When Bede Durbidge broke his pelvis during the Billabong Pipe Masters last December a long recovery process was expected, but there were questions as to just how long.
One big part of getting back in form is positioning, and Snapper is among Bede's favorite places to dial that in.
While most bone injuries take between two and four months to heal, the pelvis bone is a huge weight-bearing one. And the act of surfing involves loading even more than your usual body weight into each of your maneuvers. It's that aspect of the recovery process which takes much longer to heal. One year is considered a rapid recovery.
Durbidge started getting his groove back during off days at the Fiji Pro. While on hand to coach John John Florence, he was riding a beefy single-fin to get his rhythm back. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Naturally, Bede has been getting inundated with questions about when he'll be back. On Wednesday we finally got our answer when Bede issued the following statement.
Bede Durbidge's Statement:
I can't thank my family, friends, fans, sponsors and the WSL enough for all the support over the last eight months. It has felt like a long time on the sidelines, but knowing I have all that positive support coming in has helped so much with my recovery.
I have been so blessed to have been living out my dream of being a pro surfer over the years. Traveling to all my favourite breaks and surfing against some of my good mates is pretty surreal. This year would have been my 12th consecutive year on the WSL Championship Tour but not being able to compete has really made me reflect on all the good times I have had on tour and drives me to get back to that level.
Duranbah demands quick reflexes, so it's a perfect place for Bede to measure his progress. As you can see, it's coming along nicely. - WSL / Juan Carlos Medina
I have been so lucky to have received such great medical treatment and advice throughout this whole ordeal. Everyone I have worked with since day one has got me to where I'm at. There are too many people to name, but you know who you are and I can't thank you enough.
My recovery is going so well. So much better than I thought it would to be honest. I was given about a 12-month recovery diagnosis from the doctor and I feel I'm about 75% right now.
One could argue nobody is looking forward to Hawaii this year more than Durbidge. - WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
I have been surfing for a couple of months now. I was on a longboard for a few weeks then upgraded to a 6'8 single fin for about a month and now I'm back on my regular shortboard. Every surf I go for, it feels better and better.
I have entered Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipe in Hawaii. It will be 11 months since the injury and I feel the Triple Crown will be the perfect time and venue to pull the competition vest back on. I'm so excited to compete again, but I know I have a few more months of solid training and I'll be back surfing at 100%.
Thanks again for all your support and encouragement it has me so pumped to come back bigger and better.
Bede Durbidge: "I Have Entered Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipe"
WSL
When Bede Durbidge broke his pelvis during the Billabong Pipe Masters last December a long recovery process was expected, but there were questions as to just how long.
While most bone injuries take between two and four months to heal, the pelvis bone is a huge weight-bearing one. And the act of surfing involves loading even more than your usual body weight into each of your maneuvers. It's that aspect of the recovery process which takes much longer to heal. One year is considered a rapid recovery.
Naturally, Bede has been getting inundated with questions about when he'll be back. On Wednesday we finally got our answer when Bede issued the following statement.
Bede Durbidge's Statement:
I can't thank my family, friends, fans, sponsors and the WSL enough for all the support over the last eight months. It has felt like a long time on the sidelines, but knowing I have all that positive support coming in has helped so much with my recovery.
I have been so blessed to have been living out my dream of being a pro surfer over the years. Traveling to all my favourite breaks and surfing against some of my good mates is pretty surreal. This year would have been my 12th consecutive year on the WSL Championship Tour but not being able to compete has really made me reflect on all the good times I have had on tour and drives me to get back to that level.
I have been so lucky to have received such great medical treatment and advice throughout this whole ordeal. Everyone I have worked with since day one has got me to where I'm at. There are too many people to name, but you know who you are and I can't thank you enough.
My recovery is going so well. So much better than I thought it would to be honest. I was given about a 12-month recovery diagnosis from the doctor and I feel I'm about 75% right now.
I have been surfing for a couple of months now. I was on a longboard for a few weeks then upgraded to a 6'8 single fin for about a month and now I'm back on my regular shortboard. Every surf I go for, it feels better and better.
I have entered Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipe in Hawaii. It will be 11 months since the injury and I feel the Triple Crown will be the perfect time and venue to pull the competition vest back on. I'm so excited to compete again, but I know I have a few more months of solid training and I'll be back surfing at 100%.
Thanks again for all your support and encouragement it has me so pumped to come back bigger and better.
Bede Durbidge
With all the attention on the Brazilian Storm, could the Aussies fly under the radar and score Olympic gold?
In 2014, a trip to the bottom after a round 3 wipeout left Bede Durbidge with a broken pelvis and a competitive career in jeopardy.
Mick Fanning began a title-winning year with victory at his home break, and a 14-year-old Carissa Moore surfed from trials to finals.
Why, after 35 years, this is still the trophy every surfer wants to own (next to a World Title).
And that's good news for the future of surfing in Australia.
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