FUTURE CONTENDERS

Leigh Sedley may have won Australian Junior Titles and big WQS events, and there may well be a high possibility he'll crack the A-Tour in the next couple of years, but the smooth Australian's veins are also alive with the healthy pump of entrepreneurial blood.

The budding web magnate from Queensland's Sunshine Coast runs a unique online board store which also incorporates making pro's boards available to the general public. Sedz explains below ...

What's the back-story with Tradewindsurf.com?

Me and my mate Willow had always talked about doing something business related, then we got talking seriously and tradewindsurf.com was the result. The original idea was a little different in the beginning but with a little trial and error it evolved into what it is today.

The WQS crew seem to be right behind your site?

Yeah, all my friends are helping push it by running stickers and pushing it in interviews, it has definitely helped the business grow by having people in the industry help push your idea to the public. A lot of guys on tour have been so receptive of the site, it's quite a world class team too, hopefully one day in the near future we will be able to pay these guys Bank!!

And Joe Public can pick up boards off some of the guys on tour?

Yeah for sure that aspect is definitely there, a pretty unique feature I guess, but it has evolved into an online surfboard store where you can order new custom boards off your favourite shaper at good prices, that has been our main focus, but I still think the surf classifieds is a big part of the site.

You've spent most of the year in the WQS top 10, have you been doing anything different than in previous years?

Not really, I finished pretty strong at the end of last year and kind of carried it on. There is more pressure on me to perform this year, and that is when I seem to produce my best results, but overall confidence is the key, it applies to just about anything.

How frustrating can it get to know there are only 18 slots up for grabs each year, for the 400 odd blokes who are on the WQS?

It can be frustrating sometimes, I mean you can be going well, and in the top
50, but really if you don't make that 18 by the end of the year, then it's back to the drawing board. In saying that, to make the top 18 and qualify for the WT, which is such a polished tour now, must be an amazing feeling, made that much sweeter by how exclusive it is.

Are there any similarities competing with so many websites?

Not really, I've found that most sites have their own unique idea and generally are keen to get in touch and see how you can help each other out. I think the real battle having an online business is making the public remember you and take you seriously.

Why are there so many amazing surfers coming out of that Sunshine Coast area of Queensland?

I've got no idea, there is definitely a lot of hunger in the guys up here, the last generation down the Gold Coast [Parko, Fanning, etc] completely stole the show for a good 10 years publicity wise, and now I just think
it's our turn. It's funny because I look at my friends like Coleborn and Julian and Goodall and they are surf stars on a world stage, the depth in the Sunny Coast is really high and I think we will be a force for a while
to come.

Who -- in your opinion, and regardless of ratings points -- is doing the best surfing on the WQS at the moment?

Adam Melling blows my mind every surf but all the boys I travel with really. I wouldn't mind seeing Wade Shiva Glasscock have another crack at the tour!