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TAJ BURROW WINS QUIKSILVER PRO
After three back-to-back wins, ain't no stopping Taj
It wasn't exactly the conditions you'd want to finish in. Onshore, smaller swell. But today it didn't matter. Snapper has a way of doubling-up and drawing heaps of water off the bank, leaving smooth canvasses with crumbling lips and punt sections. That's the beauty of Snapper. It's versatile. And the crowd, they weren't fazed. Hundreds lined the headland and thin slice of sand at the base, the high tide waves sloshing through their feet.
The action didn't fail to impress. Even Bobby launched a huge backhand air. When I say "huge," I mean huge for Bobby. And the landing, ever-so-smooth! But Taj wasn't going to let it spoil his crusade. Bobby made his way in. Shoulders slumped, head down as he slinked off to the surfer's stand.
Jordy wiped Dane in the semi. Every turn the spectators were expecting something extraordinary. Like a move they'd never seen before in competition. They were at least hoping. Group sighs could be heard as Dane failed to land a meaty grab-rail air. If he had landed there could have been a chance to dig out of combo-land. Dane was going 110 percent every turn. But he had poor wave choice. "I was just getting crappy waves and trying to push too hard. I just kept falling. That was pretty irritating," admitted Dane.
You have to wonder about sending them out in conditions like today at the business end of competition. Most guys would've raised an eyebrow. Dane wasn't complaining though. "I was pretty excited about the conditions. I thought it was going to be a full half-hour of airs and crazy shit."
After his defeat, Dane stayed out enjoying the lineup to himself. He even took advantage of ski-assist scamming rides back to the takeoff zone. Maybe Dane wanted to avoid the limelight. Maybe he just wanted to surf. Probably the latter. He eventually came in to a huge round of applause.
Jordy snuck back to the relaxation of the surfer's stand with help from security. Somehow he managed to avoid everyone. Even one fanatical South African supporter who'd been carrying his native flag to every event since 2006, but had never got to proudly wave it in the wind. Then suddenly Jordy miraculously appeared in the fenced-off media area like superman. The final was on.
For the first 20 minutes only three waves were ridden. Taj and Jordy were being very selective, waiting patiently for waves with scoring potential. Jordy snapped his board. He pounded through the thigh-deep water like an ironman to grab his backup.
Taj surfed uncharacteristically unadventurous. Of course there was still speed and precision. But you could tell he was holding back a smidge.
"I didn't want to push it too hard, because I knew there weren't that many good waves," admitted Taj. "So when I was on a good wave I didn't want to push things and blow it -- so I was definitely a little conservative and stuck to the face of the wave a bit more. If it was more consistent I would have had to step up my game."
If it was more consistent Taj would have caught a ton more waves and let loose. Normally that's his strategy. But today it paid off being more patient and selective.
So anyway, back to the final. The buzzer goes. Taj throws his hands into the sky. The crowd lets out a carnivorous roar. Jordy's sitting right next to Taj. He claps a few times. Good sport! Both jump on skis and are chauffeured onto the beach. The crowd erupts again. They are like kings. Taj is hiked up onto shoulders. He's looking over the top of everyone. People are screaming. He bellows out a huge roar. You can here it from far away.
Jordy walks into the presentation area with a South African flag draped over the length of his body (not old mate's mentioned earlier). Top 45 surfers are spraying beer over Taj from an elevated position. "Get that into ya Taj," yells Tommy Whits.
Tom 'King' Carroll hands over the trophy -- a half-size, black pintail single-fin. He then shakes a beer and sprays Taj. Taj opens his mouth, but misses most of the beer. Jordy picks up a beer and tips it over Taj's head. Jordy is smiling.
Go the fins-free revolution is competitive surfing! Go you good thing.
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