The other thing that was quite evident is that Dave is a surfer. He barely uses the paddle in his turning, quite often just holding it in one hand, drawing clean lines in critical sections, just making everything look smooth. But when he does use his paddle, it’s done with a style honed totally on his own, having never seen anyone else sup in real life, or even on video.
Still able to manage to turn with power and grace and nimble and flexible enough to crouch low pig dogging into tight almond shaped pits, he’s doing pretty darn well for someone in his 50’s. It’s funny to then see his son Kai sup and do it exactly the same way as dad, a little ‘mini me’ replica of his style. And his surfing style isn’t the only thing passed down besides his genes.
Kai is now every part the diver and spearfisherman that his dad is. Dave proudly talks about how much of a sharpshooter his son is, and thankfully for us as more often than not, it was his handy shooting putting amazing food on our plates every night. If it wasn’t his spear gun it was his machete to fillet a pig or chicken or some other fresh produce. His little sister Dior is right in on the act as well. One afternoon Kai got back from spearing with a catch and we were playing some game or other and she just stops, see’s there was work to be done and goes to help fillet the fish.
In the kitchen Dior’s a real whiz kid, baking all manner of delights from the simplest of ingredients with many an oooh and aaah as we savoured the results. Kai and Dior’s culinary skills are that well known throughout the Kingdom they were actually recruited by the Prince to cook for him when he came to stay on their island.
