While Ricardo Christie is stepping up to the big league of the World Championship Tour (WCT), his 2014 travelling companion and good mate Billy Stairmand is waging another Word Qualifying Series (WQS) campaign. It’s a grueling series, but the likeable Kiwi is one of the favourites in 2015.
We caught up with Billy at his dad’s home in Raglan as a wild new swell wrestled the famous points.
“Last year was a really good year on the QS,” the 25-year-old explains. “Me and Ricardo were battling each other – I’d make semis, he’d make quarters, then he’d do better than me, so it was always a good battle.”
“I was obviously frustrated not to make the CT, but super stoked for Ricardo as well because he made it. All my energy was to him at the end of the year because he had made it.”
Billy took his fourth national title earlier this year – a great confidence boost heading into his new QS season.
“I travel with the Oakley team – we’re a small team and we always travel together. Oakley looks after us really well, we have really good support. Tommy Whitaker has been on the CT a few times, he mentors us.”
During a recent Raglan visit by CT surfer Jeremy Flores and pro Dean Morrison the two surfers were so impressed by Billy’s power and creativity on the points, they described him to locals as posting back-to back nine-point–plus rides consistently during one session.
“Surfing with Jeremy Flores and Dean Morrison at the Valley was fun,” he laughs. “Obviously it’s my home break and I love surfing it and I know how to surf it. Having those guys out in the water always pushes your surfing.”
Billy said it was an advantage coming from Raglan.
“We grow up on big walls, lefts and big rail turns and it isn’t hard to develop a good backhand. I’m stoked I grew up here – there are always waves, the points are always fun, but it is hard when you go to all these contests and they’re held in just small little beach breaks.”
That’s partly why he spends some of his time on the Gold Coast – where he can work on his forehand and make his surfing "more all-round surfing”.
We head out to Manu Bay to see if the swell has cleaned up as the forecasts have predicted. I ask Billy why it’s taken 13 years since Maz Quinn became the first to make the WCT to get another Kiwi on the tour.
“We have the talent I think, but there are not as many of us pushing each other and the money is a big issue,” he offers. “I was really lucky because Ricardo and Jay Quinn were on the QS when I started. They knew the ropes and I had someone to travel with, I felt really comfortable, the first year I was on I won a contest. They looked after me, Jay had been on there a few years and Ricardo was in his second or third year. They knew all the surf spots and places to stay. It was just me, a little grommet, tagging along and having fun.”
He said having the three of them together meant they pushed each other and could draw off each other’s good results. But he added that it cost a lot to stake a claim in the QS.
“If you’re not sponsored it is hard to make enough money to get by. You’ve got to pay your way there, accommodation and food. If you get last in a prime – you might earn $600-700, so it’s not too much, but if you make a few heats you get $2000.”
Billy said his total QS earnings last year were about $30,000.
“You are pretty much spending it all, and you have to pay rent while you are away. All your prize money goes into buying new boards and getting yourself sorted.”
Billy has been on the Oakley team for 12 years – no small feat in the rapidly changing world of surfing.
“There’s been a lot of changes in the surf industry, lots of cuts and job losses with no sponsors, so I am really lucky to be in the Oakley family – they have looked after me for years, they have been so good to me and I’ve been so fortunate to have had them backing me.”
Billy said he was pretty excited to see Ricardo settle into the CT events.
“He’s looking super confident now, healthy, fit and happy,” he smiles. “I think he can definitely re-qualify in the CT and get good results. Rio was amazing, I was getting up at 2am to watch him. Having that great result under his belt will change the rest of the season for him now.”
Ricardo’s next event is the Fiji Pro and Billy said it would already be on his mind.
“He’s going to go early and go straight there, warm up and get his boards ready and get comfortable with the waves and conditions. I think the family is going to Fiji, too, so he will be looking forward to being with them, being happy, having good vibes and hopefully he will make some heats.”
As we drive through Raglan Billy watches the buzz of people moving around town.
“In the last two, three, four years Raglan has got bigger, more people and everyone is loving being here – the vibe is totally different. It almost has a cafe Byron Bay vibe. I’ve seen it change heaps.”
“It’s really crowded in the surf and the town’s booming – everyone’s loving Raglan, it’s the place to be apparently right now. I am proud to have grown up here. I love coming back here – it always feels like home.”
As the points come into view, with wrapping lines, I ask him what it takes to be an elite surfer these days.
“You need to have a variety of surfing in your arsenal, surf the big stuff, and the small stuff and you have to be a really smart competitor because everyone knows how to compete these days,” he explains. “You’ve got to train really well, look after yourself and have the right frame of mind to win. Your main goal is to win and make heats and qualify.”
He said learning from defeat was really important.
“Every time you lose you can’t just give up – you have to learn from the loss and move on.”
Billy said his training centered around surfing and time in the water.
“My girlfriend, Liana, has just started making me eat real healthy, so I have got nutrition now,” he smiles as he watches a set explode on the Ledge. “I did pilates with dad this morning, so I am trying to get my body into shape, but I think surfing is the most important thing, just keep surfing, practice and learning new things, keeping in the water, keeping your feet in the waves.”
You can follow Billy’s progress here.
See you at the beach … Derek
PS Surfing New Zealand has launched a crowd-funding campaign to help send the New Zealand Surfing Team to the 2015 ISA World Surfing Games in Nicaragua. The team consists of Dune Kennings, JC Susan, Matt Hewitt, Zen Wallis, Ella Williams and Paige Hareb with all funds going directly to the team. You can back them here. You have until May 29.
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