Surfing Australia Q&A with Matt Formston

Matt Formston is arguably the world’s greatest blind surfer. Diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy at age five, Matt has lived life with only three percent of his vision. But it hasn’t slowed him down. In fact, it has spurred him on to greatness. A multiple para-cyling and para-surfing world champion, there isn’t much he won’t take on. Even riding the monster waves of Nazare…

Can you tell us about your new film, The Blind Sea. What was your inspiration behind making it?

I am honoured to be featured as the subject of the feature documentary, The Blind Sea. I worked with Daniel Fenech, the Director of The Blind Sea, in the past when we shot some short-form content for the Rio Paralympics when I competed as a cyclist. When the opportunity presented itself to make a feature documentary about my life and my big wave journey it was an honour to be able to work with Dan to bring this project to life and document the preparation and journey to get there. I’m very proud of the film, and all the work Dan and the team did behind the scenes to create it, and I can’t wait for it to hit cinemas for all of Australia and the world to see it.

What were your initial thoughts about taking on Nazare and what did you learn from this experience? Did your perception change? 

When we originally scoped out the film, which was about my journey of big wave surfing and pushing the limits of what’s possible for a blind surfer, we discussed different waves in Australia including Shipsterns in Tasmania and other waves that I actually said to Daniel that I’d pretty much surf any wave, but Nazare was off the table. But when we actually got into the training, and as the journey progressed, it became a viable option. With the right training and processes, it really became the only option, so the film centred around that.

And what do you hope audiences will come away after seeing this film?

I hope that audiences, after seeing this film, will come away with realising that anything in life is really possible with the right work ethic, mindset, and behaviours. It doesn’t matter if you have a disability or if you have had a challenging childhood. Everything in life can be hard or easy. My journey of surfing Nazare is a great example of what you can do when you put your mind to and you’re having fun. Anything that is fun can come easy, and it’s not impossible.

How important were your family, friends and supporters in helping you become a world records-holding surfer?

Growing up my parents didn’t allow me and my siblings to use the word “can’t”. We had to explain why we weren’t able to do things or didn’t choose to do things. That type of mindset really set me up for success in sports and in business. It also set up my foundation and values as a person, so when it came to setting a Guinness World Record, there were really those values and behaviours that enabled me to find a path to success and put in the hard work required to build capacity.

You keep pushing the limits of what’s possible. What is next for you?

It’s funny regardless of what crazy achievements I’ve done in my life, everyone always wants to ask me what’s next. And normally, I don’t know because it’s just the journey I’m on, and it seems to evolve as I go. But in this particular instance, after the training I did for Nazare my longest single breath hold was just under six minutes, five minutes and 48 seconds. So, with that acquired capacity, I’m strongly considering and almost ready to embark on a freediving journey to potentially set a Guinness World Record for para freediving as deep down as I can go with one breath.

The Blind Sea will be in cinemas nationwide from August 15^th.

Matt Formston. Images supplied.