After Coming 17th In Portugal, Matt McGillivray Jumped Off A Cliff

As previously pointed out by Paul Evans, Matt McGillivray is a low-key action hero.

“That feeling of flying is what does it for me. Freefalling feels a lot like getting barrelled,” the World #17 told Stab in J Bay last season. Alongside mad sensory pay offs, Matt even views jumping off things as a sound preparation for surfing elite heats and as an anti-depressive remedy to losing in the ER. 

“I think it keeps it fresh, helps with high pressure situations. Like with Tahiti last year, right before I went, I went BASE jumping in Cape Town and felt some real nerves. When I was out at Teahupoo, I was feeling that same level of nerves, but it all felt familiar, like something I could deal with in the water. So that was really cool, relating the feeling of BASE jumping to surfing. But honestly, I think I was more scared at maxing Pipeline than I’ve been skydiving or BASE jumping. It’s just something I really want to pursue for the next couple of years, but there’s obviously a time limit on it too, unlike surfing. I realize that at some point, you’re gonna have to say you scratched the itch, satisfied with what you got from the sport.” 

The latest film from Ipsorelative – Liam O’Brien’s YouTube channel/production label – features the two Vissla surfers in wind-whipped, brown rip bowls around the contest site at Supertubos. There’s a Jordy cameo, a clean full rotation, some Cocteau Twins and a heart-stopping base drop that rivals eating several green mitsubishi’s at Defqon 1. 

Portugal is sweet.