“I love nothing more than for people to go 'Holy Crap, did you just see that?!?'”
I took a moment to catch up with Jerry, who’s been missed at
Hey bud, we missed you at SA’s this year. Especially cause it was on the ‘Wes Kus’ and you could’ve taught some of us East Coasters how to ride those waves. Did you miss not being a part of the Reef SA Bodyboarding Championship 2009 or were you too busy preparing for other things?
Hey Bro! Too be honest I missed being at SA's so bad this year. This has been a pretty tough year for me being away from home for so long and SA's has always been competitive yet a time to relax and catch up with all your mates and degrade some Groms. Some of my best friends made the team this year and I would have loved to have been there to see them do well.
That being said, I love “Famous Last Words” and would really have loved to show 
So yeah, never too busy for what’s going on at home! SAFFA for life!
"South Africans freaking rip man"
Where you and what are are you doing at the moment?
I am in
In all honesty, Oz is an epic place and it’s a Bodyboarders world here, so I will be here for a little while longer, it’s easy to make money to fund my dream and it’s good to be surfing with professionals on a day to day basis! At the moment, I’m split between working a labouring job in Avalon(staying with the man Nick Kruger) and chasing swells with the Cronulla crew(namely Glen Sullivan, Des Govender (emerald owner) and Rich Robson(He is filming my resume).All these guys have looked after me so well and I’m super grateful to them!
“It is safe to say that I will be doing every tour stop I can afford next year and that that’s only the beginning!”
You made a pretty big decision when you decided to stay in
Yes it was a big decision, a very hard one at that too, my relationship with my girlfriend of 2 years ended shortly afterwards and I was devastated to say the least. I miss my family and my friends but you know what, I’m sick of seeing every promising bodyboarder from
South Africans freaking rip man and there are a few guys that could have done really well, it takes a few years of hard work to get there, but that’s what it takes!
It is safe to say that I will be doing every tour stop I can afford next year and that that’s only the beginning!
Who else, in your opinion, should be making the effort to get on that World Tour for 2010?
Hmm, this is a hard one, there are a few guys who certainly have what it takes, it’s just a matter of what they want more, you know?
Wattsy is a machine and I think he could definitely do well on the tour, Ratt is another one. Adam Morley gets forgotten about all the time (sometimes his own doing) but he rips and is for sure capable of great things if he wants them. SPECKER, someone get him a proper sponsor and let’s see him right up there with Mark. Wez Fischer too!
As far as the younger crew goes, Terence is still the biggest standout for me and the freaking Ozzie groms would not know what hit them if he had to come over here! If he steps it up in the heavy water and wants it bad enough, big things could await him.
“
You did really well at the
Man, I was totally disappointed with my result but thanks anyway.
Unfortunately I have to sit the first half of the year out (
I also hope to compete in as many Oz Pro tour events as possible, they have amazing events and I’d really like to see
I’ve heard from a couple of guys that the Australians are really taking a liking to you, for your style and willingness to bust. How have you found it fitting in there? Has it been easy to standout?
That’s really good to hear. That’s how it works over here, word of mouth, if you get people talking your on your way.
That has always been my main thing in Bodyboarding, I love nothing more than for people to go 'Holy Crap, did you just see that?!?!?!?', so in a way you could say its been easy, but on the other hand, hitting dry closeouts at Shark Island when all the boys are out is pretty scary so it all balances out.
I froth so much when I hear that people were impressed by me, like after that big vert out the Island on this one swell, Griz(Chris James) tuned me he'd heard from a bunch of guys that I’d been flying, which was really sick. Makes things worthwhile.
I am so happy to be where I am right now, not that I’m this super famous Pro or anything, just happy to be where I am. Grateful.
I saw the other day on Facebook that you had a fun session at Whaley. I really had fun there too and I’ve heard the Player brothers frequent it as well. What have been your favourite places to surf so far?
Yeah, that was a fun lil sesh, Ozzies Froth on craving/snap reverses in the pocket and I had some real steep, pretty tech ones out there that day so I was stoked.
I loved the Box, although I never got it all time, it was sick. Nuggan is lovely, so is Ozzie Pipe.
On the first day of the island comp, myself, Pik and Adam Luehman were getting a few at low tide surge pre heat and Adam confessed that some of the ones coming through on peak were as heavy as Cyclops if not heavier.
How does
We are so blessed at home we have no idea.
I’ve witnessed it before and would agree with most of the guys when they say that you are the one to watch when Tant is firing, so do you miss it?
Thanks bru.
Its a fat pit with a massive air bowl, If I may say so myself, my first session back there could be quite something, I have a few tricks up my sleeve.
“I wanna hit some MASSIVE sections at backdoor…”
In
Ha-ha! Can’t wait for the Rock, love it there!
I haven’t got any immediate plans like that, but who knows, Hawaii is still a month away, at the moment I am keeping a very watchful eye on the charts pertaining to a certain lunatic left (if you catch my drift) and hopefully it'll all come together soon, we have had numerous 'almost' days and the last one ended up being pumping so bummed!
But back to the rock, Bru, I am so pumped! So freaking pumped man, this year I wanna hit some MASSIVE sections at backdoor and just rip every surf I have over there, make it count you know?
Are we likely to see you at any
Bru, I’ll be home in April, so organise
Thanks Jerry,
Any shout-outs you would like to give?
I’d love to thank God (even though I have been such a rat lately and am not deserving of his grace), shout outs to my family, I miss you guys so bad.
My sponsors, SCIENCE CUSTOMS, LIMITED EDITION, IAMONSTER.
Kruger, Lisa, I love you guys thanks for everything! Riviera Hill yewwwww.
Photos by Sacha Specker, Damon Crawford, Steve Jones, Jared Houston, Sixty40 cover by Maurice Aubuchon
