It was a history making moment.
Race One Surf Craft take on Urban Surf.
Racing Mals.
Perfect waves.
Elated Race One athletes.
Describing his experience as an ‘interesting one’, Matt Bevilacqua shared the comparison he encountered upon the board he aided in design.
“It was definitely a unique experience riding a clubbie board in a wave pool,” he chuckled.
“Obviously the fresh water was the first thing I noticed!
“A lot less buoyancy than saltwater.”
Having over 15 years’ experience riding a racing mal, theback-to-back reigning World Board Champion immediately noted the ease of a predictable wave opposed to the unpredictable surf that he knows all too well.
“It was really easy to have control early on in the wave,” he explained.
“There was a barrel section that you could always see in the same spot that enabled us to set the rail and try to get inside.
“Although we couldn’t get really deep, our Race One boardsrode really well, delivering the stability and control that wecan too, feel in the surf!”
Aligning well with the ocean, Matt has entered a new chapter with fiancé Brielle Cooper.
Parenthood.
Like the ocean, it is unpredictable and challenging, magnificent and rewarding.
“I’m a bit more tired to be honest,” he laughed.
“But mentally I think being a father and going into this next stage - it’s a new perspective, a new outlook on life and I can't wait to rise with that mentality!”
With a swiveled perspective, Matt’s new title of ‘Dad’ has too, altered his approach to training and racing.
“I’m trying to be a little bit smarter and use my experience, something I haven’t really lent on in the past.” He said confidently.
“I’ve always tired to be the hardest worker in the room, but I think those days are probably past me now and I need to race smarter with the goal to have ‘mistake-free racing’.”
Pushing the boundaries both on and off the water, Matt has loved working with the Race One team; assisting in the design and shaping process of the racing mals, before riding them in places that no one has been on a clubbie board before!
“We’ve done so much innovation over the last few years,” he said.
“It is hard to convert the paddling feel to shaping a board, I have found that part really challenging but have been trying my best to connect the feel of paddling a board with the shape that we need.”
In history making moments at Urban Surf, Matt has had the privilege of riding his Race One board in new and exciting places, showcasing Surf Sports in unforeseen territory.
“Race One are really putting the sport on their shoulders and pushing it to new heights,” Matt stated.
“We’re getting opportunities to showcase what we can do outin the surf because of this brand, and I think our sport is very lucky at the moment!”
Looking to pursue another successful season, pushing the limits both on and off the water, Matt believes his son is already teaching him a lesson to navigate this new and exciting chapter.
“When I look at him, he doesn’t do a whole lot at the moment,” Matt laughed.
“But slow blinks back to me, with a smile here and there are perhaps his way of telling me to slow down, do a little less and enjoy this new pace.”
With flights and accommodation booked for the summer, training adjusted slightly to meet the new sleep schedule (or lack of), Matt’s unwavering determination to succeed remains prominent and for baby Beau Bevilacqua, well his first summer is promised to be a big one!