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They look down or straight ahead at the exit. Your head and shoulders dictate where you go. If you look down, you’ll sink. If you look straight out, you’ll drive out of the barrel too soon. You gotta keep your eyes on the part of the lip that’s throwing over you—this keeps you in the pocket and under the curl. Also, not committing to that initial bottom turn. You have to fully throw yourself at the lip to get under it. Half-measures get you smashed.

Da Cat’s style was the definition of cool. He made high-performance surfing look effortless, with lightning-fast footwork, timeless trim, and those iconic, cheater-five noserides that seemed to last forever. He approached a wave with a dancer’s grace and a strategist’s mind. This emphasis on fluid, aesthetic lines over brute force deeply shaped what we consider “good style” today. Many modern loggers and soul surfers still chase that elusive Dora-esque flow—smooth, silent, and supremely confident.

The legends are endless: skipping out on hotel bills globally, forging checks, “borrowing” cars for epic surf checks, and legendary pranks. He was a master of the discreet exit, often leaving a trail of bemused creditors. One classic tale involves him allegedly dropping in on a friend, only to have the friend’s board hit his. Dora sent a detailed invoice for the “damage.“ These stories cemented his outlaw persona, painting him as a clever, if controversial, trickster always playing his own game.

When it’s pumping, you’ll know. The waves are consistent, powerful, and well-shaped—often head-high or bigger with clean lines stacking on the horizon. There’s a certain energy in the air and the water; the sets just keep coming. The lineup is buzzing, everyone’s stoked, and the spray from barrels is catching the light. It’s not just “good,“ it’s next-level. Check the buoys, watch the forecast, and when all the elements align, drop everything because it’s time to get wet.