In the world of surfing it doesn’t get any bigger than the ASP World Championship Tour – the elite surfing circuit in which every professional woman surfer dreams of participating in – and many never get the chance.
For 19-year-old Bianca Buitendag, from Victoria Bay near George, that day has arrived far sooner than she expected. Buitendag will compete in her very first event of the WCT on Sunday – the Roxy Pro on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Life on the qualifying circuit over the past few years has been everything that Buitendag has hoped it to be – earning her rave reviews by the international surfing community particularly for her performances over the past year.
“I did the qualifying circuit last year, which is more challenging than the World Championship Tour (WCT) because of the difficult waves, struggles during travels, more competitors, etc., but it has been a blast- especially when you can see that it has all paid off and you have ended the year with great results.”
It’s a grand achievement for the girl who started surfing at 7 years old. The WCT only accepts one new entrant every year. For 2013 it’ll be Buitendag who gets to try and out manoeuvre the 16 best surfers in the world. She’s not taking her relative success lightly.
“I wasn’t expecting the success I had last year. It is a real blessing and it’s important for me not to take it for granted. I stayed in France for about 5 months, to be closer to my main sponsor Roxy and coach Mathias Maallem.
“I think it was both the commitment in giving it a good shot, and opportunities that came across my path.”
Buitendag, who has a mature head on her shoulders, doesn’t plan to simply make up the numbers in her first year on the WCT, and concedes that there is much room for improvement, especially now that she will compete against surfing’s elite exponents.
“There is no improvement without change. I am planning to work at being in a good “head space” during heats, to surf smarter strategically and to get comfortable on the new tour. Also I want to practice more futuristic manoeuvres.
“My goal for this year is making an impact on the WCT,” she said, “surfing to my potential, causing some upsets and hopefully finishing in the Top 10 at the end of 2013.”
Life as a surfer might be all sand, surf and swells, but Bianca’s daily routine is underpinned by a rigorous training schedule, which for the moment has been toned down ahead of the Roxy Pro.
“Because there is an event in a couple of days, I’m taking it easy, surfing about three hours a day, and stretching a lot with the occasional jog.”
“You can’t really prepare mentally, except being confident with your equipment and performance. Confidence is key, but sometimes hard to obtain.”
Buitendag, a committed Christian, says her spirituality is an important part of her life and keeps her grounded, and occupied, when she’s not in the water. “I like to watch and listen to teachings and documentaries about Jesus, and all the apologetics that go with it, and of course read the Bible. My biggest inspiration is Jesus Christ, the man who died to give us life!”
“To relax I go surfing. Its crazy how the same thing that makes me stress in competition, is the thing I use to relax. Actually doing anything in the ocean makes me relax. The ocean is my escape.”
At 19, Buitendag doesn’t know what her long term future has in store for her, but with the surfing world at her feet she knows she has an opportunity to achieve something special.
“A female’s career in this sport rarely lasts past the age of 30, and I don’t see myself doing it for that long either. I am going to jump at this opportunity and wait on the Lord to show the rest of His plan,” she said.
Find out more about Bianca on her website.
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