Just finished a preview for Surfline of the QuikPro. As usual, plenty of quotes don't make it into the final text.
Taj Burrow, Uluwatu. Photo: Chris Burkard /BurkardPhoto.com
More than a couple guys in the 45 told me that Taj will be the one to challenge Kelly this year. "He's the only one in my book who did it last year," CJ Hobgood said. "Plus everyone's kinda been on the band wagon of writing him off. So I think he'll come out blazing and everyone will say 'I told you how good he is, etc.'"
I suspect the "everyone" CJ alludes to is me. Fair enough. I've definitely been hard on Taj in the past. Despite this, Burrow answered a couple questions about the kickoff for me, including the one below:
Lewis:Any changes to your approach for 2009?
Taj : Yeah, I'm aiming for runner up this year, that way I may win..
Unless Taj gets an easy draw, he will be out of the contest PAINFULLY EARLY.
Has Taj ever won a contest when the waves were actually good? I can only remember, wins at shitty bells, jbay, and brazil. Why is there even a contest in Brazil?
The judging of your heats is embarrassing and stinks of corruption.
Smart answer.
I would think that the WCT Pros would glady trade the Tavurua sausage party for Floranopolis in high-season. Wavewise, Brazil has been better than Mundaka in the last few events.
That being said, if you really want to put pro surfing on the map of professional sports, you have to bring it to NY/NJ during hurricane season. this way you can have Slater & Co do TV appearances that will be seen by a national audience.
Rip Curl Search: Somewhere in New Jersey!
Pobby Brown: That is the worst idea I’ve ever heard! Guido beachies in Jersey are no place for the ASP! Neither is Brazil or Mundaka (for more than a day at a time).
If the ASP is ever going to showcase exemplary surfing on a consistent basis they have to go where the swell is: the INDIAN OCEAN. Seems like only Rip Curl has figured this out in the last 10 years. Now if they could only make a decent wetsuit!
Got to agree about Brazil, and Mundaka because despite it being a quality wave we all know how fickle it is.
Seem like Taj isnt flying under the radar anymore when the ASP go on and tag him as a favourite to win the event!:
He aint going on my fantasy surfer team until he looks like he can win an event though, thats for sure!
I’m not sure what is missing from his surfing but I kind of hope this will be his year too…
To all guys who don’t like Brazil… watch heats today… last years, the waves here have been better than this.