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Taj Burrow: He can surf, but can he run?

March 11, 2011, 2:32 pm Jacqueline Chartres Yahoo!7

Fresh from finishing runner-up at the Quiky Pro on the Gold Coast, Australia’s Taj Burrow has made the trip south to compete in this weekend’s Boost Mobile Surf Sho at Bondi Beach. Full of confidence after a great start to the season Taj caught up with Banzai and told us the World Title is going to be his this year.

Surf

You’re currently world number two after the first event of the year, that’s not a bad way to kick off the 2011 season?

It’s always nerve racking, the first event of the year. Everyone is checking out each other’s form and just finding their feet after last year wrapped up. I wanted to start the year with a bang and I think I sent out the vibe that I’m serious and I mean business.

You just lost the final of the Quiky Pro to Kelly Slater, but you must still have some confidence given you made it that far in the competition?

Yeh 100% I’ve got confidence. The thing on my mind at the moment is the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach. I had a great event up on the Gold Coast, I felt the best I’ve felt on my board in my whole career. I felt really confident. Even though I got 2nd, I’m still picking all the positives out of it.

So your focus is taking that confidence into Bells Beach more so then winning the Boost Mobile Surf Sho?
Yeh that’s exactly right, this event is all about fun. There is $25,000 on offer and that will make us hungry towards the end. But really my mind is set on winning the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach as that’s where the points are.

Taj is chasing the points, not the cash. Photo by Getty.

What’s it going to take to win this event and beat Owen Wright, who’s chasing a third straight victory?

Owen is on fire for sure, he’s a great consistent aerialist and he’s back to back champ.

To beat him I’d need the conditions to be more suited to me. I think they’re more suited to him at the moment, with a few little left handers going into the wind, so it’s perfect for the goofy footers.

Owen’s a great goofy footer so for me I need a little right wedge which I’ve seen a couple pop up near Icebergs. So I’m hoping that little right turns on and I get the good wind and I think I can put it together.

Obviously Taj knows a thing or two about surfing, but does he know much about other Banzai sports? We put him to the test with BANZAI'S QUESTIONS FOR BURROW.

RUNNING
Banzai: Do you know the distance of a marathon?
Taj: Aren’t they all different distances?
Banzai: No, a marathon is 42km.
Taj: Are they really? I had no idea.
Banzai: Have you ever done one or would you ever do one?

Taj: No, no way, I had to do some skipping for training the other day and I got shin splints after a couple of jumps so I don’t think running 42km would be that good for me.

SKIING
Banzai: When it comes to snow skiing do you know what a ‘piece of pie’ is?
Taj: No, no idea. I’ve been on a snowboard once in my life and only ever seen the snow once!

Banzai: A piece of pie is when you put the tips of your skis together to slow down.

TRIATHLON
Banzai: Can you name the current World Champion Ironman, I’ll give you a hint, he’s aussie.
Taj: Sorry not sure.

Banzai: Chris McCormack

SURFING
Banzai: A surfing movie just launched starring 3 young Australian surfers including Nikki Van Dijk. Do you know the name of the movie?
Taj: I know they’re doing Blue Crush 2 because I had some stuff to do with it, but I’m not sure of the one you’re talking about.

Banzai: It's called First Love

That's zero out of four for Taj! Looks like he'd better stick to surfing. You can check out Taj and take in all the action of the Boost Mobile SurfSho at Bondi Beach NSW from 11-13 March, 2011.