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Surfing legend returns to Durban

20 June 2008

Legendary South African surfer Shaun Tomson, one of the most respected men in the history of the sport, will return to his old hunting grounds when the 2008 Mr Price Pro kicks off in Durban on 27 June.

The 1977 World Surfing Champion and six-time winner of the Gunston 500 - the predecessor to the Mr Price Pro - will be an honorary guest at this year's competition, marking a significant occasion for professional surfing in South Africa.

"I am very excited to be returning," Tomson said from his home in California.

'Special memories'

"The event has a lot of special memories for me. My father started and helped fund the first event way back in 1969 and my first win back in 1973, when I was 17, with him watching, was one of the best moments in my surfing career.

"Even though I now live in the USA, most of my life was spent on the beaches of Durban, so a big piece of my heart will always belong there."

Tomson arrives in Durban next week to promote the South African premiere of his surf documentary film Bustin' Down the Door, which opens in Nu Metro Cinema's in July, and says he is looking forward to joining in on the action at the R1.3-million ASP World Qualifying Series Mr Price Pro, which takes place at New Pier.

Six consecutive wins

The prolific "tube-rider" made history by becoming the first surfer to win the same tournament - the Gunston 500 - six consecutive times (1973-1978).

He also helped set professional surfing in motion through his exploits, both at home and in Hawaii, and knows only too well how significant an event of this stature is for South African surfing.

"Durban has always been the nucleus of surfing in South Africa, and for Mr Price to produce an event where our top young surfers can watch and compete against the world's best has an amazing effect on the entire standard of surfing in South Africa," Tomson said.

Providing insight

Tomson will provide invaluable insight into professional competition, giving live beach and web commentary, as well as presenting the 2008 Mr Price Pro Champions with their trophies on the final day of competition.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing some young unknown surfer shake things up at the Mr Price Pro this year," Tomson said. "It is really exciting to see someone new make their first big move and explode on to the scene because new talent is what keeps the sport alive.

"I'm also looking forward to seeing if Sunny Garcia (event wildcard from Hawaii) can continue his charge to make it back on to the tour after overcoming all sorts of problems."

The Mr Price Pro includes a six-star men's WQS, five-star women's WQS, as well as a 3A-rated Surfing South Africa Pro Junior division, and will see nearly 200 surfers from across the globe arrive in Durban to compete for one of the most prestigious titles in professional surfing.

Bustin' Down the Door

Tomson's film Bustin' Down the Door will open commercially at Nu Metro Cinemas on 4 July.

It is the story of how a group of star surfers - including world champions Peter Townsend (1976), Shaun Tomson (1977), Wayne "Rabbit" Batholomew (1978), and Mark Richards (1979-82) – changed the world of surfing during a turbulent two-year period that featured big clashes at surfing's Mecca, Hawaii's North Shore.

Thanks to the efforts of the South African and Australian surfers, the International Professional Surfing tour was born in 1976 and came on full force in 1977.

It paved the way for today's World Championship Tour and turned surfing into a multi-million dollar industry, including Tomson founding the well-known Instinct brand.

Favourite surfing scenes

The movie features archival material from many previous surfing movie favourites as well as new material.

Academy Award nominee Edward Norton is the narrator, while the soundtrack includes music by The Rolling Stones, Queen, Leonard Cohen and David Bowie.

Tomson is quoted as saying: "This film isn't just about surfing."

It will, no doubt, be one of Durban's hottest tickets when it is released, and a movie eagerly awaited by surfing fans around the world.

SAinfo reporter and Mr Price Pro