SURFING: PHYSICAL OR MENTAL?
Coolangatta surfers Dean Morrison, Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning are all through to the third round of the Quiksilver Pro at their home break of Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast.
Fanning and Parkinson are both in superb physical condition, with Parko coming in for special praise after an off season of hard training which has seen him bulk up and tone his body in regular training sessions with the Gold Coast Titans NRL team.
But Morrison, whose physique is overshadowed by both men, said mental preparation is probably more important.
"Surfing's not so much a fitness sport even though it does help you focus and pushes you through the barriers and helps keep you going when you want to give up,'' he said.
"They both also have the right kind of attitudes to do that when it comes down to those situations, and are right on top of their game, where most of the other guys rely on flight or fight reactions.
"That's what separates Mick and Joel from the others, it's not so much how fit they are, it's the mental side of things.''
Fast Fact
Third Umpires are off-field umpires who make the final decision on questions referred by the two on-field umpires using television replays. They were ...
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