Olympics Surfing Tokyo eyes typhoon forecast

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Olympics-Surfing-Tokyo eyes typhoon forecast, but surfers say bring it on.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese residents may be worried about the prospect of a typhoon forming off the coast next week, but the surfers taking part in the Olympic Games are welcoming the possibility of some big waves with open arms.

The Tokyo Olympics are being held during typhoon season and the weather is a major talking point, with heat and humidity expected to be a major factor in many sports.

But it’s the wind and waves that are of most importance for surfing, which makes its Olympics debut next week.

Surfline, which is providing forecasts for the 2020 Games, predicts rising tropical cyclone surf starting on Sunday and continuing through next week, with a prolonged run of medium-sized waves during the eight-day competition window.

“There’s going to be good waves, there’s a strong typhoon here off the coast of Japan and we know that the waves are getting bigger,” International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Reports of a possible typhoon off the coast were greeted with glee by some competitors.

“It’s small but there is swell on the way! Let’s go,” wrote Australian surfer Owen Wright on Instagram following his first practice session at Tsurigasaki Surf Beach, where competition begins on Sunday.

Surfers had been worried https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/surfing-small-funky-waves-concern-games-debut-2021-05-20 Tsurigasaki’s often tiny, weak waves would make difficult to show their skills to a huge new audience.

“The waves have been a little bit small thus far, but there’s a really good swell on the way, looking like some great winds for maybe Monday, so that should give us a good platform to showcase for the world what it’s all about,” New Zealand coach Matt Scorringe told a media conference.

The weather forecast has led to a change of plans for Billy Stairmand, one of Scorringe’s athletes in the competition.

“Originally I thought it was going to be pretty small, so I brought all my small-waves boards which are shorter, flatter and little big fatter on the rails,” Stairmand told reporters.

“Now, seeing the forecasts with the swell coming in, I brought over a few step-ups, bigger, longer boards with different tails that can do good for big conditions.”

No matter how rough the weather gets, New Zealander Ella Williams said competitors would take it as it comes.

“We’re prepared for that, we’ve been preparing for a while. It brought us here and we’ll be fine,” she said.

Japan's teenage surfing sensation Shino Matsuda has a secret weapon as she targets gold at next year's Tokyo Olympics

Photo: instagram

Kamogawa (Japan) (AFP) - Just 16 and riding the crest of a wave, Japan's teenage surfing sensation Shino Matsuda has a secret weapon as she targets gold at next year's Tokyo Olympics -- mum's rice balls.

Hot-shot Matsuda caught the surfing bug as a curious toddler and has emerged as a medal contender for the 2020 Olympic hosts after winning the Japan Open earlier this month.

"That has given me so much confidence," Japan's new surf queen told AFP in an interview.

"It also helped me figure out what I need to do to win tough competitions, so it was a good learning process. I love the rush of competing, but winning is awesome!"

Winning the Japan Open at the Tokyo 2020 surfing venue of Tsurigasaki -- the second time she has won there -- could give Matsuda a psychological edge when the sun-swept sport makes its Olympic debut.

Matsuda, who earned a spot at the world championships in Miyazaki later this year and a chance to secure a place in Japan's Olympic team, will also benefit from some good, old-fashioned home cuisine.

"Mum usually makes me 'onigiri' (rice balls) which I munch on for energy before I get in the water," said Matsuda, who has climbed to 39th in World Surf League's qualifying series.

- Jellyfish stings -

"When I compete overseas and mum's not with me it can be a bit of a struggle," added the Japanese poster girl, born and raised in Chigasaki, an hour south of Tokyo on the Pacific coast.

"But the Olympics will be in Japan, where I feel most comfortable -- I was so happy to win the Japan Open at next year's Olympic venue, that was big.

"I don't want to have any regrets so I'll work hard to get selected and will be going for gold for sure."

Matsuda faces competition from countrywomen Mahina Maeda, Sara Wakita and Minori Kawai for what is likely to be a maximum two Olympic spots.

Kawai confided to AFP that she is still scared of the water -- and sharks in particular -- but Matsuda tweaks the nose of fear.

Asked about the possibility of becoming shark bait, the teenager shook her head with a giggle.

"I have been stung by jellyfish," she smiled after showing off a series of gnarly moves during a two-hour practice watched by her mother Yuki and faithful mutt Haina.

"That can be really painful, but I usually just try to carry on surfing."

- Adrenalin junkie -

Matsuda, whose parents were both recreational surfers, admits to being something of an adrenalin junkie.

"I started surfing when I was six and the big waves spooked me a bit at first," said the pony-tailed schoolgirl, who has won seven of her nine titles since turning pro in 2017.

"But I quickly became hooked by the thrill of it. I had never experienced anything like the feeling of riding a wave."

Matsuda's style combined outrageous raw talent and a graceful elegance, but she admits touring the world can take its toll physically.

"The jet-lag and the long flights are pretty tough," said Matsuda, who has competed in Australia, South Africa and the Caribbean island of Martinique over the past year.

"But it's great to compete against the world's top surfers."

While she is, to use surf-speak, amped about next year's Olympics, Matsuda just loves being in the water.

"No two waves are the same," she said, attempting to describe what she loves most about surfing.

"You're competing against nature. Every moment is a pure test. When you catch a wave, you're constantly thinking and adjusting your technique -- and when you nail it, there's no feeling like it."