Taj Burrow last week won the Hurley Pro at Trestles, beating fellow Aussie Julian Wilson in a tightly contested final.
Wilson was ripping all event, but Taj took it out with a precision forehand and backhand approach to the Trestles peak.
It was his first win of the 2013 ASP Tour and pushed him up to fourth in the rankings behind current leader Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater and Jordy Smith.
So the question arises as to when Taj will break through and finally capture that elusive first world title.
How long will he be the bridesmaid to fellow Aussies Fanning and Joel Parkinson, who he’s seen hoist the ASP trophy?
We know Taj has the talent and is still one of the most exciting surfers on tour, as he has been over the past 10 years.
With some of the talent now on tour including John John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Julian Wilson, Filipe Toledo and Nat Young, is his window of opportunity about to close?
Growing up in Western Australia, Taj Burrow has been at the forefront of progressive surfing over the past decade and has featured in some of the best video parts.
And it isn’t like Taj hasn’t been successful on the competitive circuit. He’s racked up 12 ASP Tour wins since 1999, including three on the Gold Coast and the most recent at Trestles.
Twice he has been runner up on the tour, in 1999 and 2007. His ability to perform competitively and still be one of the best free surfers in the world has made him a favourite among many in the surfing community.
Is there a brick wall for Taj to get over and claim that first world title, or is not important enough to him?
I am sure most of us would like to enjoy the travelling life of a surfer, being able to do the thing you love all over the world and get paid for it.
Is this enough for Taj? Will people view his potential as being wasted if he doesn’t win a world title?
There are a few examples where the criticism of not winning has weighed down on people, preventing them from getting over that hump or invisible barrier that exists.
Then there are those that accepted the challenge, rose to the occasion and focused on winning and winning alone – think LeBron James, the now two-time NBA champion.
Many doubted if he would ever become a champion at the elite level, if he could carry a team. He proved many wrong, and also proved that you need to have more than just talent. You need to have the drive to win.
We know Taj has the talent, proving he can beat the world’s best on any day, but does he have the drive to take it all the way this year?
Time will tell during the crucial European leg of the tour, where we’ll see if Taj can consolidate his position and move up the rankings to challenge for the title.
Taj is one of the best surfers in the world, both competitively and as a free surfer. He may just have what it takes to be a world champion multiple times if he can overcome that wall and have a bit of luck go his way.
Who is your pick to take out the ASP World Tour? Where does Taj rank in your predictions?
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