Richard Christie in Scotland not South Africa - Image ASP

Richard Christie gives us a run down on the most recent ASP Six Star Prime event in South Africa and THAT jet ski 'assist' at the Ballito Mr Price Pro.

SNZ: Give us a run down on the waves for the Ballito Pro – they looked amazing?
RC: The waves in Ballito were amazing for a contest, Barrels every heat!!

SNZ: Can you compare the wave to anything you have surfed either here or overseas?
RC: The wave at Ballito was pretty similar to waves I get at home around Mahia so I was pretty stoked to get the opportunity to surf them in a heat.

SNZ: That 9.27 pit on your first wave in the heat was crazy, I think everyone had given up on you making it?
RC: Yea I took off on that wave not knowing what to do. I just sorta ducked under it, came out and the lip was already coming down on me again so I couldn't do a turn, I just kept trimming along and ended up getting a barrel through the cappuccino section as they call it and punched out the front.

SNZ: The way the heat unfolded you must have thought you were on track to make it through?
RC: I thought, ok, this is mine, get a back up wave, nothing too big and I’m through. I thought this because guys were getting through heats with two 4's as the conditions had deteriorated from the morning. This wasn't the case though. Jano came back in the last few minutes and got me with them kamikaze floats.

Richard Christie - Image ASP Europe

SNZ: Your 13th is a solid result but being so close to getting through your heat and doubling your points must be frustrating?
RC: I was kinda in shock after he got that wave. I didn't get disappointed for two days until I finally worked out what happened haha.

SNZ: Everyone back here was pretty dismayed at how the final seconds unfolded, were you aware that Jano Belo snuck into that last wave?
RC: I was so excited about the whole contest and really backed myself to do well out there so to not have the opportunity to keep going was pretty devastating.

I did see him going for that wave and I kinda paddled for it too. I don't think I would have got around the section as it was a really wide wave but I should have gone it and tried to stop him going.

SNZ: The ASP rule book states that the drop off point should be wide or outside of the take off zone with a buoy to mark the position. Doesn’t sound like that was the case in your heat?
RC: Yeah the jet skis were dropping guys off on the takeoff zone the whole contest because of the current but he actually jumped off the ski without the driver knowing because there wasn't enough time to go out the back.

SNZ: Did you get to discuss the situation with event officials or did you take it on the chin?
RC: I didn't think about the rules I kinda just took it on the chin and no one mentioned it to me until i got home. Kinda wish I sussed it now though.

SNZ: What’s on the cards while you are at home and where and when are you off on the next mission?
RC: I'm home now, just had 3 days snowboarding which was amazing and now I'm just hanging, surfing and filming for my Innersection movie part with Meady. Waves have been fun so far.

Next Saturday I’m off to the U.S OPEN, the final prime before the cut- off followed by two 6 stars in Europe, Newquay, England and Lacanau, France
Hopefully pick up some more results and keep the mojo flowing!!! chur chur

Ricardo in Portugal - Image ASP Europe	Jumping of the Portuguese flag - Image ASP Europe
Taking on some advice - Image ASP Europe	Wafting the tail again - Image ASP Europe