J-Bay surfer looks to improve as WSL season is cancelled

Jeffreys Bay surfer Matthew McGillivray is using the additional time to perfect his waveriding abilities after the World Surf League (WSL) 2020 season was cancelled in July.

McGillivray, speaking from Australia, where he has been since before the start of SA’s lockdown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, said he was not too bothered by the season’s postponement, adding it gave him more time to work on fine-tuning his surfing.

“It is what it is,” he said. “WSL had to take the decision as a result of the pandemic and restrictions placed on international travel, so athletes could not attend various contests.

“There is no reason to get emotional about it. It was the logical thing to do by the WSL and I feel this is a great opportunity for surfers to better prepare for when we get the green light to compete again,” he said.

With events being cancelled as early as March with Covid-19 spreading across the globe, the WSL announced in July that its entire 2020 season would be cancelled.

Asked if he had considered coming back to SA, the Rip Curl team rider said the thought had crossed his mind, but, after some careful consideration, he decided to stay on.

McGillivray booked his maiden spot on the WSL Champions

Tour (CT) in January after securing a top 10 finish on the WSL qualifying series.

“It was disappointing at first, especially when events were being cancelled because there had been a lot of hype built around that first contest and I had put in a lot of effort.

“That event would have been my reward for all the work that went into my preparation,” he said.

He decided the best thing was to remain in Australia as returning home might have jeopardised his chances to compete if events were rescheduled. “I am deciding to base myself in Australia for the next year. Just with the way everything has worked out. I have got into a good routine with my training, I have a good surf coach and physical trainer now.

“There are also a few opportunities with my sponsors [Rip Curl], so it just made sense for me to stay here, to travel and compete from here when the Tour resumes in 2021,” he said.

McGillivray said the coach he had teamed up with took a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, not only from a physical strength viewpoint, but nutritional and mental wellness too.

McGillivray said a trio of surfing events was being planned in various parts of Australia, the Grand Slam of Surfing, in October and he would compete in these depending on Covid-19 travel regulations at the time.

There had been a lot of hype built around that first contest and I had put in a lot of effort