Faye ready for SA to defend world surfing team title
FROM the moment she tried to use her bodyboard as a surfboard while doing nippers surf lifesaving training, Faye Zoetmulder knew in which direction her life would move.
To remove any lingering doubt, as a 16- year-old, the former Collegiate schoolgirl heard a speaker at her first competition talking about South Africa's top surfers and she said to herself: "I want to be one of them."
Fast forward to 2014 and the 23-year-old has achieved some of her goals, but not all of them.
In just over a fortnight's time, the Cape St Francis-based surfer will join the South African team in Peru as they go about defending the title in the World Surfing Games they won in Panama last year.
With her national colours awarded, Zoetmulder spent time on the professional circuit, competing overseas this year as she tries to gain enough points to move up the rankings to qualify for the Championship Tour.
A budding surfer needs to end in at least the top 10 of the qualifying series to earn enough points to make it on to the main tour. The highest ranking Zoetmulder has reached so far is 31.
It is not a simple process because Zoetmulder, like many South Africans in the smaller sports, has to raise funds to compete overseas.
"I did a fund-raiser at the beginning of the year to get to each event," Zoetmulder said.
"It's unfortunate to say, but coming from South Africa that is something we have to face. It was incredible. I got heaps of support and got to quite a few events, but after competing in New Zealand I decided to give it a break for a while.
"I just wanted to step back and really focus on my surfing and not get involved in the contest side of it too much. So I came home and then heard I was in the SA team, so that's been my focus since."
Involved in water sports from an early age, Zoetmulder got hooked on surfing when her best friend's brother, Craig Anderson, suggested they try surfing.
"He is an ex-South Africa surfer and one of the best free surfers in the world," Zoetmulder said, "and he said to me and Phillipa: 'Come, let's try a surfboard out.'
"And I remember that day so clearly in Bluewater Bay, and from then we did it every weekend. We started entering contests and I was sold on surfing."
Having experienced professional competition, Zoetmulder believes South African surfers have to develop a much tougher attitude in the ocean.
"I think if you look at us compared to surfers from Aussie, Hawaii and America who are doing well, they are so driven and so competitive," she said, "whereas SA surfers are bit more friendly and more timid.
"For instance, the Australians will do anything in their power to win and I think we have to strive to be a bit more like that. You have to push yourself, hustle and fight for your wave."
While she still harbours ambitions of making it on the Championship Tour, Zoetmulder's immediate focus is on the World Games.
"Last year [in Panama] was my first year so it was kind of going into the unknown and I didn't know what to expect," she said.
"Now that I am familiar with the format and the vibe, I have never been so excited for a contest." - Neale Emslie
