddle board with in an hour. You should surf 12 foot Sunset first, then 15 foot. and when you feel good in that size head down to Puerto and try 12 foot there. Then you will know if you are ready for 20 foot Mavz. I have seen too many people show up to Mavz and just get slammed, totally not ready.