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    Team Rider – James Woods

    O’Neill’s James Woods is 19 years old and based in Tugun on Australia’s Gold Coast. You’ll find James surfing D’Bah, Snapper or his favorite South Straddie with back-footed panache. James finished 9th last year on the Pro Junior series and is looking to go better this year and qualify for the World Juniors at year end.  James and his brother Thomas grew up in South Africa but moved to Australia to refine their competitive surfing on the Junior Series. With a healthy appetite for big waves, James has put in several seasons on the North Shore and his training and experience is noticeable in the big stuff. So after surfing macking Jaws last year he’s looking forward to more gut-wrenching pits in 2011.

    James favourite board is the Silent Savage model. “The Silent Savage model has been going amazing at perfect Kirra earlier in the year and in the fun running waves of Snapper…. good for barrel riding and releases well off the top, holds the rail through carves and produces an amazing amount of speed.” It handles a wide spectrum of waves, conditions and size, hence it’s popularity.
    James rides the Silent Savage as his all round short board and a step up Silent Savage for bigger waves in the 6-8 foot range. His quiver also holds a selection of big wave guns dialled into the locations he visits. I love working with James and dialling in his boards for heavy locations in Hawaii and Tahiti.

     

    James at Jaws 2009 Photo Kraft


















    Kirra barrel Photo Shayne Nienaber

     

    Photo Mark Keane