Beyond the Break

CHAPTER 8FRANCE: Where your focus goes, results flow

The second I turned my mobile phone back on, after landing at Biarritz Airport in France, a text message from Mum pinged.

The Billabong team manager has been calling for you. It sounds important.

Weird; he knew I was overseas. Mind you, after a recent loss in California, it couldn't be anything good. Sponsors had been known to cut athletes from their team rather suddenly when they weren't performing, but the timing didn't make sense. I was only just getting started for the year, and I'd had some solid results too.

Billabong's sponsorship money was what got me started in pro surfing and kept me going. They were my main sponsor for fifteen years, and generously provided clothing, surfing accessories and cash, which helped fund my worldwide travels. Sure, I had smaller sponsors who gave me a few thousand dollars here and there for exclusively using their sunglasses, shoes, surfboards or accessories, but without Billabong I was screwed.

Yep, this'll be the end of your surfing career, Bronco chipped in.

I typed a response, although I didn't really want to know the answer.

Me: What did he say?

Mum: Nothing much, but he seemed eager to talk to you. You should call him right away.

Okay, maybe it wasn't all that bad. He could just want a chat. Yeah right … I ducked into a departure lounge that was empty and pulled out my laptop. I scrolled through the many unread emails until I found one from Bruce at Billabong, the subject ...