It took a couple of years but it helped meeting my wife Sylvie early on, plus I had rugby and was immersing myself in the culture. I just picked it up by ear. Naturally the rugby boys taught me the filthy words first which I went about repeating, thinking they were something else. People would look aghast at social functions. Women would come up and ask how I was and I'd inquire, polite as anything, "How are your breasts?" They'd be like "Excusez-moi?" I'd be like, "Oh geez, the buggers got me again". There were hardly any English speakers around then, so I was an easy target.
Q. How did you end up in the surf industry?
Growing up in Petone, I always said I wanted to live at a beautiful beach and surf. Look what happened, I turned up here and it's in front of me every day. I could see the buzz these surfers were on and the lifestyle Quiksilver was trying to sell through Australia and the States. They gave me the opportunity to do some retail here [from 1992] and, as a rugby player, I had some contacts. I had trained as a teacher so I also set up a surf school on the main beach. Biarritz was just a quiet hub back in the 80s, it wasn't commercialised like now.
Q. Seems like a decent joint though?
Yeah, there's a lot of money, old money, in this area. One of my good mates Rafael is the cousin of the King of Spain. This little Maori boy is well connected. I just go, "Hey bro, we're related. I've got Maori royal blood and you're related to Spanish royalty... put it there, give me a hongi." Mind you, owning a quarter-acre in Porirua doesn't quite match owning half of Madrid.
Q. You recently sold some of your business interests. How are you filling your time?
My son's got the day off today [from the beachfront Biarritz Boardriders surf shop they own] so I help him out. I said I'd never play golf but I'm getting on a bit [Clamp is 51] so I'm into it now.
Q. Any eye-openers over the years at the shop?
Yeah, a few laughs. Plenty of women coming in half-naked, the odd character asking for a baguette.
Q. Tell us about the Kauri Club on Thursdays?
It's big, strong and has deep roots back home. Quite a few Kiwi guys married local girls. The French talk about us stealing their women; we say we've been trapped. We get together, bring out the guitars, sing a few songs, have a few ales and finish up in a fight - just like being at home really (laughs). Only kidding.
Q. As a former Maori rugby player of the year, how important are your Ngati Toa values on your mum's side?
I keep in contact with my family and iwi. I've got a bit of mana because of my past and playing in France so they sometimes ask for a few pointers on international matters. Mum is from a big family of about 15 so I have a huge whanau. I've taken my kids back to my marae, so they know where they came from. It can be quite an eye opener for them, especially when their aunties start hoeing into puha and pork bones.
Q. Yikes. Okay, finally, where's the best place to body surf?
Stick between the flags. The average Kiwi knows how to swim but a lot of these Europeans come from inland. They're only used to swimming in the bathtub with their rubber duckies. You even get the odd person doing the ol' nuddy swimming at night, never to be seen again.
Thanks for the tip.
