SAN CLEMENTE, California/USA (Tuesday, April 9, 2013) -Courtney Conlogue (USA), 20, has made a statement in 2013, charging up the women’s ASP WCT Rankings to put her name in the hat for the 2013 ASP Women’s World Title Race. Following solid 5th place finishes on the Gold Coast and Margaret River, Conlogue earned a 3rd at Bells and punctuated her current tear with a win in New Zealand which included victories over current poll leader Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, and five-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 25. SURFER Magazine caught up with Conlogue to get her thoughts on the recent win, her training regime and what’s in store for 2013. This… is their story…
Congrats. How does it feel to be the champ?
I am definitely really stoked. I was just taking it heat by heat, so I am really stoked it all came together. I’ve been in Australia since mid January, starting at Burleigh, then Newcastle, then Snapper, then Margarets, then Bells Beach, and now here in New Zealand, so it’s pretty much just been contest to contest. It’s definitely been a long trip and a lot of work, but it’s definitely paying off.
Are you training with a coach?
I was going to the gym at Burleigh and Snapper. I got a gym pass at Margaret’s and was training there as well. I trained with Mark Richardson while I was on the Gold Coast and he’s been helping me every year and he sends me inspirational texts. I have also been doing some mental work. Other than that, I have just been focusing on myself and my surfing and taking it to the next level and trying to not to over-think things. A lot of the time when your mind breaks down it affects how you perform in the heat, so I just try to keep myself calm and collected. This contest I just wanted to maintain and keep everything going.
So what are you going to do now to celebrate?
Right now I am gonna go get a coffee! Then I’m just gonna unwind and rest because I stink from all the champagne. It smells sweet at first, but now it’s getting hot and starting to stink. Then tonight we have a Surfer’s Ball in Taranaki.
