In 1977 South African professional surfer Shaun Tomson won the world title, and it was a momentous moment for the surfer from Durban. He went on to surf as a professional surfer until his retirement from the sport in 1990. Tomson has remained a very active elder statesman for the sport of surfing, and was recently invited to the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch event.
Forty years after his world title, another South African surfer is in with a chance of taking home a world title. Jordy Smith, also from Durban, is sitting in 3rd place on the Jeep Leaderboard, and while much of the media has been focused on the number 2 and number 1 spots being Gabriel Medina and John John Florence, Jordy is definitely the most hungry he has been for a world title. Last year both John John and Jordy placed 5th in the Billabong Pipe Masters, and Gabriel Medina was 13th, so it would be a misnomer to leave Jordy out of the equation.
When asked what he thought Jordy needed to do at Pipe to win the world title, Tomson had some unusual but sagacious advice.
“If I had one piece of advice to give, even though unsolicited advice is usually ignored, it would be this,” said Tomson. “Create a mantra: ‘I will surf free.’ If he does that, he will maximize his performance, and that is all any athlete can aspire to.”
Tomson experienced the joys of a world title, and lived through the incredible excitement of returning home to South Africa as a world champion. We asked him what he though the affect would be for the South African surfers, as a nation, should Jordy win the title.
“There would be collective countrywide stoke, and a hugely massive sigh of relief that he has finally done it,” said Tomson. “There would also be exuberant inspiration. There will be so many little kids in many seaside villages that will go, ’Jordy’s won – maybe I can too.’”
Shaun had a difficult task back then as a world champion and as an ambassador for the sport from a country that was still operating under a segregated political system called apartheid, but he walked a clear path throughout his tenure in professional surfing. Today Jordy’s path would look very different, but we asked Tomson what advice he would give Jordy to be a great world champion of our sport.
“I would say to Jordy to be respectful to the sport, to others and to yourself,” said Tomson.”Be humble, and be grateful every day for the opportunity your parents and country have given you. And stay stoked!”
Talking of parents, Lu and Graham have been by his side, from the time that he was given his first skateboard at 13 months old. Graham has a very philosophical approach to what’s coming. “It’s all about destiny,” said Graham about the upcoming world title showdown. “All I’ve ever told Jordy is to trust his instinct, and surf with his heart. If you trust your instinct and surf with your heart, there is nothing more that a man can do.”
