TWIG Takes Off

S. Why a clothing brand?

T: I've been doing my TWIG Surfboards with Spider for a few years now and some other surf specific product with Future Fins (Big Wave Fin) and Hurricane (Boardbags, Travel Bags and Leashes) and the next logical step was to start doing some apparel. It's far from a brand but rather something that's happened naturally as I've gone along and had some time on my hands. It took a while because I've been quite embarrassed to see my letters on T/shirts but like Kate said, your nickname is Twiggy so its cool (Laughs).

What kind of stuff are you selling?

It's strictly surf, designed with the surfer in mind and to hopefully give them something that they won't find everywhere and can be proud to wear. Summer 13 will have an African travel and rock influence and consist of Tshirts, Vests, Walkshorts and its my Boardshorts that I'm most stoked on, proper hi-tech styles that are SICK and well priced!

How did it come about, and did you do any market research?

I've worked in the surf industry for 20 years, I started out as a driver for Cheron in the early nineties and worked in my family's production factory at the same time where we made her first B/shorts. Through the years I worked in production, marketing and sales before concentrating on the agency in KZN and my surfing. I was only a sponsored surfer for a short time so I have some experience and I'm hoping that the surfers of South Africa are looking for something different and limited that they can be proud to wear.

Where can one find your label?

The Twig Range is NOT chain store friendly and will NOT even be sold inland! It’s designed and produced for core, surf retailers who I believe are the lifeblood of the surf industry and hence surfing in this country. The stores have backed me 100% in buying into my story and I would be stoked to see the surfers of this country doing the same and supporting these stores in turn.

When do you leave for Hawaii and what's the strategy for the Eddie this year?

I'm on standby at the moment but they have had a slow start so I'm hanging back and waiting for the season to kick in up there. My strategy is simple, surf as many big waves as possible! We just had the most incredible big wave season in the Cape and I've put in as many hours as I could in waves over 15ft, no matter what the conditions and since I've been home in Durbs, I've been on a strict training regime.

There's 6 events up there now so I get to do what I love, surf big waves, and hopefully win some money at the same time. Its a privilege and and honor to represent South Africa in these events and my entire focus the past few years has been moving towards winning the Eddie and I can feel the weight of South African expectations pushing me forward.

The Big Wave Africa event left a gap in SA big wave surfing, or did it? Does SA need a big wave event?

Undoubtably Big Wave Africa needs to come back, it's the only way that our young guys will be able to get into the other events and start to do a push for sponsorships and the bigger picture. We have the best big wave surfers in the world in this country and guys like Chris Bertish have proven we can win at the highest level and are marketable to the mainstream. Through the TWIG Surfboards idea I would like to help young surfers like Josh Redman and Frank Solomon get to where they need to be and have equipment available to compete at the highest level. Its worrying that someone like Chris can't get a sponsorship to go and compete at events like Mavericks when he receives such a coveted invitation and I would like to change that moving forward if possible.

What scares you most, paddling a 25 footer or towing a 50 footer?

Paddling no doubt, tow surfing for me is a novelty reserved now for days over 60ft or for those crazy heavy slabs but even on those days I would rather go and find another wave we can paddle rather then tow. It just seems so foreign to why I love to surf waves of consequence and that's to put yourself in a position where you are in amongst nature in one of it's purest, most dangerous forms and you survive using the experience and knowledge that you have built up over many years.

At the age of 40, do you feel like a ballie?

(Laughs) Not at all, I'm as fit and strong as I have ever been if not more and mentally I am ready for anything.

Any grey hairs, or do you use dye?

They are creeping in but Kate reckons its sexy so need need for dye (laughs)

How do you keep your motivation going to ride big waves?

I love to surf and I love to travel and surfing big waves gives me a reason to continue to do both, it's not about keeping motivation, it's become a way of life and a purpose for me. I would like to thank BOS Ice Tea here for there support of myself and Junior surfing in this country because without them I wouldn't be able to continue to represent SA on the international stage. They are an amazing homegrown South African company making healthy product that we can proudly promote our youth to drink.

They say older guys have better endurance, espceially in sports like triathlon, trail running or mountain biking? Does this happen in big wave surfing?

I believe so, it's seems  that guys do get better and stronger through their 30's and if you are healthy and mentally ready I think your early 40's can be the best time for surfing big waves. You are always learning about the ocean and your wave knowledge grows with every session so I would say if your body is in good shape you will continue to improve.

How do you keep fit between swells?

In the past two years I have ramped up my training and besides surfing as much as possible I use kiteboarding, SUPing and bodysurfing to cross train in the ocean and then I have included gym work, pool swimming and yoga into the mix as well. I could wing it when i was younger but as I've aged I've found the need to stay fit and healthy more necessary.

Take us through a day in the life of Twiggy's including what you eat, time you wake up, when you go to bed.

I train hardest when I'm at home in Durban so today I woke up early at 5am and worked on my TWIG range until 8am (my garage is actually full of my Summer product and I'm packing boxes as we speak). Then I hit the gym for two hours doing bike, running, weights and pool work. From there I went to surf the Bay shore break on my 11'0" to stay in tune with my big boards and had some lunch and a few hours doing emails, basically working on marketing with magazines, photographers and sponsors. Then luckily for me the wind came up strong in the afternoon so I got a quick kite in before packing some more boxes, doing an hour of yoga, having dinner and falling asleep watching the UEFA Champions league on TV (Laughs).

What other sports or pastimes are you passionate about?

I think I just answered that one (laughs)

Favourite music?

Rock music for me ...That's why I opened Aces 'n Spades with a good friend of mine Reg, we wanted somewhere to go and listen to good music!

Good luck with everything and we look forward to checking out your gear!

Thanks Steve, and thanks to all the surf stores who have stocked my product and I'm asking surfers who read this to please go out and spend some money in their surf stores this Christmas. If you like my stuff then buy it, but please support your local surf store regardless.

For a sneak peak of the TWIG Summer 2013 product and a list of stockists check below or go to www.twigsurfboards.com 

KZN
Freedom Surf, Richards Bay - 0357531271
Groundswell, Ballito - 032 946 2522
Kitesports, Umhloti - 031 5682644
Mattex, Durban North -  031 563 5843
Offshore Margate - 083 327 4408
Offshore Shelly Center - 0393156991
Offshore South Coast Mall - 039 315 7621
Piranaha Ushaka - 031 337 6666
Classic Surf, PMB - (033) 342-4593
Surf Action, Margate -  082 659 6644
Surf Boyz, Port Shepstone-  039 682 4400
Surf News, Durban -  031 702 9706
Surfers, Ballito - 032 946 0018
Surfers Paradise, Scottburgh -  0823011092
The Surf HQ, Durban- 083 675 3106
The RVCA Store, Gateway -  031 566 4376
Victory Surf,  Gateway -  031 566 4441
St Lucia Surf Club - 035 5901000


WEST CAPE
Cabrinha, Blouberg  -  0215541729
The RVCA Store, Cavendish -  0216742022
The RVCA Store, Gardens - 021 461 7424
Piranha Tygervalley
Spikes, Hout Bay - 021 790 7256
Sport and Surf , Cape Town
Sport Unlimited Cavendish - 021 674 2028
Sport Unlimited - Main Road, Tokai - 021 701 0044
The RVCA Store, Somerset West -  021 8500662

EAST CAPE
Country Feeling  Jbay - 042 293 3438
The RVCA Store, St Francis -  042 294 0554
Waves, Mossel Bay -  (082) 492896
The RVCA Store, Walmer Park - 041 3671430