June 26, 2024 • 9 mins
29 days out from The Paris games. We catch up with Kiwi surfer Billy Stairmand to chat surfing in Tahiti, the awesome accommodation they will have and much, much more.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Official radio broadcast partner of the Olympic Games Paris twenty
(00:04):
twenty four, Go Gold, Gold Sports Surfing. Now everybody's learning
how come on fire with me in the morning will
be starting on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Now it's time to talk surfing. And only a handful
of people on the planet can say that they competed
in the very first surfing contest was introduced to the
Olympic Games, and that was Tokyo four years ago and
Kiwi Billy Stammon out of Raglan is one of them.
He joins us this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Morning, Billy, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That's quite quite a thing really to say I was
there for the very first surfing championships for Tokyo.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Yeah, it's very exciting and you know, it's a huge
honor and privilege to be a part of that first,
I guess, first Olympic Games for surfing. And now to
say I'm heading back as a two time Olympian to
Paris as you know, another huge achievement for me and
personally I'm you know, proud of my achievements and looking
forward to the journey.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Head Let's talk about the Paris Olympics, because the surfing
isn't in Paris you sort of think Paris. You think, now,
where do they surf in Paris? But it's not, is it.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
No, So obviously it's the Paris Olympic Games.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
There is actually waves in France and hostgal and Barts
and places like that, but it's the summer Olympic Games,
so surfing's not known to you know, have good swell
during summers around the world. So the surfing is actually
in a place called Chiopu and Tahiti.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Oh wow, so you've surfed there before, I take it.
I have.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
I have been.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I actually just got back from a training trip over
there last weekend, and yeah, I've done a few trips there.
It's actually pretty close to New Zealand. It's like a
four and a half hour flight, you know, and the
islands in the middle of the middle of the ocean there.
So yeah, I've spent a bit of time over there.
And it's a wave that you definitely need to spend.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Some time over there. It's like a very scary, intense,
big powerful waves.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
So yeah, it's been an awesome challenge and I'm feeling
fit and healthy and ready to go.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
That's rather interesting that you think of the Paris Olympics
I think everybody's going to be there. So how do
you feel about being in Tahiti?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Will you get to Paris?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yes, so well, yeah, unfortunately we are in Tahiti during
the opening ceremony and things like that, but obviously we've
got a job to do, which is kind of a
good thing. You know, we might be distracted by any
surrounding noise, I guess, But after we compete. Our competition
finishes on the fifth of August, and I think we
actually get to fly to Paris and be a part
(02:26):
of the village over there and support the team from
the sixth of August, and hopefully we'll be able to
you know, go to a few sports and watch New
Zealand get a few medals, and then onto the closing
ceremony and travel home with the team.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So apart from the break which is a tough one,
as you mentioned, in Tahiti, what are the facilities going
to be like for you to stay in?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Yeah, our village is again I think we're pretty lucky
in the surfing. We kind of get the best of
both worlds and our athlete village is actually a cruise ship,
so yeah, most of the surfers will be on a
cruise ship and one of the passes just down from
the way We'll be getting you know boats every morning
to the surf break and the preparation area and things
(03:05):
like that. So yeah, it's gonna be an awesome experience again,
but again, you know, we're there for a job, and
you know I've got massive goals personally, so yeah, obviously
I want to enjoy enjoy the whole process, but yeah,
obviously be professional as well.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Your first Olympics, as we mentioned, was the Tokyo where
they featured surfing for the very first time. What was
that experience like?
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Honestly, it was the best experience I've ever had in
a surf competition and the raw shit, I think being
a part of a you know, surfing such an individual sport,
so being a part of that broader New Zealand Olympic
team and being part of that massive community and having
that support from not only the athletes and management, but
you know, the team New Zealand and New Zealand the
(03:49):
country is huge, you know for us as surfers, and
my experience over there was awesome. Obviously it was the
COVID Games as they say, but for us it was
new and exciting and we didn't know any better. So
just to be a part of it and history, you know,
I can be the I can tell my grandkids or
kids one day or you know, kids that I coaching
in their future that I was the first male surfer
(04:12):
and Olympian from New Zealand. So yeah, that, you know,
that gives me goosebumps. And to be able to go
again this year to Paris, and and I guess not
only you know, take that last one as maybe a
fluke or you know, I had a good competition and
qualified it. You know, I've proven to myself and others
that you know I'm worthy of I've been an Olympian
and going again.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So, Billy, your journey began in Raglan, and I guess
it was always going to be surfing for you. Your
dad loved surfing, he encouraged you. You went to the
Ragland Surf Academy. So you know you've grown up in
the surf, haven't you.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, born and bred and Raglan. You know, everyone who
knows Raglan is it's a bit of a surfey town.
It's kind of inevitable to either, you know, learn to
surf or start surfing or you're surrounded by the ocean.
So for me, I, you know, I played rugby at
a young age until I stopped growing when I was
like twelve or something.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Couldn't grow any further and keep getting hammered.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I you know, I started skating, and I also, you know,
got into surfing when I was eight or nine and
Dad used to push me into the waves down there
at the beach in Raglan, and I loved the ocean,
and you know, I was very competitive, so I progressed
onto the points here in Raglan, and you know, I
was naturally pretty good at it quickly. And then I
started competitions when I was thirteen fourteen and kind of
(05:24):
progressed from there and now on, you know, two times Olympia,
eight times National champion, and yeah, it's been an awesome journey. Obviously,
ups and downs and you go through your struggles, but yeah,
it's been an amazing career and lifestyle, and you know,
I wouldn't change a thing.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
You'd have to say, one of the highlights of your
surf and Korea Sofa would have to be beating eleven
time world champion Kelly Slater, wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Yes, for sure, that's notched into probably the top of
my list, you know, beating a goat now who is
retiring eleven times, you know, a goat and all sports,
I think I don't think there's as many world titles
are out there, especially for an individual. So yeah, that
that kind of that competition in Margaret River and that
(06:08):
heat that I beat Kelly Slater and is you know
that kind of I guess made my career to you know,
help mold my career to where I am today and
know and myself that and put that belief in myself
that I can beat the best.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
So yeah, that was a cool experience for me.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
And I spent a little bit of time with Kelly
after those heats and played some golf and you know,
surfed a lot with them. So yeah, it was cool
to you know get a heat one over over them,
especially now that he's retiring.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Absolutely, So twenty nine days to go till the Olympic
Games between now and you know, riding the waves in Tahiti,
what will you build.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Up be like, yes, it's it's full on. I just
did a trip there last week, training trip to Tahiti.
Spent a bit of time in the lineup, you know,
getting becoming more natural and calm in my surroundings.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
It's a very intense, you know wave, there's really shell reef.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
There's a lot of consequences that can come along with
that surfing that wave.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
So just preparing myself as much as possible.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I'm spending a lot of time in the gym working
on my mental health and like a lot of breath
work and becoming calm, you know, and that immense pressure situation.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
So yeah, I'm actually departing in three weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
We go a week early to get some training days
in at the break and you know, become acclimatized to
the weather and trail your equipment out. So yeah, there's
a lot of preparation in between now and then. But yeah,
I think once we all get together and I'm actually
getting my team uniform today, which is exciting, and just
the whole process and the whole journey is very exciting
(07:40):
for me and I'm embracing it all. So yeah, just
trying to enjoy the whole journey. But obviously, yeah, I've
got a goal and sticking to what i want to
do in my preparation and competition, and hopefully I'll be
able to bring a Meddle home for Team New Zellen.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Yeah, fingers crossed views. So what when you're surfing, when
you're out there on the wave, what's the team uniform there?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Well, we get wet suits and board shorts and and
things like that. We actually get to select what we
wear in the surf. Obviously it gets signed off by
the Olympic Committee and things like that. But yeah, we
get we all Team New Zealand and get the same kit,
you know, T shirts and blazers and pants and shoes
(08:21):
and you know that the all the T shirts that
have the markings of the Olympian on it.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
So that's very exciting for me.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
You know, I remember from last time in Tokyo, it
was it was almost like a meaning you're a part
of the team now, you know, everyone's got the same
uniform and you and you're you're immersed in that team environment.
And yeah, and it's not long until the game. So
it's very exciting and yeah, yeah, I'm super excited.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
I'm stoked.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Billy.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Hey, thank you for taking the time out to come
and join us this morning and all the very very best.
Thank you for the surfing at the Olympus.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Mate, thanks for having me I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Billy Stammond joining us here on gold sport in the country,
small breakfast and of course gold sport in twenty nine
days from now will be all over the Olympic Games.
Will have live commentaries of all the major events that
New Zealand is involved with
Official radio broadcast partner of the Olympic Games Paris twenty
(00:04):
twenty four, Go Gold, Gold Sports Surfing. Now everybody's learning
how come on fire with me in the morning will
be starting on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Now it's time to talk surfing. And only a handful
of people on the planet can say that they competed
in the very first surfing contest was introduced to the
Olympic Games, and that was Tokyo four years ago and
Kiwi Billy Stammon out of Raglan is one of them.
He joins us this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Morning, Billy, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
That's quite quite a thing really to say I was
there for the very first surfing championships for Tokyo.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Yeah, it's very exciting and you know, it's a huge
honor and privilege to be a part of that first,
I guess, first Olympic Games for surfing. And now to
say I'm heading back as a two time Olympian to
Paris as you know, another huge achievement for me and
personally I'm you know, proud of my achievements and looking
forward to the journey.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Head Let's talk about the Paris Olympics, because the surfing
isn't in Paris you sort of think Paris. You think, now,
where do they surf in Paris? But it's not, is it.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
No, So obviously it's the Paris Olympic Games.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
There is actually waves in France and hostgal and Barts
and places like that, but it's the summer Olympic Games,
so surfing's not known to you know, have good swell
during summers around the world. So the surfing is actually
in a place called Chiopu and Tahiti.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Oh wow, so you've surfed there before, I take it.
I have.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
I have been.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
I actually just got back from a training trip over
there last weekend, and yeah, I've done a few trips there.
It's actually pretty close to New Zealand. It's like a
four and a half hour flight, you know, and the
islands in the middle of the middle of the ocean there.
So yeah, I've spent a bit of time over there.
And it's a wave that you definitely need to spend.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Some time over there. It's like a very scary, intense,
big powerful waves.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
So yeah, it's been an awesome challenge and I'm feeling
fit and healthy and ready to go.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
That's rather interesting that you think of the Paris Olympics
I think everybody's going to be there. So how do
you feel about being in Tahiti?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Will you get to Paris?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yes, so well, yeah, unfortunately we are in Tahiti during
the opening ceremony and things like that, but obviously we've
got a job to do, which is kind of a
good thing. You know, we might be distracted by any
surrounding noise, I guess, But after we compete. Our competition
finishes on the fifth of August, and I think we
actually get to fly to Paris and be a part
(02:26):
of the village over there and support the team from
the sixth of August, and hopefully we'll be able to
you know, go to a few sports and watch New
Zealand get a few medals, and then onto the closing
ceremony and travel home with the team.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So apart from the break which is a tough one,
as you mentioned, in Tahiti, what are the facilities going
to be like for you to stay in?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Yeah, our village is again I think we're pretty lucky
in the surfing. We kind of get the best of
both worlds and our athlete village is actually a cruise ship,
so yeah, most of the surfers will be on a
cruise ship and one of the passes just down from
the way We'll be getting you know boats every morning
to the surf break and the preparation area and things
(03:05):
like that. So yeah, it's gonna be an awesome experience again,
but again, you know, we're there for a job, and
you know I've got massive goals personally, so yeah, obviously
I want to enjoy enjoy the whole process, but yeah,
obviously be professional as well.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Your first Olympics, as we mentioned, was the Tokyo where
they featured surfing for the very first time. What was
that experience like?
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Honestly, it was the best experience I've ever had in
a surf competition and the raw shit, I think being
a part of a you know, surfing such an individual sport,
so being a part of that broader New Zealand Olympic
team and being part of that massive community and having
that support from not only the athletes and management, but
you know, the team New Zealand and New Zealand the
(03:49):
country is huge, you know for us as surfers, and
my experience over there was awesome. Obviously it was the
COVID Games as they say, but for us it was
new and exciting and we didn't know any better. So
just to be a part of it and history, you know,
I can be the I can tell my grandkids or
kids one day or you know, kids that I coaching
in their future that I was the first male surfer
(04:12):
and Olympian from New Zealand. So yeah, that, you know,
that gives me goosebumps. And to be able to go
again this year to Paris, and and I guess not
only you know, take that last one as maybe a
fluke or you know, I had a good competition and
qualified it. You know, I've proven to myself and others
that you know I'm worthy of I've been an Olympian
and going again.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So, Billy, your journey began in Raglan, and I guess
it was always going to be surfing for you. Your
dad loved surfing, he encouraged you. You went to the
Ragland Surf Academy. So you know you've grown up in
the surf, haven't you.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, born and bred and Raglan. You know, everyone who
knows Raglan is it's a bit of a surfey town.
It's kind of inevitable to either, you know, learn to
surf or start surfing or you're surrounded by the ocean.
So for me, I, you know, I played rugby at
a young age until I stopped growing when I was
like twelve or something.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Couldn't grow any further and keep getting hammered.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I you know, I started skating, and I also, you know,
got into surfing when I was eight or nine and
Dad used to push me into the waves down there
at the beach in Raglan, and I loved the ocean,
and you know, I was very competitive, so I progressed
onto the points here in Raglan, and you know, I
was naturally pretty good at it quickly. And then I
started competitions when I was thirteen fourteen and kind of
(05:24):
progressed from there and now on, you know, two times Olympia,
eight times National champion, and yeah, it's been an awesome journey. Obviously,
ups and downs and you go through your struggles, but yeah,
it's been an amazing career and lifestyle, and you know,
I wouldn't change a thing.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
You'd have to say, one of the highlights of your
surf and Korea Sofa would have to be beating eleven
time world champion Kelly Slater, wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Yes, for sure, that's notched into probably the top of
my list, you know, beating a goat now who is
retiring eleven times, you know, a goat and all sports,
I think I don't think there's as many world titles
are out there, especially for an individual. So yeah, that
that kind of that competition in Margaret River and that
(06:08):
heat that I beat Kelly Slater and is you know
that kind of I guess made my career to you know,
help mold my career to where I am today and
know and myself that and put that belief in myself
that I can beat the best.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
So yeah, that was a cool experience for me.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
And I spent a little bit of time with Kelly
after those heats and played some golf and you know,
surfed a lot with them. So yeah, it was cool
to you know get a heat one over over them,
especially now that he's retiring.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Absolutely, So twenty nine days to go till the Olympic
Games between now and you know, riding the waves in Tahiti,
what will you build.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Up be like, yes, it's it's full on. I just
did a trip there last week, training trip to Tahiti.
Spent a bit of time in the lineup, you know,
getting becoming more natural and calm in my surroundings.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
It's a very intense, you know wave, there's really shell reef.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
There's a lot of consequences that can come along with
that surfing that wave.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
So just preparing myself as much as possible.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I'm spending a lot of time in the gym working
on my mental health and like a lot of breath
work and becoming calm, you know, and that immense pressure situation.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
So yeah, I'm actually departing in three weeks.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
We go a week early to get some training days
in at the break and you know, become acclimatized to
the weather and trail your equipment out. So yeah, there's
a lot of preparation in between now and then. But yeah,
I think once we all get together and I'm actually
getting my team uniform today, which is exciting, and just
the whole process and the whole journey is very exciting
(07:40):
for me and I'm embracing it all. So yeah, just
trying to enjoy the whole journey. But obviously, yeah, I've
got a goal and sticking to what i want to
do in my preparation and competition, and hopefully I'll be
able to bring a Meddle home for Team New Zellen.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Yeah, fingers crossed views. So what when you're surfing, when
you're out there on the wave, what's the team uniform there?
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Well, we get wet suits and board shorts and and
things like that. We actually get to select what we
wear in the surf. Obviously it gets signed off by
the Olympic Committee and things like that. But yeah, we
get we all Team New Zealand and get the same kit,
you know, T shirts and blazers and pants and shoes
(08:21):
and you know that the all the T shirts that
have the markings of the Olympian on it.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
So that's very exciting for me.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
You know, I remember from last time in Tokyo, it
was it was almost like a meaning you're a part
of the team now, you know, everyone's got the same
uniform and you and you're you're immersed in that team environment.
And yeah, and it's not long until the game. So
it's very exciting and yeah, yeah, I'm super excited.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
I'm stoked.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Billy.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Hey, thank you for taking the time out to come
and join us this morning and all the very very best.
Thank you for the surfing at the Olympus.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Mate, thanks for having me I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Billy Stammond joining us here on gold sport in the country,
small breakfast and of course gold sport in twenty nine
days from now will be all over the Olympic Games.
Will have live commentaries of all the major events that
New Zealand is involved with
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