KDHamptons caught up with Southampton surfer Kurt Rist [above], owner of Southampton Surf Center and talented “part-time” artist. For KDH, jumping into the frigid winter waters sounds like an absolute nightmare, but for this lifelong surfer boy? He can’t wait to dive in! Check out Kurt’s wild ride in this great new KDHamptons Diary:

KDHamptons: Where are you right now?

Kurt Rist: I am currently in Ireland [above & below] chasing big waves over here for the winter. It is one of my favorite surf destinations in the world at the moment. There is such a variety of waves, and potential to discover new waves. The North Atlantic stirs up some of the largest storms in the world which sends massive waves straight to Ireland. It is also a very nice, relaxed, beautiful country.

KDHamptons: How long have you been living in the Hamptons?

Kurt: I am born and raised in Southampton, been here for 27 years now. I love working hard in the summer time, especially because I’m in the ocean the whole time running my surf camp. It’s great working with awesome kids and having my friends and family help out with the camp and lessons, I couldn’t ask for anything else.

KDHamptons: What does a perfect Hamptons day look like for you?

Kurt: The perfect Hamptons day for me would most likely be in the fall. A nice Cat 1 hurricane a couple hundred miles off the coast sending the East End of Long Island 4-8 foot swells with offshore winds. Both air and water temp in the mid ’60s. Wake up before sunrise, pick up my videographer friend Metah Valdez in my old school 4×4 Toyota pickup, and just start driving the beaches, coffee in hand, until we find those perfect barrels. We post up on the spot, maybe give a friend or two a call and tell them ‘it’s on’, and just get perfect sandbar tubes all morning. Take an hour lunch break and head to the closest deli, and then back to our spot, and surf till dark. Go home watch the days footage and then head to the bar and trade surf stories with some friends.

KDHamptons: Which season is your favorite part of the year in the Hamptons?

Kurt: The best part of the year is when the busy & stressful “Hamptons Summer” is over and it is September, the weather is beautiful, the beaches are empty, and the waves are great! It is a great reward for any hard working local of the East End.

KDHamptons: What is your official surfing status currently?

Kurt: As a teen I was much more of a competetive surfer. In 2002, I was ranked 4th in the Northeast in the Eastern Surfing Association. As I started growing older I just wanted to travel and surf bigger and better waves, and get photos and exposure while doing that. My current sponsors are Channel Island Surfboards, NPX Wetsuits, and Sunrise to Sunset surf shop.

KDHamptons: Where are your favorite spots to surf in the Hamptons? Around the world?

Kurt: My homebreak and favorite break in Southampton is Scott Cameron Beach [“the cut”]. The sandbars shift around a lot out here though. Depending on the sand bars I could be surfing anywhere from Hampton Bays to Montauk. I have spent many winters in Hawaii and have also traveled to Indonesia, Australia, Fiji, Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, the Carribean, Spain, France, and Ireland.

KDHamptons: You are also a wood carving artist, tell us about your work?

Kurt: My favorite job in the off-season is building these wooden fish out of beach fence for my father. I have been building them for almost 10 years now. I consider myself an artist, but I become pretty bored with painting and drawing. I like building the fish because I am bending and cutting the wood so everything fits together, almost like a puzzle, I never get bored of it. My father John then paints and sells them.

KDHamptons: Where can we purchase your work, and what is the average cost of the fish?

Kurt: My father John Rist, usually has a few on display at his Herbert and Rist Liquor store in Southampton. You can go talk to him there about your favorite fish, and we can create it with in a week. The prices vary on the shape and size of the fish. A small stripe bass could be as little as $500, and a large Marlin could be as much $5,000. It’s great artwork for a beach home in the Hamptons.

KDHamptons: Do you have a favorite Hamptons restaurant? Got a dish and drink you get every time?

Kurt: I spend way too much time at the Publick House, probably because my best friend Jamie bartends there~ hah! But after a perfect day of fall waves, some Irish Nachos, a Bacon Chedder Burger, and Pumpkin Ale hits the spot perfectly.

KDHamptons: How would you describe your Hamptons home?

Kurt: I share a cottage with my older brother John on my parents property out in Noyac. I’m a good 10 minute drive from the beach, which is my least favorite thing about it. It is nice being out in the woods though, it’s a private getaway compared to living in Southampton Village. What I like about our cottage is we have a nice basement/studio area. There’s plenty of room in the basement, an art studio, a half pipe for skateboarding on, and lots of space to hang out with some friends. It’s nice to have other things to do when the waves are flat out here. If I am home in the winter, I still try to surf as much as possible [below in East Hampton].

KDHamptons: Okay, if you could surf with any three people in the world -dead or alive- whom would you choose?

Kurt: If I could surf with any one dead or alive, my first choice would be Duke Kahanumoku. He introduced surfing to the world and was the ambassador of Aloha. He taught the world how to surf, and saved thousands of lives in the ocean too. He is the ultimate surf legend. The next person I would choose to surf with would be Bob Marley. I know he didn’t surf, but I’m sure he would love it if he tried. It would be cool to give him a few pointers and maybe he would sing a nice little tune while waiting for waves. I’ve surfed with Kelly Slater before, he just drops in on you and then says “sorry” later…