South African surfing legend Jordy Smith will be the first person ever to represent the country at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo later this year.
Credit: Anthony Fox
‘My initial reaction: how am I going to be a part of it, and what’s my process and my road going to be like to be able to get there, and what kind of steps [do I] have to put in place to be able to get there,’ Smith said.
Jordy Smith surfs at Rocky Point in Haleiwa, Hawaii United States on December 16, 2020. Credit: Trevor Moran
He mentioned that in Japan, the waves ‘are going to be pretty small,’ which meant he had to change the way he trains. He took some time out of the year to go to the location [to ‘shape and design] voids and equipment around [it] to be able to become familiar with it.’
‘As far as equipment goes, it’s night and day between Jeffrey’s Bay and Japan. You know, Jeffrey’s Bay, I’m using more of a good wave kind of quality surfboard, as opposed to Japan, it’s gonna be a lot smaller, a lot more volume. And more liters inside the board for smaller waves,’ Smith continued.
‘They’re pretty gutless in Japan as opposed to here in Jeffrey’s Bay. Obviously, you can get a typhoon over there. But it’s very rare to happen that time of year, you know, in July. So, you know, you just kind of prepare for the worst and give it your all.
‘I never thought it was a possibility,’ he added. ‘And now that it’s actually kind of come to life, and for me to be able to be in the Olympics and going to the Olympics, representing South Africa. I think [that] now, the only thing left is to win gold.’
Source: RedBull Content Pool
