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PRESENTS

BIG PICTURES INTERVIEWSPRESENTS

BIG PICTURES INTERVIEWS

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RYAN HALL OF BIG MANGATAUG TALKS WITH

Ryan Hall, Founder of BIG MANGA rides easy from #RI to NZ! Home of the #TANIWHA!Could you tell us the story behind Big Manga ?

Big Manga stems from the Northeastern Shores of Auckland, NZ. 'BIG MANGA' was a term my fiends and I created when we were 15. We used to visit this small surf town called Mangawhai and we nick named it 'BIG MANGA'. 'MANGA' stands for Mangawhai.

Some of my best memories are from those trips so the idea is Nostolgic for me. I was back in Mangawhai in Feb 2013 with the original crew and all those memories and feelings inspired me to start the brand.

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Over the years action sports have continued to rise in popularity – Where do the BIG MANGA team riders want to take their sports in the future?

Actions Sports are on the rise for sure. BIG MANGA covers Skateboarding, Surfing and Snow-

boarding but we have affiliates in other industries and cultures as well. A lot of our riders

are free spirits who don't necessarily deem what they do as a sport as much as a creative

outlet. Most of them are carefree souls that live a quiet/modest life but are extremely

talented on and off the board. We work together on film projects to promote their skills

and the brand. Filming definitely helps them progress and push themselves further then

they typically would. One talented rider I will mention is Ashley Giangregorio. She is a

female snowboarder with a bright future. She recently competed at Transworld Snow-

boardings Trans's Am, Eastern Boarder's Last Call and Red Bull

Street Cred at Loon. Keep an eye on this one.


How does art and design influence the Big Manga lifestyle?

Our approach to art and design is to illustrate and

embody our lifestyle through the graphics we use on our

Clothing and Apparel. Most of our artists and designers are

friends and family of the BIG MANGA network so everyone

is feeling the same vibe. We try to use a lot of NZ and

Pacific themed graphics to personify island traditions as well

as tribal designs to represent our origins. We are inspired by

Maori Art and Design authentic to NZ as well as local

floral and fauna. We also draw inspiration from our US

surroundings, the seasonal hardship of the East coast and

the easy going lifestyle on the West coast. Most of these

places have inspired my life in some way, shape or form.


How did BIG MANGA (New Zealand) find Rhode Island's secret Seasquatch BIG RHODY?

BIG MANGA found BIG RHODY while searching for the mythical Taniwha as depciting in our collaboration series. TIKI MANG and BIG RHODY met while in Rhode Island after he chased a Taniwha all the way from NZ, surfing the giant waves caused by the monsterous serpant. BIG RHODY then traveled back to NZ with TIKI MANG to find more mythical creatures to surf.


Do the mythical New Zealand legends of Taniwhas really exist?

Therefore they dwell in places that people typically avoid. There is no hard evidence that these creatures still exist but BIG MANGA and BIG RHODY believe these creatures are

still living, protecting our seas from other dangers.

QIn Māori mythology: Taniwha are beings that live in deep pools in rivers, dark caves, or in the sea, especially in places with dangerous currents or deceptive breakers

(giant waves!)


BIG RHODY likes to eat – What are some classic New Zealand foods that BIG MANGA could recommend to chow down?

New Zealand has world ronouned cusine. BIG RHODY could start with a batch of fresh mussels and then move on to some lamb for the main course. Casual dining will usally consist of BBQ sausages and some Watties tomatoe sauce. For breakfast some Weetbix or Vegemite on toast is usually a favoite.


Has BIG MANGA ever visited the Ocean State?

BIG MANGA loves the Ocean State! Three of our surf team riders are born and bred in Newport, RI. A lot of surfing and extra curriculer activites go down in the Ocean State. We had our Product Launch Party at the 2013 Newport Folk Festival aboard a 14 Boat Flotilla. We are talking with a number of local shops through out the region and will hopefully hang out flag at these stores soon.


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