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Layne
Toys With Todos 20-foot
waves are 'not that challenging,' says world champ TODOS
SANTOS, BAJA MEXICO (January 21, 2002) Todos Santos, an island off Baja
Mexico, used to be the ultimate big wave spot on the West Coast. It was then
eclipsed by Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, and then Surfing Mag's Project Neptune
turned big wave surfing on its head with the Cortes Bank, 100 miles off the
coast of San Diego. Meanwhile,
Todos has become a tow-in surfing playground. Four-time women's world champ,
Layne Beachley and her tow-in partner Ken Bradshaw tackled it during last
week's epic swell as part of the Billabong Odyssey's warm-up for big-wave
frontiers as-yet unknown. It seems jet skis and towropes turn some of
America's scariest waves into a fun day of waves as well, for some. SG:
Hey Layne, we have some great shots of you and Ken towing in at Todos. There's
shots of you surfing and towing, and you look like you were having a blast! Layne:
(Laughing) Have I got a big smile on my face? We were super relaxed. Ken was
playing with it too much so he copped several on the head. I was playing with
the waves too, but I don't like to get underwater too much when it's that
cold. I avoided the lip, but I was still really comfortable. I wasn't really
that challenged by it at all. Considering I come from towing Backyards, which
when you let go of the rope, the wave's already stretched to Sunset, so that's
the kind of wave I'm used to towing. I
was very blasé about it when I was towing in, 'cause you've got so much speed
you can position yourself anywhere, really. Especially on such a short wave as
Todos, it made it really easy to position yourself critically. SG:
After such a bizarre end to the year (see World Title Race: Anything But
Predictable) you finally got some fun stuff. Layne:
That's pretty much been my objective since the end of the tour, to have fun. I
was lucky enough to get the opportunity to go on the adventure 'cause Shane
Dorian was injured and that's Ken's partner. So I put my hand up to just
drive, but of course they wanted me to surf 'cause they wanted shots of a girl
at Todos. So I said get me a wetsuit and some booties and I'll get out of my
bikini and into a 4'3 and see how I deal. I really enjoyed the challenge and
the adventure. I hope I get called up again. SG:
You didn't wipe out on any? Layne:
No, I didn't get my hair wet. SG:
That's awesome. How do you plan to tackle the year? Are you gonna take it
easy? Layne:
Hell no, I decided to take January easy but I'm starting to get into training
and focusing on title number five. I'm planning on adopting the same approach
I did when I won in '98. That's just 100% focus, 100% confident and continual
improvement in my surfing and competitive strategy. SG:
No problem staying hungry? Layne:
Me? Oh no. SG:
It seems like you should be dangerously comfortable. Your surfing's in a good
place right now, you've just won another title... Layne:
I guess I'm feeling like I still haven't peaked. I still have plenty of room
for improvement and I'm still working toward the top. I've reached some sort
of pinnacle in as far as reaching Lisa's record, but my goal is to go at least
one beyond. I'm feeling confident in dealing with the challenges that lay
ahead in my competitive surfing but I can also adopt the challenges I've dealt
with in tow in surfing to help deal with the challenges in my competitive
surfing. I feel like I have a little more experience from that which helps me
in times of pressure and expectation. SG:
Any plans to tackle Jaws? Layne:
Jaws looks a little too threatening but I am focusing on getting out there one
day. I'm never one to say never so I would like to do it. I'd like to start
small, 10-15 feet and work my way up. It looks so hideous, so gnarly. If the
Odyssey goes to Cortes Bank then I'd want to be a part from that. At least if
you wipe out at Cortes you end up in the channel, if you wipe out at Jaws you
end up on the rocks... SG:
What kind of gear were you wearing out there? Layne:
Well, Billabong don't make anything more than a 4/3 (mm wetsuit) for women, so
while everyone else was in their 6/4s I had to suffer in my 4/3. 4/3, booties,
gloves, PFD (personal flotation device), jacket, beanie. Anything to stay warm
after surfing the day before in a bikini. [Source:
Simon Ramsey, Surfing Girl Magazine]
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