JUST DIG IN

Thanks to my mates and all the crew from Yamba who came up to watch and support me.

Well, it felt pretty damn good, chucking a pair of boardies and all my sticks in the car to head up the coast for my first WCT event - ever.

I was singing to myself the whole way from Yamba turnoff to Tweed Heads. The waves were cracking in the week leading up to the contest, and when I did managed to jag one off the other 400 frothers in the line up, they were some of the funnest waves I’ve had this year.

MR Mania: day-glo twin-fin flyers.

It was a bummer the swell dropped off for the comp; this made free-surfing and pre-heat warm ups almost impossible, unless you got out there two hours before sunrise.

Don’t get me wrong though, it was nothing short of amazing, sitting in the line-up at Snapper, going wave for wave with one of my good mates, for my first head-to-head battle on the ‘CT.

I was trying to tell myself the whole time “it’s just the same as any other heat you’ve had, just go out and surf.” But with the crowd, the hype and everything that comes with a WCT event, I found it hard to shake the nerves and focus on my surfing.

My result - a 33rd, but an invaluable learning experience that will only boost me mentally for the next event.

Bottle’s ‘CT qualification party at the Burleigh shed.

Thanks to my whole family / extended “Carrier” family, my mates and all the crew from Yamba who came up to watch and support me. It was so cool to see so many familiar faces when I ran down for my heat at D’bar … I loved it.

My two main sponsors, Oxbow and Odyssey 20/20, have given me their full support and are keen to see me do well in the upcoming events. No pressure, just dig in.

I’ve been down here at Torquay for about a week now, getting some fun waves and adapting to the water. Bells was good today with a few 4-5 footers on the bowl.

I picked up a couple of nice boards off Danny Sherwood from Aloha on the way down and they have been feeling unreal. I’m keen as to get started. Haha, bring on the comp.

Happy Easter for next weekend. Get an organic egg in ya guts. Yeew.

-Dan Ross