Tristan surfs to the top of the world

Writer: Tony O'Hagan.

While our nation awaits the outcome of the Rugby World Cup finals, we can already celebrate a World Champion who hails from right here in Hermanus. Tristan Roberts, who lives In Onrus, captured the APB World Bodyboarding title on 20 October.

The finale of the world circuit was decided at the Fronton King Bodyboarding event in the town of Gáldar on Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). He believes this venue "has the best waves in the world". Tristan's victory makes it three on the trot for South Africa, with Iain Campbell victorious in 2017, followed by Jared Houston in 2018 and now Tristan in 2019.

At only 22 years, Tristan is the youngest of the three to lift the crown and the first bodyboarder in the sport's history to win both the Junior World title and the Men's World Championship. His victory in the junior event was achieved in 2014 while still a Grade 11 learner at Curro School in Hermanus. Of this unique double, Tristan is understandably proud and says, "To have my name go down in the history books of the sport I love so much is a really good feeling."

In chatting about the build-up to the final event, he comments, "The competition lasted six days and we were over 100 athletes competing. We all knew that I had to win this event in order to be world champ. I couldn't sleep the night before, and I couldn't eat or drink anything on the day of competing. The nerves of potentially achieving my dream had taken over and my body was just running on mind power. My only sustenance was the water I drank and the nuts that I snacked on. I wasn't thinking about food or sleep; only the massive day ahead of me."

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