"... no way I'm finished yet"

After winning the recent 5 star Rip Curl Pro in Zarautz, Spain, Frenchman Tim Boal has rocketed to number three in the WQS rankings and looks a certainty for the top 45 in 2009. After the conclusion of the European leg, where he scored no worse than a fifth placing in any event, the natural footer talks about what it feels like to crack the big time.

So how does it feel to win a big five star?

Well, yeah, it feels pretty good. The final in Huntington at the US Open, when I was quite nervous and fell on the wave that probably would have won it for me, made me really determined for this one not to make the same mistakes. I was way more confident.

The results over the last few months would have helped with that?

For sure. As I said, I was way more confident paddling out for this final. And I knew it was Joan’s [Duru] first final, so I thought maybe he was going to feel the pressure much more.

You dominated the final from the start.

Well, yeah, as it turned out, I had two good waves in the first five minutes and had some big scores and was pretty comfortable. He needed a combination of scores, so yes, it was a good win.

Joan is a good friend of yours and you also surfed against Michel Bourez in the semifinal, your good mate and traveling partner, how was that?

It was pretty fun, actually. We kind of talked at the start, but then it got a little serious towards the end. We’re both being supported by the Red Bull Rising program and have shared rooms all year, so we’re pretty close. But Michel was the one needing the score, so he was probably a little more desperate than I was. It actually would’ve been better to meet in the final, but you just have to surf your best in that situation, and not worry about who it is. I’m just stoked that we both had good results, and it’s a good way to finish the European leg.

Speaking of the European leg, it’s been a pretty amazing run for you.

Well yeah, I’ve made the man-on-man finals in every event I’ve surfed, so just having that consistency has been a huge thing. And to finish it off here, in the Basque country, my favorite part of the world, is pretty special.

And it’s a pretty much a lock for your qualification for the WCT for 2009?

Well, it looks pretty good, but I can’t think about that too much. I mean, what will I do, just give up for the rest of the year? I’m going to regroup and rest up and then look at the next events in Brazil and Hawaii and push on. There’s no way I’m finished yet!

And what are your immediate plans now?

I’m going to go home and rest. It’s been nine events back-to-back, so I’m really burnt out. I haven’t been sleeping that well, with the travel and the early starts and waiting around, so yes, sleeping in my own bed is a high priority. I’ve got a week at home, so after I celebrate with all my friends and family, I’ll try and get a few waves, hang with my girlfriend and have fun. I think I have a start in the trials for the Quiksilver Pro, so I’ll just focus on that for now and see what happens. Then it’ll just be back to focusing on the rest of the year. As I said, I’m nowhere near finished yet!