14th August 2010
There is something about flying that always makes one's hair look in top form, or at least that's the case with mine. Yes, I am on another metal bird, this time sealed inside for 14 hours non-stop Sydney-Johannesburg after completing my second winter season on the Australian East Coast.
When I signed with Turbo at the beginning of 2010 I was faced with a pretty massive decision, where was I going to base myself? Turbo is based in Aus, which is always widely considered the capital of Bodyboarding and where the most money lies. I, however, am a South African and I decided this was an identity I wanted to keep and thus decided to base myself from home and spend a few key months in Aus every year, here is what went down this time around.
Arriving on the 12th of June 2010, the SIC trials had just happened and Cronulla was buzzing in anticipation for a spectacular main event. I was super pumped, Turbo had seen it fit to put up the massive entry fee for Damian King and myself to be in the event presenting Turbo, and secondly one of my best friends Daniel Worsley had taken out the prestigious trials earlier that day. Unfortunately for all involved this was the beginning of one of the worst wave droughts the east coast has experienced in years, forcing the waiting period to be extended twice with the final date being set at the 16th of August. Even now with just a week to go there is no potential swell and after much consideration I have forfeited my place in the 2010 event in order to finalize my visa for the IBA events in Portugal and Spain starting late August.
I can already hear what you're thinking, what a waste of a trip! Not even, this free time was a blessing in disguise and I ended up getting super productive over this last 2 months.
Being a part of the best team in the world means that someone is always doing something and I was able to do that Luna Park trip in June with Jacob Romero, Glen Sullivan, Jones Russell and Damian King along with a host of other Oz pro's but that story has been told before. I also got onto another trip, which I can't say much about at all due to it being covered in detail by one of the fine Australian Magazines later this year , what I will say is this, South Australian Desert, the best bodyboarding wave in the world firing as big as it holds, Shaun Pyne, Super Grom and Turbo team rider Sam Strachan, Myself, Videographer Richard Lornie, Photog Mitch Pearson and no one around for hundreds of Kilometres, yes keep your eyes peeled for the release of that one.
After living the dream for June and early July I came to the end of my own funds. So far this year I have successfully managed to live of contest winnings, but seeing as I have not gone in a major contest in 3 months funds have run dry. I did a few days work here and there to keep myself going, namely going up to the Turbo Factory in Port Macquarie to offload the new shipment. This meant I got to see the entire new range and my goodness, these puppies are really worth the wait. With Damian King, Jacob Romero and Dre all having Pro models and the classics the IV and Pro Comp boards everything is covered. I implore you to check out the new Turbo V model which has just been released this year too, this is what I'm currently riding in all conditions from 1-10ft and it is BANGING. I am blown away by the quality of the equipment I'm using now, I just want everyone to have a go. Come and say Hi if you see me on the beach I'd be happy to let you test drive one of mine.
I spent a bit of time with Kingy and his new family while up in Port too and that was really cool, he will laugh if he sees this but every night I had to pinch my arm to remind myself I was really enjoying a home cooked meal with one of my biggest hero's, getting to travel and hang out with King is one of the major benefits of being on the Turbo Team and he passes down allot of advice and encouragement to me too, which I welcome. We had some sick surfs out North wall and his surfing is unreal. I could watch him surf all day and I really want to try and incorporate some of his traits into my riding. I mean, the dude does double spins into the barrel, I can't even fathom that!
After arriving back in Sydney I have just been biding my time helping out in Emerald, and just surfing with the crew of guys down in Cronulla. Emerald is the sickest (and oldest) Bodyboardshop in Australia and you can check them out here www.emeraldsurfcity.com.au, where they also have a blog which is updated a lot more often than mine!
That's my Australian winter in a nutshell, I have attached some photos of me out Shark Island - while not all time it was really good to surf there everyday and just get a really good feel for it. It's the sort of wave you need to practise at and I feel confident for the next event I get to surf in there. The entire world tour is changing next year, heading in the direction of the old Super tour, as soon as I'm allowed to talk more about that I will.
Till next time, thank you for your ongoing support, as the tour nears its final stages Boetie and I will really be looking home for encouragement and I know you won't let us down!
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 | Billy Tennant 16th August 2010 11:36 |
| Sick 1 Jerry... All the best to you & boetie for the rest of the tour!! Keep flying the flag..SA needs a new world champion!! God speed.. | |
