Former dream tour surfer, Toby Martin aka "Mister Indestructo", gives Freaksurf Mag a career interview from his home place Beacon Hill Australia. Freaksurf Mag : Where are you from, where were you born ? Toby Martin : I live in Beacon Hill which is just 5 minutes west of dee Why Beach, our house over looks the beach at DY, I was born in Penrith.
FSM : When and where did you discover surfing ? TB : I discovered surfing through my dad love of the beach, he used to run the beach every afternoon and we'd wade into the water, then I progressed to a boogie board board had that I stood up on, then got my first surfboard in high school aged 12. Why surfing rather than another sport such as rugby ? I Played alot of sport, cricket, football, soccer growing up and it was only later in my teens that I took a real interest in surfing, standing in the cricket field on a hot summer day didn't match being in the surf. Tell us about your surfing career, from the beginning down to the dream tour My surfing career was I guess a bit of a struggle, I was a late starter and not really doing the junior series, I got on the wqs pretty raw, but my first year almost qualified for the WCT missing the cut by 5 spots, I travelled with Mick Campbell that year and he missed the cut by one spot. After that I had the belief that I could make it, but it took a further 5 years to secure my spot on the WCT, and like many wqs warroirs it was a brief cameo the first year after surffering appendex injury mid season. I fell off the tour in 2000, the only notable result was beating current world champ Occy in France that year. I lead the wqs in 2002 for much of the season and finished the year 5th and requalified for 2003 with back to back wqs final appearances in France at Lacanau and Hossegor. 2003 again quiet an Injury plagued season as I had inquired my hip early in 2002 trying a floater at pipe, but managed to requalify. 2004 was a coming of age with my first win in the WQS 6 start prime event, The o'niell deep blue Open in the Maldives, after finshing runner up the year before the Tim Curran, I was a huge relief. I also had a 5th place at bells going down to Andy in the quaters and finshed the year with a quarters at solid 8 foot pipe! 2005 was again a bit of a struggle injury wise, I had a really bad neck injury, which stopped my competing for much of the season, not before finishing with a career best 3rd Place in the wct in Japan going down to Slater in the semi, beating, Paterson, CJ, Bruce Irons and Mick Fanning in the quarters. I received an Injury wildcard for 2006 based on that performance. 2006 another tough year injury wise, but secured a very special win at O'niell cold water classic , a 4 WQS in Santa Cruz, one of the longest and most prestigeous events in surfing. I failed to qualify for 2007. I had major Hip surgery in 2007 which was needed for about 5 years since the Pipe floater. I tried to recover in time to get back on the WQS and make the wct but the body was not there retiring from full time competing and 15 year Career at the end of 2007 In all 2 wqs wins, 13 wqs Final appearances, and a carrer best 3rd in WCT in Japan. How did you feel after you left the dream tour ? I felt the DT compete in the knowledge I had made a career out of surfing, that for a long time seemed impossible. What would you change in your carreer? If I could change anything it would have a more healthy Body, but you can't and I think my determination was something that shone threw all the inquries and made people appreciate my desire. Who inspired you the most during the year on your dream tour? Two of the biggest inspirations I guess were two guys that didn't have a wealth of natural talent to strong desire for success, Mick Fanning and Mick Campbell, those two stick out the most! Jake Paterson another high achiever! Who was the craziest surfer of the tour? Craziest surfer on tour, tie between Wardo and Davo, both freaks in and out of the water..hahahah
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You seem to be very close to the other aussie riders, why is it more present in the aussie clan rather than in the other countries? The australian are close on tour because, a we hace to travel together because we don't make enough, and seem to share costs, but two and more so try and lift each other to victory, the anzac spirit , fighting against the odd to produce something special. What should have you need in top 5 or 10 or to win a world title? To make the top 5, you really have to have an enormous amount of talent to start with, then a strong competitive desire and dedication to go on and train, get results and stay focuus for the whole year. Why are you called mister INDESTRUCTO? Yes Mr INDESTRUCTO? For my resilliance to keep bouncing back from injury and keep on fighting. Why amazing surfer such as Tim Curran, Kalani Rob or Josh Kerr weren't on the top 5 when they were on tour? Kalain/curren. kerr well tim finished number 6 but and kerr back on tour but it really does take a lot of sacafice and dedication and an ounce of luck, you really have to want it more than anything and I think at times, they stayed in their comfort zone at times Do you think judges criteria are objectives with those freaks who boost air and charge big barrels? I think the judges are on top of most the new inovative airs , I'f like to see more consistancy through out a surfers ride though. In the past Shane Beschen said he couldn't understand the judges criteria and he would like to make another dream tour where the new school surf style would be really recognized. Crazy surfers as matt archbold and richie collins who were boosting airs 360 before everybody had to change the way they ride to correspond to the criteria. Is that the reason why some talented surfer leave the dream tour? |
Do you think Taj, Parkinson or Bede gonna be champ one day? Taj, Bede, Parko a real defining year I think, it maybe be now or never for Taj and Parko but Bede will be a threat at the title for years to come, he's got the eye of the tiger! Taj and Parko are seemingly comfortable at times, like i said it takes the ultimate sacrifice to win a world title! Tell us about those crazy waves called slabs such as ours or cyclope promoted by the BRA BOYS. The slab hunters, waves like our, cyclops have really created a new surfer for the surf market, it amazing to see these guys challange the bounderies of what we believe to be surfable waves, great for the sport, maybe not so for the body, very much a gladiator type mentality. Are we gonna see some SEARCH events in those kind of wave? I hope at some stage we see some events at places like ours, it would be a great addition to what is already a great Dream tour. We saw you during mexico event Two years ago you were killing us with your big hat are you becoming a consultant for the asp ? No job with the ASP but there's a vacant spot for president after rabit has stepped down...never say never. That might be my future, we'll see What is your job at ETNIES? I look after the australian surf team Kai Otton, Mark Mattews ect, I have done that for 9 years, it's great to be involved with such a great company and team of riders. ... Now the Crazy one .... Tell us about the biggest party you made during the dream tour and with who? Biggest party, after Andy his 3rd world title in Brazil, just a few sore heads the next morning! Is Mike lowe the biggest beer drinker? YES Why Aussies drink so many fosters? Cause they were free...hahaha |
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Yes I think some of the Pinoneers such as Beschen and Collins left threw frustration, but that's the same with any one trying to re-define their art, it took kelly a long time to get his new format through (dual heat format) and finally progressive surfing is what we all want to see, the asp caught up with what the market (surf fans) wanted. Thank god!! What do you think about Dane Reynolds or Chris Ward's philosophy, they don't really care about ranking, being world champ ? Wardo and dane, I think they focus on their surfing, and let the results take care of them selves , I know they both admit they are not focused on results but, deep done you have to believe they are, otherwise the effort it takes to make the tour and compete wouldn't happen. I think deep down they know what works best for then and that's to focus on their surfing. A few words on Kelly? He gonna be there this year for a tenth tittle, is he so impressive that some elite surfer become depressive or don't want to compete such as Andy? Kelly, No doubt the great surfer ever, 40 WCT victories 9 titles, and an ability to re focus and set new goal is second to none, one of sports (not only surfing's) greatest althlete's who has a genuine love for surfing not just competing and is built to handle all the intense media with easy. A natural ability like Michael Jordan as equally as string work ethic which makes him simple the best.I think if things go Kelly's way early in the year 10 world titles is not out of the question, a couple of early loss's and it'll dampen at hopes he has at 10. I think for Andy and most sports people the level of intensity you need to maintain to be at the pinnacle of sports, does have a draining affect on you, we even saw it when kelly retired for 3 years and returned with a vengance, AI will be back!
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Can you say the Bra Boys are a gay band some kind of village people for joking? I like living so I'll leave bra boys jokes alone, thanks Your best trip? Tahiti, just surfing in paradise, best barells ever Your worth trip, where, when ... ? USA, serve neck injury in 2005, had to get injections in my spine and was stuck there for a month bed ridden Your favourite event ? Tahiti is always at the top Your favourite WAVE ? Again Teahupoo The most terrific Waves ? Hard to beat mexico for perfection, I have never seen waves like that .... Last and silly one .... Toby, world champ this year again (third time), mister indestructo, you won teahuppo with a broken hand on the reef against MANOA DROLLET, terrific victory against Koby Abberton in the Rip Curl Pro SEARCH at OURS with a broken arm and finally amazing victory at jeffrey's bay for the title whereas a shark bite your left leg; you defeat kelly on one leg WHAT IS YOUR SECRET? Desire, Determination Dedications....BOOM Cheers YO ... hope that works for you! Thanks bro, always welcome at Freaksurf Mag ! Interview : Johann Mouchel for Freaksurf Magazine |
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