SNZ: Give us a run down on how the late call up came about?
MH: Basically I received a Facebook message from Ryan Callinan on Wednesday morning telling me that he had broken his ankle and that I should start sorting my stuff out for Brazil. At that stage, it hadn't been confirmed that he had withdrawn from the comp, so we weren't 100% if I was in or not. On Thursday afternoon, the confirmation email from the ASP arrived and at that stage I knew I was in. It was a crazy mad rush to organise flights and accommodation, but we booked a flight Thursday night and flew out on Saturday.

SNZ: You had enough time to squeeze in a six star QS event in Brazil – how was that?
MH: It was good to get into the QS event on such late notice. I wanted to make sure I got a few surfs in before the World Junior event because my last competitive surf was at the Pro Junior in South Australia, so I wanted to use the comp as a warm up session.

Unfortunately, in my second round heat I received a pretty dodgy paddle interference call, I was wining the heat but after the call was pretty much playing catch up for the rest of the heat. After the heat I went up to the judges tower to see why it was a paddle interference and basically the head judge could not explain the call?  He explained that three of the five judges had called an interference, and logged it in, he said he disagreed with them, so could not explain why the call was made, but that’s competitive surfing and you can’t turn it back once the call has been made. But it was good to be out in a couple of heats before the WJ.

SNZ: It was your first time in Brazil. What were the things that stood out to you?
MH: Probably the thing that stood out the most was that no one spoke any English haha. It was so hard trying to sort out hotels, heat times, and getting directions. Nothing like a challenge!

Some of the other things that stood out were the amazing landscape scenes. There are the craziest mountains surrounding the competition venue. It was an amazing experience to look up and around at sunrise and sunset and witness the true scale of the mountains that bordered the beach. I loved the vibe of all the Brazilian people, everyone just seemed to be in party mode, nothing seemed to worry them. I also noticed how much they were into there fitness. The mini gyms set up along the beaches and local parks were pretty intense. The accommodation and food were pretty expensive, but overall it was an all time trip it was good to hang out and catch up with all the other guys on the junior tour too, as I will not be going to Hawaii this year so we had a few laughs.

SNZ: The Pro Junior is the top echelon of competition. Did you feel you belonged there and how would you compare it to the ASP Australasia events?
MH: Obviously I thought I belonged at the World Pro Junior. I won 2 Australian Pro Junior events in 2011 and only missed qualifying for the World Pro Junior event because of the way the events were seeded in Australia, there were a couple of 6 star events which messes up the ratings. No other country ran 6 star Pro Juniors. The events I won were only rated 4 and 5 star events, so the points were not as high, but it's all the same guys doing the Pro Juniors, I surfed against and beat the best in Australia throughout 2011, including the guys that earned qualification. So I definitely belonged there. I’ve been told there is only one other surfer on the worldwide Pro Junior circuit this year to have also won 2 events. I’ve also had a top 3 finishes at ISA World Junior events, a few years back, so I am pretty confident I can bang with any of the top juniors in the world. I only do events to win them, and that’s what motivates me. Travelling the world is pretty expensive and can be rough at times, so if your not aiming to win events, you might as well stay home.

The comp itself was similar to the Australasia events, pretty much the same guys from Australia and around the world, that also come over to do the Australasian Pro Juniors a lot of the guys were blowing up and going banana’s in their heats. That's progressive surfing, there were heaps of Brazilians in the event and I would say a good 85% of the rip! I am really stoked I got to compete in a WJ event, that is what I have been working towards as a junior for the last few years.

SNZ: Ninth at a World Pro Junior is a huge result, how has that motivated you for the coming year of competition?
MH: I was actually hoping to do better in the comp but just couldn't buy a wave in my last heat that I could do more than one turn on. We’d had 3 continuous lay days later in the comp, so the ASP were struggling to finish it on time, so the ASP had to put us out in terrible conditions and the heat did not go as I had planned, but that’s competitive surfing and the other guys were in the same situation. It was unreal to get out amongst the other best juniors in the world, experience the culture in Brazil, and to get some profiling, but I try to excel whatever I’m doing. So 9th is a solid result, but I know I can win one of these!

I am looking forward to the coming year. I have got some good boards for different conditions that feel good under my feet. Next year is going to be a big learning curb again doing the WQS, and I can’t wait to rip into the WQS. I also want to do some filming and work on a few new moves I have been trying out. I’m really excited about doing some of the NZ comps next year, as I have had to miss out on a few of them over the last couple of years, because they clashed with the Pro Juniors events internationally. My previous sponsors wanted me to concentrate on getting results in the Pro Junior and profiling NZ on the Australasian circuit for the last couple of years. So that was my main focus but there is nothing better than surfing at home with your mates and family around. I am just really happy I lived up to my deal and finished 2011 with 2 Pro Junior Event wins, and broke the drought for NZ Juniors, it was a great way to finish my Pro Junior career!

SNZ: You are currently without major sponsors, is that something that drives you to succeed more?
MH: The whole experience has been pretty shitty really. I feel I did everything and more that was demanded of me by my sponsors. But, I’m sure I’m not the only competitive surfer to be going through this experience right now. I suppose it drives me to show them that they have lost a valuable asset, but I’m a positive athlete and try not to be motivated by negative situations. I’m lucky to be surrounded by amazing friends and family and don’t have any trouble getting motivated to succeed.

SNZ: The final event of the World Pro Junior is in Aussie in January, you think you may get a slot for that event as well?
MH: I am hoping to get a place in it, as I’m sitting higher than a few of the Australian guys after just doing the one comp. And by being in the last WJ event it would give me a chance to win the Series and as the saying goes "you have to be in it to win it".

SNZ: With the 2012 international season just around the corner, what are you doing to step your surfing up from the great year you had in 2011?
MH: It’s going to be tough but I have lots of improvement still in me and I know I have a lot more to offer. So looking forward to the next challenges. I’m looking forward to getting some waves around home with the local crew, working on my fitness, mental strength and having as much fun as possible.