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Surfer Profile: Paul Paterson
| First Name: | Paul |
| Last Name: | Paterson |
| Nick Name: | Antman |
| Age: | 36 |
| Height: | 1.67m |
| Sponsors: | Quiksilver, Al Bean Surfboards, Creatures of Leisure and Future Fins |
Highlights:
two third place finishes in the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational.
First place World Cup Sunset.
First place ISA Big Wave Championships, Todos Santos
Hailing from West Oz, Antman quickly fitted into the cape Town groove when he first came down, many years ago. Antman is one of the fixtures at Red Bull Big Wave Africa, and so he should be. The nuggety little fellow does dedicate most of his life to hunting down and surfing big waves, and he does this well enough to be paid to do it.
Like his bro Jake, Antman much prefers to surf his giant waves far away from the camera, and has been doing so for many years now in West Oz. Occasionally the odd photo of Antman makes it into a mag, when a photographer has been allowed to shoot, and the photo is usually of Antman inside a thick and gnarly left-hander. Those lefts that grind through at the western desert stations are heavy waves. They break hard over rock bottom, and people have been known to come very short out in the desert. Quite a thing though, when you’re four hours from civilization, and you’re paddling and taking off on 8-foot bombs over barely concealed reef. All the time, with not many people around. These days for so many surfers, if there isn’t ten cameras clicking away and a safety net of a medical evacuation process, then there is no pulling in to any barrels.
People surf for different reasons. Some surf for fame, others for glory. Many people surf for money, to make a living in one of the many disciplines/variants of wave riding. Others surf for fun, and even more people surf as a means of keeping fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Antman surfs for himself.
His performances at Dungeons have been solid. Antman has paddled for some big waves and made a few serious drops. He is happy and confident on his locally made board and charges anything that comes his way. Although he hasn’t placed well yet at the Red Bull Big Wave Africa, he has the style, courage and experience to win the event. Dungeons has yet to rattle him, and he has been through the washing machine before with some big wipe-outs and a few anxious seconds deep under water. All he needs is to catch the two big ones. And after the event, or the practise sessions, and everyone is coming down from the rush of big waves, Antman is usually quite keen on a beer and a chat as well. He is simply one of the boys, and that’s what is the most likeable about the little guy, coz he is little.
