BUITENDAG Bianca

Preferred stance
Goofy (surfergirls.com 01 Aug 2018)

General
TECHNICAL SURF AT TOKYO 2020
She has expressed some concern about the smaller waves that await her in Japan compared to the bigger waves she is used to in South Africa. "It [Japan] is a different type of surfing, more technical. When the waves are small and tricky it's a more open field. You're depending a lot on the natural condition of the ocean and not necessarily as much on your own abilities." (sport24.co.za, 18 Sep 2019)

FAMILY SUPPORT IN JAPAN
She said a large number of her family are planning to travel to Japan to watch her compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "My family have already decided they're going to fly over so I've got to cater for about 20 people. My mum is a big sports fan, she probably won't even watch the surfing, she'll just head to the track. It's a bit overwhelming really, the whole idea of being in the Olympics. If you knew how special my country is to me, from what circumstance we've come and what realities we represent, you'll start to understand how proud I'll be walking out there [in the opening ceremony]. I think I'll be in pieces." (sport24.co.za, 18 Sep 2019)

DEALING WITH TRAGEDY
Her father Colin died in March 2015. Within a few weeks she was back on her surfboard competing, which she said was difficult at times but helped her deal with the loss. "Professional challenges are nothing compared to the personal. Yet it is personal trial and tribulation that fuels the fire of competition and drives an athlete to dive into the distraction that the sport could bring. I reached my best competitive state after my father took his own life [in 2015]. The 10 seconds you have when riding a wave is the only moment that you can escape the unbearable heartache, as instinct takes the reigns of your brains. And it takes a lot of 10 seconds, and some very interesting conversations with God when you are floating solo in the depths of the deep blue to survive a shock like that. It also takes a lot of 10 seconds to achieve athletic excellence and it is just coincidence that they could cross some sort of finishing line walking hand in hand. Surfing was a great distraction for me. If I surf, I don't think, if I surf the sadness escapes me for a while." (WSL Youtube channel 7 Nov 2016; mediaman.com.au, 01 Jul 2017)