Dillon Perillo

By: Jerry Allen | Steven Lippman and Logan Lara | March 19, 2008 | Profile

At all of 17, the future professional surfer is already demonstrating the confidence and poise of a surfer twice his age.

What’s it like growing up in Malibu?
It’s really different. The good thing about it: It’s pretty. Everything’s nice because everyone’s rich. There are a lot of cool cars everywhere I look. The waves aren’t crowded. I like the waves here. It’s fun. And I have some good friends here.

What about as a surfer?
Malibu is actually hard for a surfer because it’s not as consistent in the water, but it has its good days, for sure.

So, your dad lives in Oxnard and your mom lives in Malibu?
Yeah. My mom lives on Heathercliff. My dad used to live in Malibu, but now he lives in Oxnard. He still has his Malibu house and he plans to sell his Oxnard house and move back this year.

Steven Lippman

When did you start surfing?
I caught my first wave when I was 5. I didn’t surf that much until I moved here when I was 10. I didn’t start surfing full time until the 8th grade. I surfed before that just for fun.

Where did you go to school?
I went to Woodland Hills Elementary School until 3rd grade, and then Juan Cabrillo. Then I went to Malibu Middle School, and then Malibu High. Now, I’m in an independent study program.

What’s your GPA?
Last year, I got a 4.0, but I don’t know my grades yet because I haven’t gotten my report card.

Do you do drugs?
Never.

Tell us the truth.
I swear I don’t. But I do have fun.

Tell us what the peer pressure is like growing up in Malibu.
Heavy drugs. Some kids do a lot of drugs, some kids don’t. It’s really a matter of the people who you hang out with and how stupid you are. I see people doing it and it makes me not want to do it as much because they’re just being so stupid because of the way they act and the way their lives are going. Why would I want to do that? I mean, right now, things are perfect for me, and I don’t want to ruin everything. I know drugs ruin everything.

If you could say something to all your friends in Malibu who you see taking that downhill slide, but who have talent, what would it be?
Think about what you are doing. Life is fun. Don’t ruin it. You don’t need to be an idiot all the time. You can have fun, but don’t take it to the next level like that. But people think differently than I do about that. I’ll something like that to someone and they will say, “Shut up, I’m not going to stop doing it.”

Logan Lara

What would you like your sponsors to do for you? What do you feel that you deserve right now? Do you feel you are being treated fairly?
I don’t want to be a selfish person. I could get more, but I could have less. I like my sponsors. They’re cool. Most of them are my friends.

Let’s talk about your sponsors.
Hurley, DC Shoes, Smith Optics, Dakine, Sex Wax, Roberts Surf Board, Clout Ride Shop, and Ladera Skateboards.

Are you happy where you’re at with your sponsors?
Yeah, it’s pretty good. It could be worse. I’m only in high school. I know a lot of the kids are getting a lot more money, but I don’t think they like surfing as much as I do. It’s more like a job for them.

Are they paying your bills enough for you to put gas in your car and eat?
I have plenty of money for that, and enough money to save. I could buy food, though. I just eat at home. I’m pretty well set.

Logan Lara

Tell us about what you like in a girl. What you look for in the ladies.
First of all they have to let me surf … and not be high maintenance … and be cute, funny and nice.

What about a girl who surfs?
I don’t like surfin’ girls. I like them as friends, but not as girlfriends.

Who was your biggest influence growing up in Malibu as a surfer, someone who you saw every day when you came down to the beach and who you looked up to.
Pascal Stansfield and Anthony Petruso.

When you graduate and you are a full-blown pro, are you going to stay in Malibu?
I am. My dad has a sick downstairs set-up at his house, so I’m just planning to live there. It’s kind of like my own separate place. It’s in his house, but it’s not really connected. There is more privacy there than where I’m living now. Malibu is closer [to everything]. You just drive up north and surf Strand or Rincon, and it’s only like a half hour or 45 minutes away. If I need to go to Huntington or some place else for contests or business stuff with my sponsors, I can just drive down there in an hour. It’s in between everything. And then there are waves here, too, that I can still surf.

Where is the coolest place surfing has taken you?
I love Nicaragua. I like Indo. Everybody likes Indo. France is really sick. France was really good when I was there.

Logan Lara

What did you think of the fires?
I feel bad for the people whose houses burned down, but the waves were good — less people in the water, too.

Let’s talk about what you are into environmentally.
I want to recycle bottles and cans for money. I haven’t done it yet, but I have two bags full in my truck.

Who are you going to vote for?
Obama.

How involved are your parents in your life, surfing-wise?
They’re involved 100 percent. My dad drives me everywhere. Well, he used to. Now, even though I drive, he still drives down with me to the contests. He’s going to Seaside this weekend. My mom cares about me a lot. She always gets mad if I don’t surf enough or if I don’t do certain things. They keep me on track — big time.

Bookmarks: Page 1 of 1 pages