Let me track back a little. Why do I make such a fuss about this particular XCEL Super Tubes showdown competition? First of all, I love the concept that a Supers local actually gets the opportunity to take part in this and get honored. Secondly, the winner gets a Wildcard into the Billabong PRO 2009 and a prize money of $1000! That's flippen amazing.

To top it off, there are also nifty handy dandy prizes for things like the best wave, best barrel, best maneuver etc. which includes cash, sunnies, a surfboard and a watch worth a couple of thousands of Rands etc.

Let's think of the typical underground ripper, who really has Super Tubes wired. I mean, he knows the gullies, he knows which waves to take and which to leave. He can look at the surface tension of the water and decide to paddle wide or just sit tight. Year after year he sits there, as the top 45 of the surfing world competes on "his" waves or let's rather say his homebreak. He sees them make mistakes and making wrong calls. Deep down inside, he knows that if he was out there, he would have gone for the floater and made the section and ended the ride with an epic roundhouse cutback as the crowd roared...

I think every local ripper want to know of they could maybe be there. If they had actually given up a regular job with a regular family and just went PRO, being out there with Mick, Andy, Jordy, Slats and whatever hotshot. This is both the power and the drama of the Xcel Super Tubes Showdown for me. They can. At least the winner of this event will get to surf against the other wildcards and the top 45.

With that in mind, it is worth a mention that Included in the squad of 16, are the three musketeers. J-Bay groms, Dylan Lightfoot, Remi Peterson and Steven Sawyer. They are still in between "lightee" and manhood, but have definitely carved their mark in the waves of Jeffreys Bay. We regularly share waves all over J-Bay, and since I've started surfing three years ago I remember that they have all been ripping from a young age. They have suddenly developed from puny grommits, to powerful windmill armed athletes. I think that those three probably has the energy in them to make it all the way to the finals and even to win the event.

One concern I do have though, is that I wonder if they have the stomach to deliver and then most importantly,  would they have the character and maturity to actually handle such a win. Already I see the signs of pride and boastfulness that comes with things like puberty and teenage years combined with talent and some success in sport. For them, this is their chance to make an uproar like Jordy did a couple of years back. This is their chance to shine. It could also be a good excersise, or maybe a rehearsal of what is to come. One possible win of thousands to come out at the top.

I believe Pro surfers and movie stars have a lot in common. I don't know if those people that are very famous would now actually recommend such a lifestyle to anybody. I wouldn't know, because my fame just about stretches as far as you reading this blog. (You are reading it at least, so thanks for that.) With winning comes a responsibility. People look up to you. They copy you. They want to be like you, surf like you, dress like you. They even want to look like you.Surf brands know that and that's why a guy like Kelly just recently extended his contract with Quicksilver another 5 years. They know they need Kelly, and he knows he needs them.

Let me say that I think all the guys invited to take part in this event are great surfers in their own right, and it's going to be a pretty tight ride. I am looking forward to see these them all in action and hopefully go on and uproot a couple of big shots in the Billabong PRO.

To the competitors, remember: Your value as a person is not determined by your ability to surf or your placement in a competition. If you attack this competition with this in mind, you might just catch yourself on the podium sometimes very soon. Make sure you can handle that and may the best man win! 

As another guy with a huge sword and Scottish lingo once said: "In the end, there can only be one."