Layne Beachley : photo ASP/Karen

Riders Updates

Beachley eyes a winning return to surfing

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 14 December, 2005 : - - Injured six-time world champion Layne Beachley says the return of American great Kelly Slater to the top of men's surfing has her motivated to reclaim the mantle as the best female surfer on the planet. Beachley has scotched rumours a herniated disc in her back would result in her premature retirement from the World Championship Tour, instead claiming the break had refreshed her batteries ahead of another assault on the world tour in 2006.

But Beachley said watching Slater move one ahead of her in the race for the most world titles had her primed for a successful comeback. "He's definitely inspired me to do it, I had every intention of doing it beforehand but I wasn't able too, now I'm just going to have to match him," Beachley told Sydney radio station 2KY.

The Manly 33-year-old was ordered by doctors to take an extended break following the WCT event in Malibu in October after Beachley had complained of shooting pains down her arm. "It was probably 80 per cent closing off my spinal cord which decreased all the blood flow going into my left arm," she said.

"It was just a point of my body saying either you shut down or I shut down. The doctors said you either have surgery or you rest, so I chose the rest option."I'm giving myself at least a good three months out of the water. I figure I'll start surfing in January and give myself at least six weeks of training and surfing before I go back on tour at the end of February."

Beachley said she wasn't exactly itching to get back in the water, but said she would definitely return for an 18th campaign next year. "I've been out of the water for two and a half months now and to be quite honest I'm really not missing surfing very much at the moment," she said. "I look over the beach every morning and be thankful that the waves are flat so there's no temptation."

Beachley said she wasn't surprised by the emergence of Chelsea Georgeson, with the Gold Coast 22-year-old on the verge of her first world title. Georgeson needs to record a quarter-final berth at the final event currently underway at Honolua Bay in Hawaii to claim the world crown. "I think she's the most well-rounded surfer on the tour," Beachley said.

"I always thought that she was going to take it (the world title) from me, but now it looks like I'm going to have to try and take it from her."

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

Source AAP

Profiles - Surfersvillage