Deputy Commissioner Travis Logie had a busy day at the MEO Rip Curl Pro. With a World Title race and careers in the balance, he has the high-pressure job of making sure the competition runs when conditions are optimal and keeping everyone happy -- a task which is easier said than done.
The MEO Rip Curl Pro has involved a lot of waiting, but the calculated holds, venue changes and profound patience all paid off. - WSL / Kirstin Scholtz/ ASP Handout
Fortunately Travis has good intuition and a steely nerve, both being imperative when making the big calls on whether to send the surfers out or not. He ran the recent Billabong Pro Cascais without a single fumble, and has been doing the same at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal. He is not shy about sending the surfers home for the day, but he's also willing to get going at first light and run until dusk, into the early European evening.
Monday in Portugal was a perfect example. Conditions were unruly in the early morning hours, but clean enough to get the last three heats of Round Five on. Julian Wilson, Conner Coffin, Sebastian Zietz all earned victories in some fun little barrels before things started deteriorating, and with a crucial set of Quarterfinal matches on tap, Logie didn't hesitate to put the event on hold.
Multiple holds Monday led Jordy Smith into tubes like this one, including a massive one that earned a perfect 10 from the judges. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Like his fellow commissioners Kieren Perrow and Jessi Miley-Dyer, Logie knows what it's like to be the guy in the competition jersey. He spent a decade competing on the Championship Tour, representing South Africa at the elite level from 2004-2014.
In 2015 Travis transitioned into his new role as Deputy Commissioner, in charge of the Qualifying Series (QS) and Junior Series. But when Head Commissioner Kieren Perrow gets busy working on plans for future events, Logie jumps back onto the Championship Tour to make sure things run smoothly.
Logie competing in Portugal, in 2014. - WSL / Damien Poullenot/ Aquashot
With the wind swirling and waves pumping on Monday, he kept competitors on location for a few hours before sending them back out, hoping to make the most of Monday's powerful surf. It paid off. The Quarterfinals turned into a tube-riding bonanza. John John bagged a 9.30 to advance into the Semifinal. Jordy Smith's 10 helped him keep his own World Title hopes alive for another day.
Early mornings and late days are all part of the job. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
But the real validation for Logie came from the guys who didn't win, as it's important that they feel they had a good shot. Despite losing in the Quarters, Julian Wilson gave Logie kudos. "We had the best conditions just then," Wilson said of his QF heat against John John Florence. "Travis did a great job."
Patience Pays Off for Deputy Commissioner Travis Logie in Portugal
WSL
Deputy Commissioner Travis Logie had a busy day at the MEO Rip Curl Pro. With a World Title race and careers in the balance, he has the high-pressure job of making sure the competition runs when conditions are optimal and keeping everyone happy -- a task which is easier said than done.
Fortunately Travis has good intuition and a steely nerve, both being imperative when making the big calls on whether to send the surfers out or not. He ran the recent Billabong Pro Cascais without a single fumble, and has been doing the same at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal. He is not shy about sending the surfers home for the day, but he's also willing to get going at first light and run until dusk, into the early European evening.
Monday in Portugal was a perfect example. Conditions were unruly in the early morning hours, but clean enough to get the last three heats of Round Five on. Julian Wilson, Conner Coffin, Sebastian Zietz all earned victories in some fun little barrels before things started deteriorating, and with a crucial set of Quarterfinal matches on tap, Logie didn't hesitate to put the event on hold.
Like his fellow commissioners Kieren Perrow and Jessi Miley-Dyer, Logie knows what it's like to be the guy in the competition jersey. He spent a decade competing on the Championship Tour, representing South Africa at the elite level from 2004-2014.
In 2015 Travis transitioned into his new role as Deputy Commissioner, in charge of the Qualifying Series (QS) and Junior Series. But when Head Commissioner Kieren Perrow gets busy working on plans for future events, Logie jumps back onto the Championship Tour to make sure things run smoothly.
With the wind swirling and waves pumping on Monday, he kept competitors on location for a few hours before sending them back out, hoping to make the most of Monday's powerful surf. It paid off. The Quarterfinals turned into a tube-riding bonanza. John John bagged a 9.30 to advance into the Semifinal. Jordy Smith's 10 helped him keep his own World Title hopes alive for another day.
But the real validation for Logie came from the guys who didn't win, as it's important that they feel they had a good shot. Despite losing in the Quarters, Julian Wilson gave Logie kudos. "We had the best conditions just then," Wilson said of his QF heat against John John Florence. "Travis did a great job."
Travis Logie
WSL Senior Manager of Tours & Competition and former Championship Tour surfer Travis Logie joins The Lineup to talk about the Challenger
The first QS10,000 of the season, the Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong launches in decent conditions to wrap up the opening round.
Jeremy Flores and Mikey February shine on opening day in South Africa.
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal
The Jeep Leader talks with Pete Mel following his huge Quarterfinal win over Julian Wilson in pumping surf.
Florence's lead sponsor pays tribute to their star team rider and his first World Championship.
Joel Parkinson finished in ninth place in the MEO Rip Curl Pro, but he was at the top of the podium for cinematic distinction on a wave.
Inspired by John Florence's historic World Title win, the 11x Champ wants to put a solid season together in 2017.
A drone's-eye view of the world's best surfers taking on the unruly barrels of Supertubos.