A Chat with ClambakeMTK Ambassador of Taste Quincy Davis
Montauk professional surfer Quincy Davis, who has taken first place four years in a row at the Corona Pro surfing competition, is the perfect personality to serve as Ambassador of Taste for Dan’s ClambakeMTK, which will be held at Gurney’s Montauk on Saturday, July 30. Davis took a break from the waves to speak with Dan’s Papers about what she’s looking forward to at Dan’s ClambakeMTK, as well as her love for surfing and fashion.
You were named Ambassador of Taste for the inaugural Dan’s ClambakeMTK at Gurney’s Montauk. What are you most looking forward to at this event?
I love the location at Gurney’s. The food is going to be great, and I’m looking forward to being in Montauk.
What are some of your favorite local dishes?
I love seafood. I eat at Harvest [at Fort Pond] a lot.
How important is diet in your training regime?
It’s super important, and so is balance. It makes me feel better. What’s great is that there are so many places here in Montauk where you can eat healthy.
How were you first introduced to surfing?
My whole family surfs. I grew up at the beach, and my older brother surfed, so I wanted to be able to surf with him.
What do you love the most about surfing?
I love the ocean—just being out there. I always feel better afterwards, and I like being able to surf and hang out with my best friends.
What do you think about surfing in Montauk in particular?
I think it’s one of the most beautiful places to surf in the world. It’s not as consistent as some other places, so that makes Montauk pretty special. I love the cliffs, and Montauk is also filled with a lot of beach freaks, so it’s great!
What do you do to stay in shape for competitions?
I surf as much as I can, stay healthy, wake up early, and I go for about three-mile runs.
You were photographed by well-known photographer, Annie Leibovitz for the Corcoran Group real estate campaign “Love Where You Live.” How does it feel to be the face of Montauk?I’m so proud to be from Montauk, and that was a really cool ad campaign. I love how small the town is. There are no chains, and it’s so far away from everything. It’s like a small town, and I like that you can always see someone you know.
You’re very interested in fashion and an avid follower of street-style blogs and fashion websites since 2010 when you co-designed a capsule collection with Volcom. How does fashion coincide with your love for surfing?
I enjoy collaborating with my sponsor, and my mom and I have always been interested in fashion together. I love getting dressed up.
How has growing up in Montauk, a few hours from New York City, a place that’s known for fashion, art and design, influenced your love for fashion?
I love that it’s just a quick trip, but the places are very different. So it offers a nice balance that influences fashion.
Can you tell us about your jewelry collection Lucas + Quincy?
It started recently, and I work with Lucas Goosens on it. It’s based on traveling from the city to Montauk. There are a lot of arrows throughout the collection, which represents the travel. You can wear it anywhere.
Besides surfing and fashion, what else do you enjoy?
I enjoy getting involved with environmental organizations. The ocean is very important to me, so I believe it’s essential to keep it clean and respect it. I also love surfing with some of the younger girls. It’s exciting because there’s so many more girls surfing now, as opposed to when I first started. I want to be someone they can look up to. I’m so lucky and grateful to be surfing for a living.
You’ve said fall is your favorite time of the year. What do you love about surfing in the fall?
There are more surfing opportunities. The weather is perfect—it’s still warm enough, and the town has emptied out a bit. It’s not as crowded in the fall.
Dan’s Clambake MTK, the newest event in Dan’s Taste of Summer lineup will feature chefs from Montauk to Manhattan at Gurney’s Montauk, 290 Old Montauk Highway, on Saturday, July 30 at 7 p.m. The oceanfront food and drink fest will be co-hosted by Chef Marc Murphy, judge on Food Network’s Chopped and the Cooking Channel personality Eden Grinshpan. General Admission for Clambake MTK, from 7:30–10 p.m., is $150. VIP tickets are $250, and include access to after-party from 10 p.m.–12 a.m. For more information and to purchase tickets visit DansTaste.com. To learn more about our Ambassador of Taste for Dan’s Clambake MTK, Quincy Davis, visit quincydavissurf.com.