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Five Minutes with South
Africa's Tammy-Lee Smith - Photos:
Chris Grant/JettyGirl.com
Over the course of the past two
summers, we have tried to meet up with Tammy-Lee Smith
while she's been in Southern California for the US Open.
Unfortunately, our schedules never meshed and surf sessions
never materialized. However, a few weeks back Tammy
decided to stop off in Huntington for a few days en
route to her winter season on the North Shore. Long
story short, we were able to connect on one day only
and in the course of a few hours, hit up sessions in
both Huntington and Newport Beach.
First off, it is clearly evident
while watching Tammy surf that she must have grown up
surfing a number of South Africa's amazing rights. Her
style is super smooth and her barrel-riding is in a
class that I have rarely seen in person. My only regret
is that I wasn't able to do some shooting from the water
when she was scoring all those rights in Newport. I'm
sure we would have come away with some amazing images
inside the barrel.
Surfing aside, the greatest memories
of the day for me were just listening to Tammy talk
about life in South Africa. It is clear that she has
a deep love of her homeland and it was interesting and
humbling to hear about the differences between our two
countries. Tammy-Lee Smith is an amazing person...funny,
intelligent and with a deep sense of love of her family
and friends. It was a true honor for me to hang with
her for the day.
(After you read the interview,
check out the video
of Tammy and her good friends Sara Taylor and Jenna
Balester...all three of them rip!)
--Chris Grant
JettyGirl: Where does Tammy-Lee Smith come from?
Tammy-Lee Smith: I live on the North Coast of
Durban, South Africa in a town called Ballito.
JG:
From what we've read, you really love your homeland.
What is it that makes Africa such a special place?
TS: Africa is just home! I love the culture of
the Zulu people. I love the language too. I have learned
so much from the Zulu people over the years. The waves
are great too. There are good waves all year round and
it's still one of the few places where you can get perfect
uncrowded waves. I might be a little biased when it
comes to talking about South Africa! Once you get me
talking about it, I won't stop! :)
JG:
Describe your local surf scene. What types of waves
do you normally surf? When you're back home, who do
you usually surf with?
TS: I live in quiet a small town and my parents
own a Surf Camp/Backpackers by the name of Secret Spot.
There are always groms around and we also run a surf
club from the Secret Spot. I mostly surf with all the
groms. It's good because they keep me amped up to surf
what ever the conditions may be like. In winter Ballito
(my home town) can get some pretty solid swells. It's
a down the line kind of wave. It's got some power behind
it and can barrel off its head on its day!
JG:
Is it easy or tough being a female surfer in South Africa?
Is there a good amount of support for the girls?
TS: I think I'm really well-supported from the
people around the area where I live. But other than
that it's kind of hard, especially with our exchange
rate at the moment. We have to multiply everything by
10.
JG: Much of Africa is known throughout the world by
its diverse wildlife. Perhaps a dumb question, but...have
you ever seen a giraffe or other wild animal walk down
your street?
TS: Yip, I have had plenty of questions like
that. Sometimes I ride people's ignorance just for a
laugh! :) Actually though, there was a wild leopard
around my house for a while. They knew this because
they found a dead buck and saw paw prints. A security
guard also mentioned he saw a big cat with spots. Another
story is that about two months ago I got a call from
our national news to come do an interview on my local
beach with a hippo. The hippo had come from up north
and probably come down a river and got stuck in this
bay!
JG: Speaking of wildlife, and specifically sea creatures...have
you had any close encounters with sharks in your homeland?
TS: People have this impression that South Africa
is really sharky but I don't really get that vibe in
the water. I haven't had close encounters myself but
I was in the water for a dawn session during a junior
contest in J-bay where Joseph got attacked! The guy
is so blessed. He came out without a scratch.
JG:
We've read in various places that you have a fondness
for flow riding. Tell us about that.
TS: Yip, I enjoy it but you can get injured pretty
easy. I would like to do it more but I'm concerned about
getting injured and spending time out of the ocean.
It's a fun thing to do when all the tour girls come
into town.
JG:
Who shapes your boards and do you have a favorite design?
TS: I ride for a big wave charger Jason Ribbink's
company Bilt! Elton Frusman shapes my boards. I have
been working with him for about 3 years now. It's paid
off because my boards are going amazing right now. I
ride a 5'7 squash tail. It comes off one of Davey Weare's
models.
JG:
We hear you’re working on airs? Have you had some
success and is there a specific variation you’re
trying to perfect?
TS: Nah, I really like trying them but I should
practice them more. I watch girls like Silvana, Mel
and Bevo. I think they're really pushing the progressive
stuff at the moment. They're the girls I want to surf
like. I have a lot more work to do on my airs!!
JG:
You're headed over to Hawaii to get a head start on
the winter season. Do you do any special training to
get prepared for the powerful surf on the Islands?
TS: Just basically what I always do at home.
I love the gym!
JG:
When you first visited California, was is the same or
different than what you expected and why?
TS: To be honest I thought the waves were going
to be better! Hahahahaha. But I seem to get lucky when
I'm there and always have fun waves. I haven't traveled
to Northern Cali yet. I have had fun waves in Rincon,
Santa Barbara...that's the furthest north I've gone.
I would like to go surf Santa Cruz though. Heard great
things about it.
JG:
Describe Tammy-Lee Smith's perfect day.
TS: I would say a good day of surfing in my home
town. With some good barrels, hanging on the beach with
my mom and dad filming me and all the groms. Follow
it up with a flow riding session and skate session.
Finish my day off with a pizza evening with surf club
kids at the Secret Spot! Perfect...
Watch
Tammy-Lee Smith surf Newport and Huntington with good
friends Sara Taylor and Jenna Balester
Tammy-Lee Smith is sponsored by Red, Oakley
and Bilt! Surfboards.
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