Billabong Pro, Jay Bay, South Africa
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My experience
hanging out with Abe Andrews
for a few days
during the Bells contest.
By Jordan Gilbert
Abe Andrews is enjoying his 2nd year on the Dream Tour. Considering he failed to earn any rating points in his first year, he might consider himself fortunate. He does.
It's not his ability to surf (which he does well), but his ability to serve that sees Abe in the water alongside the world's best, at some of the most iconic and consequential breaks around the globe, albeit not in heats, and not in a coloured rashie.
Abe is the Tour Chaplain, an ASP sanctioned volunteer role, and under the banner of Christian Surfers International. His job, if it could be seen as such, is to support those guys we look up to, be a friend, and be there for the times the bread falls butter-side down.
The reason this role can't be seen as a job is not for the reason you'd think. Who wouldn't love to join the ASP circus, build relationships with a few childhood idols, surf in
I was lucky enough to spend a few days at Bells with Abe during the Rip Curl Pro. As expected, it was raining, windy and the waves mushy for most of my time on the surf coast, but I was still witness to his Abe-ness. Opportunities aren't hunted; just seem to occur, for time, long or short, with the guys he's there to support. He cares about the parts of their lives that will never appear in a magazine, and has the rare ability of being unaffected by celebrity.
He never speaks of the issues he may be an ear to and doesn't drop names. At 25 years, I fear I couldn't have been as trustworthy, but Abe has a gift. He also has dedication, but he would call it obedience. This is a 'job' that earns him nothing and costs him much.
Spending time with Abe means meeting Pro Surfers. He's a homing beacon that they're unwittingly drawn to. In 3 days I met over a dozen of the top 45, and a few of the all-time greats, and none of the meetings were planned. His job is to 'be around', and something, or someone, out there is having a hand in making it happen. Abe has no doubts as to who that someone is.
Abe is not a priest, and makes no pretence to perfection. He's a blessed man who's been placed in a position where he can, in confidence, encourage and support a bunch of guys that most think have no need of encouragement and support. His wife Lize joins him at most of the contests, and they do this from their own pockets, and the help of some supportive individuals.
Mens Surfing World Tour 2009
Men’s Surfing
World Tour
Chaplain
Abe Andrews
Why Chaplaincy?
“Throughout its history, pro surfing has led a rather reckless wild life. With the stardom however, come many tragic personal issues. The ASP Chaplaincy
is a brand new initiative to serve this influential arm of surfing.
Abe Andrews has been shaped for this moment over the years and demonstrates just the right mix of quiet example, clear
Changing the world one prayer at a time
• Pray for Abe and Lize’s personal relationship with the Lord, for spiritual growth and wisdom.
• Pray for ever strengthening relationships with the surfers and ASP staff.
• Pray for open doors and windows of opportunity at each event around the globe.
• Pray for financial support and resources as the Abe and Lize travel to different countries.
• Praise the Lord for this awesome opportunity to be at the frontline in the professional surfing world.
• Thank the Lord for those which have gone before Abe and Lize and laid the foundation for them to build upon.
About Me
My name is Abe Andrews, I’m 26 years old and married to my beautiful wife Lize. We currently live in
I studied teaching at Christian Heritage College in Brisbane and worked as a teacher for a year after graduating from University. After teaching I moved into chaplaincy. I have worked for over 2 years as a high school chaplain in a local high school on the Gold Coast to over 1700 students. Lize recently finished her Bachelor of Psychology at Griffith University and is also a recreational surfer.
Together we run Gold Coast
Support
This initiative is solely funded by individuals and is a voluntary service. We rely on the generosity of others to be able to provide the chaplaincy program to the surfers. To make a tax deductible donation please fill in the “partner with us” section of this brochure and send to: Men’s ASP Chaplain Abe Andrews;
Role: ASP World Tour Chaplain
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) facilitates a men’s world tour of 10
events for the elite top 45 surfers that determines the world surfing champion. As the
chaplain on the World Tour my role is very broad and covers a range of different needs for the surfers and staff at each event. The Chaplaincy program is designed to nurture the professional athlete’s wellbeing. Wellbeing is summed up by four personal elements, Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual. As the chaplain I provide an unbiased service which is safe, confidential and available during events and throughout the year whilst on Tour. I am there mainly as a support person and
someone the surfers can talk to about their wellbeing anytime.
Responding to Crisis and Specific Needs
I operate as a listening ear for surfers and staff who need someone to help them deal
with a crisis issue or other needs of the individual. I am also a point of referral to
outside agencies which may be sourced if the individual requires extra support or guidance eg. psychologist, counsellors, etc. It is also essential that surfers are aware of outside services that may be able to support them when they’re not on tour. I build positive relationships with these outside services and on occasions work as a link between the surfers and the service. I am experienced in responding to various issues including grief and loss, and will be available 24/7 to surfers and their families if a tragedy or other need occurs whilst on the World Tour or at home.
Financial Support Options
Deposit Cash/Cheque/Direct Debit Donations To
Account Name: Sports Chaplaincy Australia
Bank: Westpac Banking Corporation
Branch:
BSB: 033-038
Account No: 226153
For Direct Internet Deposits the following code MUST be included in the remittance/description field: MA-AA001
Credit Card Donations
Name on Card: ……
Card No: …
4 Digit Expiry Date (MM/YY): _ _ / _ _
Only Bankcard, MasterCard and Visa accepted.
Please circle your card type above.
Card Verification No. _ _ _ (last 3 digits on back of card)
Amount: $_____________
Signature: _____________
Sports Chaplaincy Australia Inc. ARBN 085483923
15/09/09
I spent some time with a Brazilian surfer talking about life outside of the competition and the difficulty of competing. It was interesting getting his perspective on travelling on the tour. Being a Brazilian can be difficult on the tour when there are so many difficulties that come from growing up in a non-English speaking country. It can sometimes be extra hard acquiring visas, understanding street maps and obviously trying to prepare for a contest when there is an anti-Brazilian vibe in the water.
I really admire this surfer’s honesty and down to earth nature. Although we sometimes look past the other guys on tour because they didn't grow up on our home turf, they are equally as important as anyone else on tour. So I want to encourage you to pray for all the guys on tour, especially those you may have never heard of.
You can see who is on tour by going to the following link: http://www.aspworldtour.com/2009/profiles_men.asp. Check it out.
Well, God bless and thanks so much for your prayers.
Abe Andrews
Men's Surfing World Tour Chaplain - ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals)
Well we just finished the Quiksilver Pro France. This was a really productive event and God provided us with many opportunities to provide a supportive service for the surfers and their families. Congrats to Mick and Bede, they both surfed really well over the event and really showed great sportsmanship over the event.
A few of the surfers could not take boards on their flight from LA to France because some airlines were refusing to take boards. So, I got to transport surfboards for surfers from California to France, by train, bus and plane, which opened awesome doors with the surfers over the event. Additionally I did a bit of filming and caddying for some of the guys which is always a really rewarding service for myself as the chaplain.
Lize connected really well with the girls over the event and together we have been able to provide additional support to the families on the tour. Lize helped look after the surfer’s kids and sat with the nervous wives and girlfriends as their other-halves competed in tricky conditions.
From the Basque Country, Mundaka, Spain. It is our third day here and the event kicked off yesterday with consistent 3-4 foot of swell. The hard thing with Mundaka is the break is solely dependent on the tides and here you can only surf on the low tide. So the contest ran 8 heats of round 1 with only a couple of World Tour surfers been knocked out. Lize and I spent a bit of time at the contest catching up with a few of the surfers as there had been a bit of a break between the France and Mundaka event.
Well it has been an adventurous couple of weeks. Lize and I have been in Mundaka for just under two weeks and it has been a great time of fellowship with the surfers.
There was little to no swell for a long stretch and this can be quite frustrating for the surfers who are anticipating their heats. I spent heaps of time with the guys hanging out and doing day to day activities to keep ourselves amused on the lay days.
The final was completed today with Adriano De Souza winning the event. This is Adriano's first World Tour Win and so he was super stoked to get his first World Tour Trophy. Also big congrats to Chris Davidson who was runner up, top stuff! So as the tour moves on to the final Two events for 2009, we see on the World Tour Ratings Mick taking the lead, with Parko moving to 2nd and Adriano now in 3rd followed closely by CJ in 4th. It is going to be crazy the next two contests, as you can see it is going to come down to the wire, to decide who is going to be world champ. (Check out www.aspworldtour.com for more info on ratings and the surfers).
A quick praise point, we had our campervan broken into last week and all our luggage stolen. It was heavy, all our clothes gone. Now you might be thinking, "why is this a praise point"? We were counting our blessings, as I had my laptop on me with the GPS our friends from France have lent us (Christophe and Melissa Parenty), and Lize had our passports on her. Oh, and they didn't take my boards... so I was pretty relieved. But the thing that was awesome, was how the whole surfing tour family really helped us out. The ASP really went above and beyond by blessing us abundantly with some practical needs and then the surfers and wives helped us out with extra clothes and girly things for Lize (makeup etc.) It was really good in the end, so thank God for his provision in times of hardship.
Well it has been a crazy few weeks and please continue to lift us up in prayer as we go to Portugal in the next few days. Pray for injured surfers, there is a knee, a back/hip and two ankles. So please continue to pray for these guys as they compete in the next event which starts on the 19th of October.
