Josh Redman Travels

Once the contest season has ended, Hawaii locks into what it’s famous for – big waves. Mean swell heights in January and February have, over the last few decades, always been the biggest and most consistent. On the cards for Josh are sessions on the North shore stretch of beach known as ‘the seven mile miracle’ at places like Sunset Beach, Pipeline and Backdoor. He plans to put the experience gained at dangerous Dungeons, where he won “Surfer of the Session” in The Rebel Big Wave Awards in 2011, into some Pacific big water, so don’t be surprised if he pops up at Jaws on Maui or even flies back to San Francisco if Mavericks rears its ugly head.

His quiver:

5’10, 6’0, 6’2, 6’8, 7’2, 7’6, 9’6, 10’0.

I’m really stoked with my quiver for the 2012/2013 Northern Hemisphere Winter. Got a really complete quiver and have set them all up with FCS 5 fin set ups. Got a lot of information from Max Wetteland from FCS on the 4 fin movement. I’m super amped on it and they’r going fast and tight in the pocket. I have the option of riding thruster or quad so I can play around with it a bit but at the moment – I’m loving my quads. Can’t wait to get to Pipe/Backdoor and try them out there. I’ve worked with Elton Fursman closely with some new shapes that he’s designed, especially with my short boards and they are going really good.

I have a really solid 10’0 that I brought with me to California for Mavericks which has a lot of beef up the top of the board and is going to paddle best. If I cant get into a big one on that board nothing will! I then have a 9’6 getting sent to Hawaii which is a slight downscale from the 10’0. That will be joined with my pipe quiver of a 7’6 , 7’2 and 6’8. SA Surfblanks have been making top quality blanks and that confidence in my equipment is really going to help me give 100% commitment in pressure situations. I’ve been riding for Bilt for about six years and have a really good relationship with Elton . He is one of South Africa’s best shapers and I’m stoked to be on his boards. Jason Ribbink has shown me a lot of support over the years and helped me get to where I am today.”

Competitive and big wave history

“I surfed competitively during my whole junior career. Surfed for Natal at least 10 times and South Africa twice. Travelled on the WQS for a year before having a break to do a year on a Chef course. After that I put a lot of focus into surfing bigger waves and since, have done three winter seasons in Cape Town and winning “Surfer of the Session” in The Rebel Big Wave Awards in 2011. I’m currently doing my second season in the States, spending a month in California and 2 months in Hawaii.”

Plans for 2013

“I’ll start the year in Hawaii and spend much time in the water at Pipe/Backdoor. That is one place I have a passion for and really want to do well there. After the Northern Hemisphere Winter I will head home for winter in SA, bouncing around our coastline. I want to do other trips where I can, but there isn’t many places I would rather be than our coastline during winter!”

Trip so far

“After the nightmare flight to San Francisco (30 hrs total travel), I was met at the airport by a good friend Wyatt Fields. We went straight from there to meet up with Frank Solomon and cousins Travis Payne and Colon Dwyer, who are the younger crew out at Mavs. I got straight in the car with the crew and drove 9 hours to San Clemente. We stayed the night there and then drove into Mexico the next morning in hopes of surfing Todos Santos the next day. So early the next morning we board a boat and head 2 hours out to Todos. The wind came up on our way out and by the time we got out it was over. We floated in the channel for a bit and headed back to port. Got in the car and headed back to Sanfran. A total flop surf trip, but we did have some good tacos!

Frank and I have been keeping busy surfing Ocean Beach and training a bit, waiting for swell. There is swell arriving but so is the weather! We will have to wait in hope.

Starting to get really amped for Hawaii. Watching the Pipe Masters gets you really excited for it. I’m heading over there on the 4th of January, swell depending. This year I’m heading to Hawaii with a lot more confidence under my belt. With a years experience and a good quiver of boards behind me, I’m really looking forward to two months on the beach at Pipe!”

When Josh isn’t pulling into the big pits at Backdoor, he’ll be keeping us updated on his progress. Look out for more ‘updates from the edge’ soon.

Catch up with Pat Flanagan at www.patflan.co.za