Mitch domitated in round one, progressing straight to round three where he awaits his match up with Kelly. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Tracks caught up with Mitch Coleborn while he was doodling away on a scrap of paper at The Tavarua, Restaurants bar today. Mitch, who blitzed his round one heat with a 19.33 heat score, had just found out he would be surfing against Kelly Slater in round three. Mitch reminded us that he had in fact defeated Kelly in round one of this event last year.

We asked him for a few brief comments on how he was feeling about the highly anticipated match up.

On The Nerves

I’m definitely not as nervous this time. Last year my chick was driving to the airport and read out who I had in my heat and I nearly crashed my car.

I was shitting myself. I ended up winning that one but this time I’m a lot calmer.

On Wave Choices

“I’ve just got to make sure he won’t sell me on any shit waves,”

On The mind Games

Kelly has already had a few chats to me since he found out we were surfing against each other. All you hear about is Kelly’s mind games and I don’t want to get caught in one. I’ll just look straight out to sea if he turns to me.

Coleborn has made a dedicated effort to shake the aerial specialist tag and reinvent himself as a fully-fledged competitive surfer in recent months. Both Restaurants and Cloudbreak will suit his almost nonchalant approach to the tube that allows for constant subtle adjustments. The event may not win him valuable WQS points but it is the kind of stage where Mitch Coleborn could establish himself as a competitive surfer with the capacity to go blow-for-blow with the best.