Surfing: Surf sessions show off Sunny's side of life

Sunny Garcia is almost as famous for scraps in and out of the water as for his power surfing. Pierre Tostee/Getty Images

Sunny Garcia is kicking back - kind of.

The Hawaiian - almost as famous for scraps in and out of the water as for his power surfing that won him the world title five years ago - is retiring at the end of the year.

He's house-hunting in his home state after time in California and looking forward to settling down in one spot after 20 years on the world tour. But not for long. The lure of sponsored trips with friends to exotic wave spots around the world is strong.

"I'm going to have that time to do what I want, be somewhere because I want to be there, not because I have to be there."

In Auckland yesterday before the Vodafone-sponsored Surf Sessions the wild man of the world tour is the model of moderation and generosity toward the scores of fans at a Queen St surf shop.

He's mellow about most things in life - except tow-in surfing.

Garcia, who began surfing competitively aged 8 after a tough upbringing on the wrong side of Oahu, is a staunch traditionalist and has little time for the use of jet skis to tow surfers onto monster waves.

"I think there are a lot of really good legitimate big wave riders who are doing it, but I would say about 50 to 75 per cent of guys who are doing it are just kooks.

"Guys who have never even paddled into a 10ft [3m] wave let alone a 20ft wave are now on 50ft to 60ft waves.

Garcia has been towed in himself but was underwhelmed.

"Getting towed into a 30ft wave is like taking off on a 6ft wave. I've kicked out on some of the biggest waves I've ever had and thought, 'That was cool' but I didn't get the sensation of being on a really big wave.

"Every average Joe who can stand up on a board can get towed into a really big wave and claim to be a big-wave surfer. For me it's hard to swallow after dedicating my life to professional surfing and becoming the best I can be and seeing all these guys all of a sudden try to claim all the fame of a big-wave rider - they're not."

Last year's big-wave rider award winner Dan Moore won with a 68ft ride at the Hawaiian break of Jaws. Garcia says he's never seen Moore at any of the traditional battleground breaks of Oahu's North Shore, Pipeline, Sunset and Waimea. "Surf media are making gods of the guys who really don't belong there."

Following this weekend's event Garcia is heading home hoping to further cement his place in Hawaiian surfing legend.

He's aiming to win his seventh Triple Crown of Surfing, which is determined by results at Pipeline, Sunset and Haleiwa. Although the tide has receded on his career since his world title win in 2000, he has remained hard to beat at home with his size in the shifty conditions (at 100kg he usually outweighs his opponents by 10kg or more), intimidating approach and a little help from his family.

He credits his wife, Raina, and her father, Hawaiian surf pioneer Joey Caball, for putting his career back on track after it wobbled in the 1990s. Caball cleaned up most contests in Hawaii in the 1960s and is a book of local knowledge.

"Having your father-in-law sitting on the beach and watching me - it's a lot of weight on my shoulders, but I enjoy it. When I come in and I've done something wrong, I get grilled."

In the leadup to next month's Triple Crown there's some serious aerobic fitness work to be done.

"I'm built like a football player rather than a surfer right now," he says.

Garcia has been plagued by knee injuries and admits it's been hard to regain the drive that took him to the top five years ago.

"I became content. As much as I hate losing, I can smile and think I've already got my world title.

"I'm at that point where I want to go on surf trips - that kills the drive to train really hard. I'll give 100 per cent whereas I should be giving 150 per cent."

Garcia has a big reputation for being a difficult customer in the water, at times blowing up with rivals over waves.

"Of course friends will have their moments, and we all fight over a lifetime.

"I've had my fair share of disagreements and arguments with the guys on tour, but I'm going to miss them all."

The event

* Sunny Garcia, reigning world champion Andy Irons, former champion Mark Occhilupo, and last year's runner-up Joel Parkinson take on New Zealand's Maz Quinn, Morehu Roberts, Bobby Hansen and Daniel Kereopa.

* A free surfing session is scheduled for Raglan at 12.30 today.

* An international tag team event is scheduled for Piha at midday tomorrow.

Sunny Garcia

* Real name: Vincent Sennen Garcia III (his mother decided she didn't like the name and nicknamed him Sunny - it stuck)

* 35 years old

* World champion in 2000

* Second surfer to crack $1 million prize earnings (Kelly Slater was the first)

* Career earnings to date: US$1,057,605 ($1,523,248)

* 37th on world circuit standings

* 100kg/ 1.77m tall

* PlayStation2 game created around his surfing

* Married to Raina

* Has three children from a previous marriage.