Boal Blogs

Tim’s Blog: Update from the Man before the Showdown

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 November, 2009 : - - Anglet, France -- Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 26, is about to take-off for Hawaii and the final event of this year’s ASP World Tour, the world famous Billabong Pipeline Masters on the North Shore of Oahu.

Boal, who chose not to compete in the two first jewels of this year’s Vans Triple Crown, has been enjoying some classic surf conditions in the South West of France and seems ready for the showdown where he will try and secure his 2010 ASP Dream Tour re-qualification ticket. Boal will be on a jumbo jet to Honolulu next Saturday and is currently getting his quiver ready. Check out the words from the man...

“My training for the final event has been pretty exciting. We’ve had excellent surf in France and scored tons of barrels so I guess it’s a good exercice before Pipeline. I’ve been surfing a lot recently with two sessions a day at least and no less than a couple to four hours each time and it’s a great feeling to get back into surfing like that. It’s been a very average year on tour regarding the waves and it’s like I am starting from scratch. It’s really a great feeling!

Apart from the exciting waves, I’ve been trying new boards as well, enjoyed some sessions with friends and with no one out. It’s the kind of moments where all conditions come together and remind you how much surfing is great and special. I feel like batteries are recharged and that I am really enjoying the time out in the water, in good waves and with few people around. That’s such a great feeling and it makes a big difference for me. Actually, everything is going well, I am just stoked right now.

Regarding the changes for next year, things are evolving apparently... Surfers do complain of a lot of things (including myself!) but I feel like we’re satisfied with very few things but that there are other problems that remain and have important consequences on the sport, like judging for example and many other things. But after a year on tour, what I have learnt about this all is that when you get involved in all these discussions and you commit to it, it takes a lot of energy.

I think a lot of events were not managed well this year but when you get into the debate, it seems like a loss of time for a professional surfer and that you have to deal with it. I really want things to change, like having locals as contest directors instead of industry employees, like seeing the evolution of formats and rules discussed between independant objective people instead of a few surfers or officials...

A few things have changed and it’s great. Let’s hope the evolution doesn’t stop. I am not sure what is going on with the “rebel tour”, if it does take place it will be interesting to see how it goes and if it works.

For now, I am focused on the final event. I am excited to be able to go there and surf Pipeline with just two or three guys out. If we get ideal conditions, it’s like a dream coming true so it is pretty cool. I am pretty pumped for the competition and I am looking at Backdoor more than Pipeline! Haha! I am kidding, I’ll deal with the conditions but it will be a great experience for sure.

I think you guys are pretty much updated about everything! My injury is definitely behind and I think I am starting to improve again. It’s been a year of up-and-downs on that side but the last two months have been a lot better. It was pretty hard to surf all year with that because when you are on tour, you can’t focus on anything else than your results, the judging, etc... You have to find the balance between all these things to be at your best and keep enjoying surfing. I think I am aware of it all now and I won’t forget it!

See you in Hawaii - Tim

www.aspeurope.com
www.aspworldtour.com  

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Tim Boal / Gregoire Puget

ASP Europe - Surfersvillage