Red Bull Big Wave

The news that Twiggy will surf in a new event was leaked slowly, and in a fairly unusual manner. Without any press release or publicity, Red Bull started sending out invites to their event. These invites were a treasure chest of items, including an iPod Touch, with which the sponsors are going to keep track of the invited surfers.

At this point in time details are still quite sketchy, but we do know that Twiggy has received his invite, along with about six other surfers, and that there are going to be 21 invited surfers in total. It is also known that Mike Parsons is the contest director, and that the running of the event will in no way interfere with the running of the Eddie at Waimea.

So we got ahold of Twiggy, one of the early invitees. Twig is over in Cali, surfing Mavs with Frank Solomon along with his friends over there. He was obviously stoked with the prestigious invite, and told us how it feels to be invited to a paddle-in event at the biggest surfable wave in the world.

Wavescape: Congratulations on your invite into the Red Bull Big Wave event at Jaws. That’s a big deal. Tell us, how did you feel on getting your invite to the Jaws event?

Twig: I had heard the rumors about a paddle event at Jaws but wasn't sure about getting an invite as it's tough to be thought of as one of the best 21 surfers at any particular surf spot around the world and especially in Hawaii, where reputation and local standing has everything to do with peoples’ perceptions of you. Luckily for me the invite came and the feeling when I saw the box was one of relief that I would be able to compete for South Africa at the prestigious event, excitement at the thought of how good the waves would be with only 7 other surfers in the water and fear over how big and heavy the waves could possibly be.

You have paddled Jaws before. What do you reckon of it as a paddle wave?
It the ultimate test of a big wave paddle surfers’ mental and physical conditioning and endurance. It takes maximum courage and skill, and if you don't have both of these in truck loads, and total belief in your ability and equipment, you will fail in riding a wave to completion out there. For me there are only a handful of surfers who have ridden a proper set wave out there and I am yet to prove myself as one of them.

It's all about the paddle these days and less about the ski.
The PWC is an amazing tool for water safety and when the conditions get unsurfable, but this is very rare these days. The feeling you get from surfing bigger waves under your own steam is just so much more powerful then when using a machine to assist you. It's all about how you feel during and after a session that's brought us back to the pure form of the sport.

What board did you ride the last time you paddled Jaws?
I rode a 10'0" x 22" x 4" TWIG Model shaped by Bushman, it was way to small and I have gone for a much larger board moving forward.

Red Bull put their muscle behind big wave surfing. You have had a great history with them and their events, haven't you?
Red Bull has been amazing for the sport of surfing and for big wave surfing worldwide and especially in South Africa. If it wasn't for the support of Red Bull during the Big Wave Africa era I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing and having the chance to represent South Africa on the international stage. They are an amazing company who put their money where their mouths are. They support the athletes and events that really count, and I would like to thank them for their continued support of my sport.

Who is the best at paddle Jaws?
There are a couple of guys who have stood out the past two years I have been surfing there but Shane Dorian, Greg Long and Albe Layer would have to be the best three I have seen.

Big wave surfing continues to grow. Mavericks, Jaws, Chile, Waimea. The sport is in a good place.
Yes, after all our work and effort it has finally become the sport we dreamed of 10 short years ago, and it's in a great place and ready for the next generation to come up and take the reins. There are no more excuses for the young guys. The contests are in place to make your name at, and the sponsorships are there if you can become a top 20 player. All we ever wanted was for there to be a platform for the youngsters to be able to make a career from surfing big waves and now even a South African can do that. I have another 3-5 years left to compete at the highest level and would like to have at least two South Africans in the Mavericks, Eddie, Todos and Jaws events by the time I retire. That's my goal.

Anything else you want to say to the South African public and your supporters?
I do this for myself and for my family and friends but also for South Africa and all the surfers back home. It's what drives me and gives me the mental strength when the biggest days of the year come round and without the support from back home I wouldn't be able to do what I do. I am always grateful for the messages and words of encouragement, it keeps me going on these long 4 months away from home and on the road in the Northern Hemisphere. And the sponsors who keep me on the road...Billabong, BOS, Country Feeling, Coreban, Futures and Cabrinha, thank you.

Good luck. We’ll be watching, along with the rest of the world.
Thanks.