Bede Durbidge

AKA: Durbo, The White Fijian
DOB: February 23, 1983
Born: Currumbin, Queensland, Australia
Resides: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Hobbies: Golfing, Fishing or Footy
Website: www.bededurbidge.com
Height: 6’1″ (180 cm)
Weight: 178 (82 kg)
Stance: Natural
Sponsors: Fox clothing, Xcel wetsuits, On A Mission accessories, Freestyle watches, Mt. Woodgee surfboards and Sea Stradbroke
Shaper: Wayne McKewen
Magic Stick: 6’2″ x 18 1/2″ x 2 1/4″
Training Ground: Brunswick Heads
Favorite Wave: Straddie
Favorite Maneuver: Aerials
Inspirations: Anyone achieving their dreams

Bede Durbidge has rocketed himself from underdog to ASP World Title contender in little over a year. At the start of the 2007 season, Durbidge was sponsorsless and in need of a break. Despite the setback, Bede rallied to claim the Billabong Pipeline Masters, the Vans Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing and finish ASP World No. 5. In 2008, Durbidge bolted to ASP World Runner-Up and finished ASP World No. 3 in 2009 and finished in 5th in 2010. The Rudy-esque story of triumph over adversity won the hearts and minds of the surfing public and vaulted Bede Durbidge onto the international radar.

Durbidge’s penchant for laying down massive man-hacks and his arsenal of big aerials makes the big bloke from North Stradbroke island a threat in any-and-all conditions, and his competitive drive saw him as a very real contender for the ASP World Title in 2010 although he could only muster 5th. A regular blogger on ASPWorldTour.com, Durbidge is one of the rare surfers whose ability to articulate his phenomenal talent gives his swath of fans some insight into the mind of one of professional surfing’s top athletes. With a heavy training regime under the tutelage of ASP World Masters Champ Gary “Kong” Elkerton well underway, look for Durbidge to come out guns blazing in 2011.