Fitzgibbons’ wave of emotion
IN the warm, steel-blue waters of Honolua Bay, on Maui’s northwestern coast, Australian Sally Fitzgibbons has looked back at the cliff faces where the women’s world surfing champion will be crowned. She has pictured winning it all.
The fist pump loaded with relief. A kiss of the number 89 on her yellow rash-shirt, a tribute to her grandfather Clem – the number represents the age at which he died.
There’s the emotional embrace with her father Martin, a former teacher who handed her a bodyboard to first stand up on at Gerroa, on the NSW south coast, when she was still in primary school.
Then the chair ride, high up on the shoulders of her great- est rivals and tour mates, Stephanie Gilmore and Tyler Wright. And, of course, the victorious lift of the world championship trophy.
Like a wedding day, Fitzgibbons – the world tour leader – has been planning this day in her mind since she was eight years old.
“I wanted to be a champion. I just needed to choose the right sport,” Fitzgibbons, who excelled in athletics and touch football as a junior, has said.
Over the next 10 days, providing the North Pacific plays ball and sends a thumping storm swell towards the Maui shores, she can finally have her day.
It’s not like Fitzgibbons, who turns 27 a week before Christmas, hasn’t earned it.
The momentum and motiv- ation that have catapulted her within touching distance of her maiden title are underpinned by mental and physical scars absorbed from a journey that began as a tour rookie in 2009.
There are the three world title runner-up trophies.
And with them is an honest assessment of her past.
“I don’t think I was ready to be the world champion,” Fitzgibbons said.
“Back then, I was just a ball of emotion.
“I had no emotional control, or clarity on even the type of surfer I was.”
Now, for the first time, she feels she’s armed with the tools to fulfil her dream.
“I don’t really have to motivate myself to want it because that’s in my DNA. It’s always been there, to win.”