Not since Kelly Slater dated Pamela Anderson has the mainstream media been so interested in a professional surfers sex life. And never has that said surfer deflected that attention so well

Taj and Kelly face the media shoulder to shoulder. Pic: Brooklyn

Let me set the scene for you. The organisers of the Boost Mobile Surfsho scheduled a press conference for today at 10.30. A chance for their top draw-cards to, you know, talk about the return of pro surfing to Bondi, explain what an air actually is and toot the fact that the Surfsho is the biggest air event in the world yadda yadda. The impressive line-up of stars – Jordy Smith, Owen Wright, Kelly Slater, world champion boxer Danny Green and one Taj ‘Wolfman’ Burrow – did a good job of covering all these things. “It (the Surfsho) doesn’t have the pressure of a WT event that’s for sure,” said Taj. “It’s all about having some fun – way less serious.” Kelly also spoke about the quiver he packed for the specialty event, “Couple of twin fins with tiny back fins, a few quads and a regular squash tail.” All things were going smoothly. Kelly even offered to go toe-to-toe with Danny Green for twenty seconds if the life long surfer agreed to surf Pipeline with him. Luckily for Kelly, Green’s respect for Pipeline was too strong for him to accept. I imagined how Kelly would strategically get through those twenty seconds and came to the conclusion running away would be his best option. It’s hard to punch someone in the back of the head while chasing them through crowds of sunbathers. Comedy relief and standard questions aside John Shimooka (MC and event organiser) then threw to the media scrum for open question time. Two fluff questions later there it was – a reporter from one of Sydney’s biggest daily newspapers directed a curly one to Taj. “Taj, you’re pretty close to Lara Bingle, what do you make of everything that is going on?” Silence. “This is a surf contest.” Replied Taj looking ribbed but not rattled. With that it was over. Whispers ensued and heads nodded. Taj and Lara is a rumour that has circled the Eastern Suburbs for a while and I guess the cat’s out of the bag, if indeed the cat was ever in the bag? If you get my meaning.

By Col B

PS Proceding the press conference the surfers had a an expression session in average (but fun for air) conditions, Owen Wright rode out of one massive inverted air-reverse that dwarfed anything the others attempted.

Taj may have to watch the shadows for paparazzi while in Bondi. Pic: Brooklyn