Travis Logie’s rolling

Yesterday, Travis Logie beat Jordy Smith by 0.02 points at the Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast. It wasn’t Trav’s first big heat at this event, either. He also put together round one’s highest heat total. His backhand bottom turns have looked like frontside cutbacks. His nose doesn’t point at the lip any earlier than 12. He’s sharp! So, has he changed anything? How come he’s steaming so hard at this event? Or, has he always been this good and it’s just that no one’s noticed lately?

Interview by Craig Jarvis
Photo by ASP/Kirstin

Stab: It must have emotional surfing against Jordy.
Travis: It always is. He’s one of my best friends and we’re really close. Every heat means so much to both of us and we’ve had to come up against each other in round three so often. I’m stoked to get the win but it sucks as well. There’s always tension because we want to beat each other, but it’s in a healthy way. Jordy’s a really good sport. He’s grown up a lot and I’m proud of him. It’s always very sportsmanlike and that’s the way it should be. I’m sure he’ll get his revenge one of these days.

Did you see his wave? I watched it on the big screen while we were waiting for the score. I thought it was going to come very close. If he’d just got the score or just didn’t get the score I don’t think anyone would’ve made a fuss. It was up there, y’know? What benefitted me was that he did all the good stuff at the end of the wave, when it’d gotten a lot smaller, whereas both our previous scores were out the back on proper, solid waves. Jordy’s so gnarly at the end of the heat – he makes something out of nothing so often.

Jordy’s on form then? He is. I told him after the first round that it was the best I’ve seen him surf in two years, because it is. It’s like the Jordy that got runner-up in 2010. I think he’s going to have an amazing year and I think this year he’s going to be in the running for a world title.

After getting highest score of the first round and winning against Jordy, you’re the Giant Killer. I’m feeling really relaxed. It’s one of those events where I’m always looking forward to getting back out there, which is a great feeling. I’ve been doing no special training whatsoever. I’ve done less training than I normally do. Mentally I’m in a much better place, not taking each heat like it’s the end of the world, and it’s definitely letting me surf better because I’m not putting so much pressure on myself.

Who’s in top form? Parko and Jeremy Flores are the surfers who really step up when they need to, which is exactly what’s needed. Luckily they’re on the other side of the draw, so they’re going to have to take each other out before they get to me.

Surf industry in turmoil at the moment. You’re a Quiksilver rider. All good? All good. I’ve got amazing support from my sponsor. I’ve been a Quiky rider for 14 years, and haven’t looked back. Quik gave me the Andrew Murphy award the other night which was such an honour it nearly brought me to tears, coz Murph was such a legend. So I’m in a good place.

Travis surfs against Matt Wilkinson real soon, and may have already done so depending on when you read this. Don’t miss it.