Matt McGillivray

Matt loves skydiving, with 113 jumps, one from 18,000 feet with a minute of free fall. Photo: Supplied

So Matt, there is a lot going on in your life right now. Matric is done and dusted, you have already competed in one International competition this year, and you are about to leave for Australia. Give us the run down!
Yeah, still waiting for Matric results (home schooling exam results take a bit longer) but I am sure they will be fine! Glad its over.The World Junior Champs in Portugal was an insane experience. There was a huge storm in Portugal and the waves were massive. The main contest venue - a right hand point break - was out of control so the contest had to be moved to a more sheltered beach break inside a harbour. It was difficult to adjust to choppy, windy left hand conditions, but I was still really happy with how I surfed, even though I got knocked out in round 3. I learnt some valuable lessons and got to hang out with my Jbay friends – Dylan Lightfoot and Gina Smith. It was a good time!

And Oz?
I leave on Sunday to compete in 2 events on the Gold Coast (both 1000 points), then off to near Sydney for 3 (also 1000), and then if I get through the trials, there’s a 6000 point event. I also get to watch the Hurley Australian Open in Manly. I’ll be away for 5 weeks and I’m ready and amped. First time in Australia for me, so even more exciting.

Matt with his quiver. Photo: Sandy Coffey

You recently changed sponsors – can you talk us through that?
I was with Hurley SA for 5 years and I can’t thank them enough for all the support and help they have given me. I need to say that upfront. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. But sadly, the overseas holding company pulled out of SA, which meant that their team riders were without sponsorship. Ironically enough, a short while after this termination, we heard that they had come back under new management, and were super keen to keep the team, but due to a couple of issues, including timing – I moved across to Rip Curl. My split from Hurley was very amicable – no bad blood at all. I am looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with RipCurl and so far, it’s been great. Actually, Rip Curl Australia are really helping me out whilst I am there competing so I am looking forward to meeting them.

Matt is a seriously good surfer. Photo: Kody McGregor

Your daily routine during a contest?
In Portugal, the three of us stayed together in a house, so it was pretty chilled. We woke up early, when it was still dark, and went for a dawnie warm up surf. Followed by a healthy breakfast and some physical training and heat analyzing, and visualization. We would all be on the beach for each other, either supporting or surfing heats. The days are pretty long. We would try and squeeze another late afternoon surf and then back for home dinner – home made (tight tight budgets), and an early night. This was definitely not the party house!

Seems like a crazy question but why did you start surfing?
Like most surfers, I remember my first wave. I was all of 8 years old. I was on Sardinia Bay in Port Elizabeth, with my two older brothers. They were surfing so I thought I would jump on a board and to my surprise, I stood up on the first wave. It wasn’t until I was 10 that I took it up more seriously. I had been doing nippers for a few years, and it seemed like a natural progression from the Malibu board – which I loved. I like to think that surfing found me, not the other way around!

Matt looks to the future. Photo: Sandy Coffey

What do you do when the surf goes flat for days on end?
I skydive. I have 113 jumps so far, the longest being from 18000 feet with a minute of free fall. Its second to surfing!

And now you live right on the point in Jbay. Could it get any better?
No. This is paradise for sure! I can stumble out of bed, walk a few steps and check out the conditions and line up (and crowds!). We moved from Port Elizabeth to Jbay when I was in Grade 9 at Grey High School. Our lives changed considerably. I started homeschooling again and – from surfing a few times a week in PE, to almost everyday in Jbay, often twice a day if conditions allow. I’m so grateful to my parents for making this decision. Its been the best decision for our family.

Talking of family, your sister Kirsty seems to be following in your footsteps. She’s the current Under 16 SA Champ. Do you give her tips and advice?
Yeah, we’re so proud of her. I do give her a few tips but mainly we just surf together and she learns and pushes her boundaries then.

And what does the next ten years hold – your goals?
I would love to have done well enough on the WQS to have made the CT (every competitive surfer’s dream!), but still have JBay as my home base. 

What will that take?
Plenty of focus, visualization, the right coaching, dedication, mind training, the right mindset, physical training and small daily steps that will get me there.

Can you share something about you that few people know?
I love playing chess (online)!

Lastly, leave us with a description of your best wave ever!
How can I choose just one! Ok, the one that stands out – 6 foot Supers – I caught a barrel at the car park section, rode to salad bowls, caught another barrel, managed a few powerful curves and then rode it all the way through to Coins. It was a perfect wave, long, smooth open face and never ending.