Travel's a Drag for Pro-Tour Surfers

You've got to hang loose, advise veteran dudes
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 26, 2008 4:41 PM CDT
Travel's a Drag for Pro-Tour Surfers
In this image released by the Association of Surfing Professionals, Stephanie Gilmore, of Australia, cuts back on a wave on her way to winning the the Rip Curl Pro surfing tournament Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at Bells Beach, Australia. Gilmore defeated defending champion Sofia Mulanovich of Peru, to...   (AP Photo/Steve Robertson, ASP)

Traveling the world as a pro surfer may sound sweet, but surfers say there can be plenty of bummers too, the Los Angeles Times reports. The marathon flights are a drag, and on arrival the many hazards include malaria, stinging sea creatures, food poisoning—and, worst of all, lost surfboards.

Newcomers suffer the most, surfers agree. Pros gradually pick up experience on the road and get better at dealing with the pitfalls. "You've just got to get over that and still ride the wave," said US Open heat winner Chris Waring, who didn't let sickness keep him off the waves after flying to all the way to Australia to catch them.
(More surfers stories.)

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