Name: Dave Polatty
D.O.B.: Oct 1970
Hometown: Narragansett, RI
Occupation: College Professor
Sponsors: Surf Station, Smith Optics, Matuse, ERGO
Years Surfing: 25
They Call Me: Polecat
3 words to describe me: Duty, Honor, Country – 4th generation Navy, what do you expect?
My Board(s): Channel Islands – lots of them! Sashimi, Dumpster Diver, Neck Beard, T-Knox, Black Beauty plus my beloved 9’6″ Skip Frye
When I’m not surfing, I’m: Swimming, paddling, snowboarding, hanging with family
My Typical Day: Wake, surf/paddle/or swim, teach, surf/paddle/or swim, play with my kid, sleep (and eat a ton of food in between)
My Dream Day: Surfing 8-10′ barreling rights with my buds
Dream Job: Indo Surf Guide
Favorite Surfing Memory: July 4 1998 surfing hollow rights all by myself in Panama
The best thing about me: I’m still a kid at heart
My type of girl: My wife!
On my iPod: Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Switchfoot,
Favorite Song: Rearviewmirror
If I could be any animal, I’d be: Dolphin
Choice of Drink: Water
Favorite meal: Lobstah!
Favorite Hangout Spot: PJ Lighthouse
Do You have a celeb crush? Nope
If you could have any super powers? Breathe underwater and fly
My Theme Song: Times Like These
I never go anywhere without: Boardshorts and goggles
In ten years, I: Hope to be better than I am now – not only at surfing but everything in life
Life Influences: Family for everything/ Dr. Grossmith for fixing my spinal cord/ Curren, Knox, Slater, Reynolds for surfing
How long have you been on the team? 1998!
Favorite Quote or phrase you live by? He’e Nalu
Advice for other surfers: Don’t ever stop