Ricky Basnett Interview



Ricky Basnett is nothing short of a national hero - the man who broke South Africa’s 28 year ‘flat spell’ by becoming the first South African to triumph at the Mr Price Pro since the days of Shaun Thomson. This is what ‘Bazza’ has to say about the contest he calls ‘my event’, surfing and life on the WCT…

1. It’s been a year since you won the Mr Price Pro and went on to qualify for the ASP World Tour, how has your life changed?
It hasn’t really changed all that much. I mean in the first few weeks there was a lot of publicity and people wanting interviews and everything, but it’s kinda cooled down now and life’s gone back to normal. The fact that it helped put me on the ‘CT was the biggest change and definitely for the better.

2. How important was that win for you in qualifying?
It was probably the major contributing factor. It gave me all the confidence and put me on a roll through Europe. I mean obviously to win that kind of contest, also gives you a lot of points.

3. When you look back on it, what does the win mean to you in your career?
If I look back on it now, I guess I can say that I will always have my name up there as a winner of that contest. It’s just kind of a cool thing to know you can always look back and show your kids that you’ve won that. It’s a pretty prestigious event; hopefully I can put my name up there a few more times.

4. On the scale of your greatest surfing achievements, where does it fit in?
Geez, I think from a young age the ‘CT was always a goal so that’s probably the biggest! But besides that, winning the Mr Price Pro had always been a dream. I’ll remember that day forever!

5. You’d mentioned to one or two people before the event that your were going to win it, how did you know?
Well, I’d had it in my mind for a while and I just kept telling myself that, that was my event and I was going to do it. And I think I just told it to myself so many times that I basically couldn’t let myself lose, so it was a good tactic.

6. The day you won the beach was packed, SA flags were waving and there was incredible support from your fellow South Africans, how did it feel to win before a home crowd?
It was definitely one of the most special things I’ve experienced. You can win contests in other places and it’s still good but to be at home, in front of that crowd, with everyone behind you, its like nothing else, it’s like nowhere else, it’s the best!

7. Going into this years event as the defending champ must be a little strange, how you feeling for it?
I’m feeling really good, I think knowing the spot really well and just knowing you can win it, makes you feel really good and I wanna win it again for sure. I don’t want to do any less, so hopefully I can do the same. I suppose people will be talking about the fact that I’m the defending champ but I’m not really gonna think about it, I’m just going to go out to win, I don’t really care what’s being said.