Flair to end the agony
FOR Sally Fitzgibbons, 2018 is the year of letting go.
Coming so close to a maiden world title last year could have been soul-destroying.
And Fitzgibbons admitted it had left “the heart a bit sore”.
But after initial “aftershocks”, some deep reflection and the hard work for which she’s known, Fitizgibbons is back full of beans, with the slate wiped clean.
Fitzgibbons won her opening heat at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks yesterday with the excitement of a grommet hitting the surf for the first time.
It’s an enthusiasm she has always had.
There will be differences this season though.
One of the hardest workers on tour, Fitzgibbons heads into the new season without the expectation that her preparation alone will lead to success.
“I think we’re brought up to think you work extremely hard and it kind of equates to a reward of some sort,” the world No.3 said. “The reward is all of this … to be in the jersey at the top of the sport with the lineup clear and jet skis (to take you out the back).
“Those are all rewards for working hard.
“I think the looseness in my approach this year means that maybe some stones get turned a little differently to the last few years.”
Fitzgibbons is hoping that “looseness” shows in her surfing as well as her attitude.
“Going into the year, you say: ‘What’s your goal?’
“For me, it’s just to let go. I’ve done the whole, try so hard. I know I’m going to try hard.
“I’ve been here and I try my best and so I think that brings a lot of light and creativity out of me, which I think wasn’t there last year. I was more of a tradeswoman working away and getting my scores.
“I want to surf with flair and definitely if I see a section, not hold back just to get a score. I want to put it all out there.”
Processing what happened last year was an important part of moving forward for Fitzgibbons, who was in the box seat to win the world title before stumbling in the final event of the season in Hawaii.
“To process what may have happened the year before, for me, that was a big thing, it was very meaningful, definitely the heart was a bit sore,” she said.
“Even when you go to express yourself on your surfboard again, you’re feeling a few aftershocks. This is the first stop but it’s the first stop of 10 and I’m a big fan of the big, long year.”