How can this be!?

Clint has salt water in his blood! Being the son of Rusty, it seemed as if the writing was on the wall for Clint... He would be blessed with a predetermined genetic talent for surfing and design, lead a life filled with exotic travels, epic waves, and slowly but surely the signature Preisendorfer mustache would thicken in, and he too would grab a planer...

Well in addition to the previously mentioned, it turns out Clint is a hell of a baseball player too! He is a pitcher and his natural talent and large frame make him quite the threat on the field and the Yankees snatched him up!

Before Clint took off for spring training, he was kind enough to enlighten us with a few choice words in a spontaneous interview about his daily escapades at the factory, growing up as the son of R dot, and playing baseball...

The first topic that needed clearing up was obvious: why play baseball and not just go with the surfing route?

I've never been payed to surf!

Touche. What do you do around the factory when you are in town?

I do whatever they need me to... Some times I sweep floors and scrub toilets and other times I get to glass some boards. Everyone here pretty much has a title, but I kind of do whatever needs to be done.

So do you have a business card?

I have business card with pin stripes. (Laughs)

I've seen you cruising around the factory creating some funky shapes, but what are your go-to boards? If you were leaving for a trip, what are the three boards that would make it into your bag?

I would definitely have a 7'0" Traveler, which is kind of a step up board for me. I am a big boy, the board is 19 1/4" x 2.4". Also a 6'8" Bat Tail Quad. I am addicted to quadsso I'm going back to three fins. There's a couple of top secret ones in the works I can't really talking about too. And if you are going to a tropical place it is good to have a bigger board like a 7'7".

So, you're a big kid- what is you're height or weight?

6'5" / 220lbs. I'm a bit larger than you're average surfer, but I have some long condor arms so I can stroke the smaller boards into waves.

Tell me about your baseball career... You're actually playing ball and have been drafted, correct?

Yeah, I have been drafted three times now and the third time is a charm. I finally signed with the Yankees and finished my first year of pro ball. It is pretty cool to actually get payed to play baseball instead of just playing it after school!

So what level are you playing at?

Minor league... this is my first year coming in and when you get drafted you come in in the middle of the season and get assigned to a short season single A team to finish up the year. Short season is about 82 games, which is still a lot of games. Now I have the off season and I am putting some time in at Pop's factory, keeping in shape until spring training, and getting some waves; which is convenient because the waves are best in San Diego during the Winter.

Can you surf or does your contract forbid it?

My contract does not let me do anything! No skateboarding, no snowboarding, no wakeboarding, but I did have them make an exception for surfing. However, my contract stipulates that there is a limit - I am not allowed to surf anything over ten feet! I pretty much told them that surfing is a part of my life and if I can't have it I don't know if I can play baseball.

What is the difference between surfing and baseball to you?

They are two different thing to me... There is the surfing aspect, I am blessed to go on these trips with my dad or even surfing a mediocre beach break around here (San Diego) by myself, I enjoy the solitude. When it comes to baseball, I love to compete!

What is the five year plan for you?

I am trying to get the baseball thing under control. I am finally just doing baseball and no school, although I would like to finish school. I would like to make it to the big leagues and have a spot in the bullpen or the starting rotation.

How did you get into baseball? Was your Dad a big influence?

He obviously loved to surf; in high school he told the basketball and football coaches that he would rather surf than play any sports, so I always had surfing since I was very young. I have pictures of me on the nose of a board at 18 months old. However, I was always encouraged to play a lot of sports... I played soccer, basketball, did one year of football after begging my mom, and eventually I gravitated towards baseball.

How fast is your fast ball?

I am not a fire baller, I throw 88-90mph.

What is more terrifying to you- stepping up to the plate to a guy who is going to zing in a 107mph fastball or paddling out at macking Pipeline?

Definitely Pipeline, mother nature is stronger than some big guy holding a baseball.

Have you ever been scared for your life in the ocean?

I can think of two occasions... One time at Blacks on one of the biggest days I have ever been out there. I was just inside the pack and I saw everyone belly down and start scratching for the horizon and I was just thinking I was not going to make it. I barely climbed my leash before I ran out of breathe. Another time was this summer at a deep water right in Indo. Same thing, I was just scratching for the corner and couldn't quite get under it. My board was tomb-stoning and I tried to relax. My vision was tunneling down and another wave was coming... I eventually used the quick release on the big wave leash that you never think you'll use. My brand new board was gone.

Have you ever feared for your life on the baseball field?

When I was really young a kid hit a line drive right back at me and I still remember the seams rotating in slow motion as it barely missed my head. Other than that, not really...

Where is spring training?

I start in Florida, where the whole Yankee Organization starts, and I will be there for a month or two and then, most likely, will be in Jersey or North Carolina where they have their Minor league organizations. So for the next few years I will be based on the East Coast, but come home to San Diego in the off season. San Diego is always home, I love it!

Anything else you want to add about your career as baseball player or factory all-star?

Nope, I don't want to say anything else. I am just going to do it...

So it seems that Clint has it all figured out, working at pop's factory and surfing his brains out in the off season and playing baseball professionally the rest of the year! Not a bad gig. Be sure and root Clint on as he climbs the ranks in the Yankee Organization and keep your eyes peeled in the off season as he crams a year's worth of waves into a few short months!

Story and Interview: Brody