Sally Fitzgibbons has been a dominating force this year (2011) on the Womens ASP World Tour. For starters, she won her first ASP Event at Bells Beach. She then went on to win the Subaru Pro in New Zealand defeating Carissa Moore.
Sally Fitzgibbons is currently sitting in the #2 spot and is definitely in the race for a world title with 2 events left. We recently had the opportunity to interview Sally Fitzgibbons which you can read below!
Who is your favorite surfer to compete against?
I love the challenge of coming up against the favourites or top 5 competitors because I know I'm going to have to step it up and it's going to be a great battle. I don't necessarily have a favourite competitor to compete against as my focus is just on the surf and how I want to surf the heat.
Do you have a favorite food to eat before or after surfing?
I like eating some fruit or a muesli bar right before I go out and surf. After a session it always makes you pretty hungry, depends what country you are in but a big salad, smoothie or sandwich is pretty yum.
Do you do any sort of cross training or work out routine to prepare for surfing?
You have to have a flexible routine when you're on the road all the time. I have a routine before and after I go surfing to get everything warmed up. If the waves are good I spend most of the day surfing and making the most of the swell. On the average days for waves I spend time in the gym doing some cross training. I like running, biking and doing some strength work to help improve my surfing.
Most surfers never get to experience surfing on the World Tour, what does it feel like to be surfing in a heat with everybody on shore watching and cheering?
It is a little surreal at times, surfing some of your favourite waves that you have grown up frothing on as a grom and having everyone clear the line up and let you surf it for half an hour with just one other competitor. For me the feeling is excitement, a little adrenaline and when the heat gets underway I'm relaxed and ready to just surf the best on what waves I get.
Do you enjoy the traveling aspect of being a pro surfer? What are some things about traveling that you have learned along the way?
The traveling aspect is the hardest part of being a pro surfer at times. The logistics of constantly moving, packing and unpacking, catching multiple flights can be tiring. Having a great support team around you is what makes it easiest and learning to be patient with all the airport time. There are so many pros to travelling as well and I believe the more you travel the more experiences you have to learn from. It's definitely worth having a frequent flyer number so you can build your status and work toward upgrades and making your trips a little more comfortablein the airport lounges .
Do you ever get nervous when surfing in a heat?
When I surf heats I get more of an excited/ adrenaline rush of energy, not so much nerves. I know I've done all the work before I paddle out and so I know I'm ready to adapt to any situation.