Bede Durbidge Just Announced Retirement

Technically his email signature will read ‘Elite Program Manager’. The former Pipe Master, Triple Crown Champion and tour vet just came out (of the gym) to officially announce his acceptance of the role with Surfing Australia. Instead of heat wins he’ll be chasing gold for his homeland at the Olympic Games. He’ll be heading up the Olympic surf team, to be announced early next year, making sure they’re training, eating well and dispersing large volumes of water come Tokyo 2020. 

“I feel I have fulfilled my competitive surfing dream and next year will be perfect timing to transit into this role,” he told The Business Of Surf. “It’s a very exciting time in surfing and the Tokyo Olympics will come around before we know it. Australia has a great chance of winning the first gold medals in surfing so preparation will be key over the next few years.”

We’re all aware of what he can do wearing the coach’s hat. Think John Florence, World Champ 2016.

“Coaching is something I’m so passionate about and to be able to work with Australia’s best athletes and coaches I’m just relishing the opportunity,” he said.

“Knowing Bede on a professional and personal level I think he’s the perfect person for the job,” said Mick Fanning. “He’s been one of the most dedicated athletes on tour and an amazing tactician so he’ll be able to help out in so many different areas.” Photo: WSL/Steve Sherman

Surfing Australia CEO, Andrew Stark sung his praises.

“This is a critical role that will be instrumental towards our Olympic campaign,” said Bede’s new bossman. “Bede is an amazing athlete and coach and has immense credibility and respect from all the Australian World Tour Surfers and their respective coaches and will be an amazing asset to our high-performance team. Bede will be the key and constant communicator with our Olympic Squad to ensure that our Australian team athletes are at their absolute best in Japan in the moment of the first ever Olympic surfing Gold Medals.”

Right now, a year and a half after he exploded his pelvis and nearly died at Pipe, he’s sitting 20th on the CT leaderboard. With his unrivalled consistency and intelligent surfing, we would’ve expected Bede to knock out at least another handful of years on the tour, upsetting along the way. He’ll finish up after the Australian leg, next year at Margaret River.