After East London’s Rosy Hodge and Nikita Robb dropped off the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour at the end of 2010, South Africa did not have much to cheer about on surfing’s biggest stage.
We did, however, have two young guns taking names on the WQS, with KZN’s Sarah Baum coming agonisingly close to qualifying by the end of 2011, while Vic Bay’s Bianca Buitendag pushed on and secured a spot on the 2013 Dream Tour.
And just like that, surf fans back home had a new reason to watch the ASP Women’s word title race, and ‘Blompot’, as she is affectionately known by fans and friends back home, did not disappoint.
A quarter final finish in her first event at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast, followed up with a 3rd place at the Colgate Plax Girls Rio Pro in Brazil in May, together with a string of other solid results earned Bianca a top ten finish in her first year on tour.
With the long season now over, we dropped in on the Southern Cape shredder to hear her thoughts on her “Rookie of the Year’ title, as well as making us proud back home.
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ZIGZAG: First off, congratulations on cracking it so hard in your first year on the WCT. Tell us your thoughts on the past season.
BIANCA: I feel good about it. My goal was to end off the year in the top 10, and I managed to do that without the assurance of the WQS. If I can add this much, it was intense. I didn’t know what to expect, but once everything started and I found myself flying to an event every two weeks, I struggled to keep my head above water. It takes competing, and all the disappointments and excitement around it to a whole new level.
You claimed the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award for 2013. How does that compare to some of your other achievements so far?
That was the easiest one! Since I was the only rookie in 2013 (laughs). Wow, a few years ago, sitting in maths class in a yellow school dress, I would never have imagined coming as far as I have today. I am so lucky that I can wake up every day and do what I love. Not many people in the world can say that.
Bianca is not just a pretty face, but she’s most definitely that too.
Where was your favourite stop on tour this year?
I liked the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast. Maybe because it was my first ever event and I got a little taste of what professional surfing is like there. Also Brazil has an amazing culture, you can just see people smiling as far as you look, and I made the semi-finals there.
Competitively, what would you say are your strengths at the moment?
It’s difficult to find my strengths now that I have competed against the best in the world. Although, after this year I definitely know all my weaknesses. After every heat I analyse and criticise every minute of it, and mostly focus on what mistakes I had made, not what I did right.
Did you achieve all the goals you set for yourself for the Dream Tour this year?
Yes, I made the Top 10 without relying on the WQS to re-qualify. I had to make a bunch of risky decisions – like choosing a surf trip to Fiji over a QS event that could have secured my requalification, but I guess it all worked out.
Tell us three lessons the tour taught you in 2013.
If you don’t surf your best or if you make stupid mistakes, you won’t make your heat. Not even close. Secondly, make sure you have a good team of people around you, that believe in you even when you don’t believe in yourself. Thirdly, you can beat anyone, you only have to surf smarter than them.
Bianca ripped her way to the quarter finals in her first Dream Tour event – the Roxy Pro Gold Coast.
You’re the tallest girl on tour by a full three inches. Does this give you any kind of advantage (or disadvantage)?
I think the disadvantages and advantages equal each other out. I had a paddle battle with one of the smallest girls on tour and she was right by my side all the way.
We know it’s a couple months away, but have you picked out an outfit for the ASP awards yet?
(laughs) I am not the world’s most enthusiastic shopper. I’ll probably find one the week before.
There was plenty of scandal surrounding the teaser for the Roxy Pro Biarritz. What did you and some of the other girls on tour think about all of the fuss? Were you guys even talking about it?
There was some talk, but we really didn’t think it was worth the attention. I guess everyone has freedom to express their own opinion.
You just competed in your final event as a Pro Junior, narrowly losing in the quarter finals against Chelsea Tuach from Barbados in the ASP World Junior Champs. It’s still a great result, but being the favourite to take out the event it must have been a tough one to swallow. How do you deal with tough losses, and how do they effect your mindset going into other events?
It is a mental battle more than anything. I felt like I achieved my goal for this year before going to Brazil, so once I got there the hunger for winning just disappeared. I was tired, fed-up and wanted to get home and Chelsea wanted it more than me. But dealing with losses when I really badly want to make it, is something I find really hard. It was an emotional roller-coaster this year, with much steeper ups and downs than any other. I put myself so deep down after a loss, it takes more than my own effort to bring me back up. We must be in loving hands.
Bianca’s career went one direction in 2013 – vert.
Now that your season is over, what’s your itinerary looking like until the start of the 2014 tour? Any surf trips planned?
My body is finished and my head is so filled with surfing that I am going to have at least three weeks without touching a surfboard. I’m going to catch up on people’s lives that I have missed out on, and have a holiday like any other 19 year-old would. I’m going on a snowboarding trip with my brothers, because I never get to see them. But once the clock strikes 2014, I will be training and getting ready for another year, with no opportunities slipping past.
You must have a thousand people to thank, which we’re sure you’ve already started doing, but is there anyone out there that you’d like to send a shout out to?
Thank you to everyone who showed even the least bit of interest and support. Not only are you there with me in the good times, but most importantly in the struggles. It means a lot.
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See more from Bianca on her BLOG, or check out her Facebook page.
Keep shredding Bianca. Thanks for giving us SA surfers some street cred when we travel overseas.
Great Person Great Surfer
Don’t let the surfing world dilute your faith girl…..that is your strength.
SA surfer of the year.