Freddy Patacchia Jr. calls it quits

Freddy P’s spent some time grinding on tour, 11 years to be exact. The Hawaiian cat’s got one of the best backhands in the biz. After his heat he announced his retirement. Let me rewind a bit… after he put up the highest heat total of the the day and racked up the only perfect ten he retired. He paddled back out to exchanged hugs with Gabriel Medina and Bede Durbidge. Then caught a wave at the four minute mark with priority in front of Gabs (who was nine years old the year Freddy joined the tour) who gave him a high five and cheered him in. At this point he called his heat, and his CT career. “I want to walk away hot and on my own terms,” he told the Todd Kline. “This is the last time I’ll wear the number 50 on my back. I’ll still compete in some QS events but this is the last heat I’ll surf on the CT.” A heat he won, over an in form Gabs. “I was actually trying to lose the heat,” Freddy said. “I didn’t want to interfere with anyone’s title chances. I’m not even going to surf round three.” Freddy’s had some good years and has been an influential figure in surfing. Although never able to quite hack it into a top ten position, the man’s fought and groveled since 2005. Many of the young-guns on tour grew up watching Mr Patacchia’s goofy-foot prowess years before they could get their drivers licenses. “This has been six months in the making,” Freddy said on his retirement. “I’ve been wanting to do something different in life and stay at home with my two children. It feels great, I’m happy with this decision and hope everyone can understand where I’m coming from. I’m excited to explore other things outside of surfing. I knew the day would come that I would have to walk away from surfing.” So at the tender age of 33 Mr P sends his jersey to the rafters. To which we wish him and his family the best. And remember the utter innovation he laid upon us that one time at snapper.