So you wanna be a surf star? Red Bull Rising Begins Now!
Last January 19 of the world’s leading junior surfers were invited to
the Red Bull WQS Selection Camp held in Australia. After an intensive
selection phase only four made the cut into Red Bull Rising, Red Bull's
high performance program. The surfers that made this unique elite
athlete surfing development team were Brazilian Wiggolly Dantas, the
Hawaiian Gavin Gilette, Clint Kimmins from Australia and Frenchman Tim
Boal. The fifth surfer, Michel Bourez from Tahiti was nominated through
a wild card due to his outstanding talent.
Each of the 5 athletes will be awarded a one-year scholarship. The performance oriented program, an initiative in its third year now, includes mentoring and coaching by former WQS surfer, Andy King. In addition the program incorporates career management and assistance in planning cutting-edge training methodologies and practices. Travel and accommodation organization as well as the handling for 5 star and above WQS events are also part of the comprehensive scholarship.
In these ultra-competitive times, sheer talent and determination alone are mostly not enough to get one over the line and onto the winner’s podium. Trainer Andy King says: “Red Bull Rising was designed to be a bridge between the athlete’s junior career and the elite WCT, it shall open up the doors for junior surfers keen to become professional athletes, who until now have had limited opportunities to increase their skills and chances of having a shot at becoming a world champion.”
The five talents were selected based on two skill levels. One being their sports performance, where they had to withstand a series of activities, designed around real-life situations and surfing under different conditions. The second criteria was a list of skills and character features they had to bring along, such as pure talent, a strong personality, immense drive and ambition to strive for the top, the ability to listen and learn, excellent work ethics, an overall positive attitude and the competitive potential to become world class.
Tahitian Michel Bourez was succinct with his response to selection and advises up and coming surfers to chase their goals. “Grab it. You dream job is up for grabs”, he says.
“This was a great surprise to be selected” agrees Brazil’s Wiggolly Dantas. “The Red Bull Camp gave me wings to fly to new horizons and a new vision of surfing world”, says the 18 year-old surfing dynamo from Sao Paulo. “The most exciting part of the camp was Mick Fanning's words to the surfers”, says Wiggolly.
The effervescent Hawaiian Gavin Gillette concurs that it’s a huge opportunity.
“2008 will be great, I’m going to be great, I’m aiming on making the WCT”, he said. Gillette has recently reignited his surfing career as in 2007 he withdrew from the WQS after his younger brother suffered a terrible motorcycle accident and is ranked 174th. “Surf with your heart and keep your talent and ego out the equation”, Gillette advises.
Australian surfer Clint Kimmins acknowledges that the program allows the athlete to concentrate on their performance. “It is such a great feeling to know you have Kingy and the entire support of Red Bull behind you at each event”, he says. “A massive weight has been taken off our shoulders in the way of the stress involved with traveling and getting organised enough to give your 100 per cent in the water”, he adds. “To be completely honest and I think I can speak for everyone on the program, that we are honoured to have been given such an opportunity”, he says with a huge smile. “Sky is the limit, bring on 2008!” he says.
French champion Tim Boal, from St Martins in the Caribbean, envies the dream of surfing for a living. “It’s important for me to know that I have done everything I could and have no regrets; I want to do what I can to reach my goals of becoming a world class surfer.”
Advice from ASP judges, shapers, media specialists, coach Andy King and current world champion Mick Fanning, all together already had a huge impact on the surfers’ performance and attitude during the selection.
The feedback received from Surfing Australia, too underlined that the goal was achieved. “You left a very positive impact on this community so well done on a personal and professional level to all of your team”, commented Surfing Australia’s CEO Mark Lane.
“The Red Bull approach and professionalism to your camp was well matched to the image we try to portray at the (High Performance) Centre”, he said. In bringing the surfers to the top, the whole program has already a proven record of success. In its first year two of the programs’ participants made the WCT, Royden Bryson (RSA) and Ben Dunn (AUS). The year after Tiago Pires (POR) followed and so confirmed that the program has taken the right path. Coach Andy King is very pleased with this year’s selection and banks on the five new program participants: “These surfers, in their first years on the global tour, can focus on their performance only, add to this the coaching on technique and life skills and we are fast tracking theses kids to the top!”
As ‘graduates’ of the program, King wants to see the Red Bull athletes to be ready to confidently apply their skills independently as they continue their careers. “It’s going to be exciting for all of us to play such an integral role at such a crucial time in the careers of these future champions”, said King.
In these ultra-competitive times, sheer talent and determination alone are mostly not enough to get one over the line and onto the winner’s podium. Trainer Andy King says: “Red Bull Rising was designed to be a bridge between the athlete’s junior career and the elite WCT, it shall open up the doors for junior surfers keen to become professional athletes, who until now have had limited opportunities to increase their skills and chances of having a shot at becoming a world champion.”
The five talents were selected based on two skill levels. One being their sports performance, where they had to withstand a series of activities, designed around real-life situations and surfing under different conditions. The second criteria was a list of skills and character features they had to bring along, such as pure talent, a strong personality, immense drive and ambition to strive for the top, the ability to listen and learn, excellent work ethics, an overall positive attitude and the competitive potential to become world class.
Tahitian Michel Bourez was succinct with his response to selection and advises up and coming surfers to chase their goals. “Grab it. You dream job is up for grabs”, he says.
“This was a great surprise to be selected” agrees Brazil’s Wiggolly Dantas. “The Red Bull Camp gave me wings to fly to new horizons and a new vision of surfing world”, says the 18 year-old surfing dynamo from Sao Paulo. “The most exciting part of the camp was Mick Fanning's words to the surfers”, says Wiggolly.
The effervescent Hawaiian Gavin Gillette concurs that it’s a huge opportunity.
“2008 will be great, I’m going to be great, I’m aiming on making the WCT”, he said. Gillette has recently reignited his surfing career as in 2007 he withdrew from the WQS after his younger brother suffered a terrible motorcycle accident and is ranked 174th. “Surf with your heart and keep your talent and ego out the equation”, Gillette advises.
Australian surfer Clint Kimmins acknowledges that the program allows the athlete to concentrate on their performance. “It is such a great feeling to know you have Kingy and the entire support of Red Bull behind you at each event”, he says. “A massive weight has been taken off our shoulders in the way of the stress involved with traveling and getting organised enough to give your 100 per cent in the water”, he adds. “To be completely honest and I think I can speak for everyone on the program, that we are honoured to have been given such an opportunity”, he says with a huge smile. “Sky is the limit, bring on 2008!” he says.
French champion Tim Boal, from St Martins in the Caribbean, envies the dream of surfing for a living. “It’s important for me to know that I have done everything I could and have no regrets; I want to do what I can to reach my goals of becoming a world class surfer.”
Advice from ASP judges, shapers, media specialists, coach Andy King and current world champion Mick Fanning, all together already had a huge impact on the surfers’ performance and attitude during the selection.
The feedback received from Surfing Australia, too underlined that the goal was achieved. “You left a very positive impact on this community so well done on a personal and professional level to all of your team”, commented Surfing Australia’s CEO Mark Lane.
“The Red Bull approach and professionalism to your camp was well matched to the image we try to portray at the (High Performance) Centre”, he said. In bringing the surfers to the top, the whole program has already a proven record of success. In its first year two of the programs’ participants made the WCT, Royden Bryson (RSA) and Ben Dunn (AUS). The year after Tiago Pires (POR) followed and so confirmed that the program has taken the right path. Coach Andy King is very pleased with this year’s selection and banks on the five new program participants: “These surfers, in their first years on the global tour, can focus on their performance only, add to this the coaching on technique and life skills and we are fast tracking theses kids to the top!”
As ‘graduates’ of the program, King wants to see the Red Bull athletes to be ready to confidently apply their skills independently as they continue their careers. “It’s going to be exciting for all of us to play such an integral role at such a crucial time in the careers of these future champions”, said King.
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