“He´s really close to perfection”, said Robin de Kock, Vice President of the International Surfing Association and Surfing South Africa General Manager, in an aftermath talk once the Portugal 2008 ISA World Surfing Games were over. His compatriot and long time fellow South African Team member Mr. Matthew Moir had won the Gold medal in a back to back victory. Moir’s performance was actually perfect; at least in the last two ISA World Surfing Games, Huntington Beach 2006 and Costa de Caparica 2008, where he won every single heat he entered, surfing against the best of the best in his division. Mr. Perfection in the Longboarding world, Matthew Moir comes from Cape Town South Africa. He has won six South African National titles in the Longboard division, has been on the top 10 of the ASP World Longboard Ratings for the last eight years and is still looking forward to continue winning. Moir has the perfect formula with the perfect mixing of the old and new school of longboarding. You can see him doing airs with the nine footer and one second later he can show you how to do a perfect and classic Hang Ten… Last year in Portugal, he did everything perfectly once again. After winning every heat he surfed to get to the final, Moir posted an almost perfect 18.12 combined score (9.22 and 8.90) to leave Harley Ingleby (AUS) in a close second, Taylor Jensen (USA) in third and Phil Rajzman (BRA) in fourth. “I’m so, so stoked. I never thought I would have the chance to win two years in a row. Marcelo Freitas won it three years in a row and I did it two times so I’m pretty happy for that. I had a great support from my teammates at the beach. That was amazing, I just can’t believe it”, he said after an historic back to back win. Moir is now looking forward to the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games, to be held in Costa Rica in August 2009, to reach the greatest record of Longboarding in the ISA history, to tie Marcelo Freitas and write his name in the Surfing History Books. More about Matthew
How did you get to where you are at the moment, namely two-time ISA World Longboard Champ? Initially, I focused on shortboarding but when the SA longboard championships incorporated a junior division, I took part and won my first national title. I was hooked on longboarding after that and have never looked back. In 1993, I competed in my first ASP world event at the age of 16 and since then have been fortunate to have travelled the world and surfed in amazing places. The first couple years were really hard obviously travelling from South Africa. Most of the time I was on my own and it was really tough but it helped me develop my competitive character. I stuck to it and, thanks to support from my family and friends, it has paid off. I have gained a great deal of experience through surfing on the ASP World longboard tour, especially as surfing with the best pushes you to do better. It took me a couple of hard years and plenty of disappointment to make the South African Team to compete at an ISA event. I missed selection three times but when I made the team for Huntington in 2006 I was super amped and wanted to prove myself even more. I was extremely stoked to be part of the South African team, to be at a World Games and then to win a gold medal. Last year at the ISA World Surfing Games in Portugal I was a bit nervous because I was defending my title, but that all fell away when I hit the water and gave it my best and it paid off. A great part of my success is due to my family always supporting me and pushing me to do my best; and another part is due to the great team spirit the South African team has which made me super relaxed and focused for both my ISA Titles. General Manager of Surfing South Africa, Robin De Kock, said the following about Matthew: “South African Sport, Surfing South Africa and the South African Longboard Association is very, very proud of Matthew Moir’s achievements in 2006 and 2008. Not only is he a fantastic competitor and team player but he is also modest, friendly, charming, positive and determined. He showed true grit and character to overcome the disappointment of being overlooked as the SA Team Longboarder in 2000 (when his brother Gavin made the team) and in 2002 and 2004 when Jason Ribbink was the SA team longboarder and SA team captain. When Matthew got selected, he certainly made his mark, winning gold in 2006 and 2008. When he was young he got the nickname “Mouse” because he was skinny and small. Watch Matthew Moir ripping here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIS_GtiPTGA Special thanks to Robin de Kock for his great help in the making of this article.
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