Just Business with Adin Masencamp
‘determination’noun 1. the quality of being determined; firmness of purpose.If there’s a word one could use to describe Adin Masencamp, it would undoubtedly be ‘determination’. The fire Adin poses to achieve his goals are unparalleled. Fearlessly striving towards them.Adin hasn’t enjoyed the cookie-cutter career of some of his peers. During COVID-19, longtime sponsor, Billabong, called him up with the news that they would no longer be supporting him. With his identity firmly wrapped up as a professional, sponsored, surfer, - a sticker-less surfboard pulled the carpet from under his feer. Adin had to adjust his mindset, figure out what mattered most and rebuild his identity from the ground up. It's a story of grit. Of a never say-die attitude. Just prior to our interview, Adin had received the news that he had been chosen as the J-Bay Open Wildcard. Excitedly, he swiftly packed up all his belongings in Ballito and embarked on the lengthy journey south to Jeffreys Bay. We managed to catch up with him amidst the Transkei chaos, eager to hear his thoughts as he prepared for his very first Championship Tour event. 
How does it feel to be surfing in your first CT event?
It feels amazing. It hasn't quiet sunken in yet but it’s exactly where I want to be. It’s been a childhood dream of mine to be on the Championship Tour, so to have an opportunity to compete against the world’s best and showcase my surfing at a place I’ve spent a fair amount of time at… it’s going to be incredible! It’s going to be the fuel to fire me up and get onto the CT full-time.What is the prize purse. How much are you going to get paid?
The cash purse is huge help for me. It’ll help financially for the rest of the year. I’ll be able to fund the Challenger Series events this year and hopefully be on the CT in 2024. This event is a single shot - but my goal is ultimately to be on the CT next year.
How did they let you know? Did someone from the WSL give you a call?
I just saw it on Instagram. Hahaha. I mean Tash Mentasti and Travis Logie kind of told me. They said something like, “You’re pretty much going to get it - go down to J-Bay so long and wait for confirmation before you say anything publicly.” - I didn't get any official confirmation or call but I guess the WSL Instagram post was confirmation. No one called me..Talk to me about the Challenger Series. What has been the most challenging part?
Probably the financial burden to be honest. Those monetary stresses are gnarly! You spend much of your time working to get the money to get to an event on one side of the globe and straight after that event is complete and you get home, you begin raising cash for the next event. And the events are chokka block. Apart from that, you’re competing against the top 80 surfers on the planet. Everyone is hungry. Everyone wants to get to the Championship Tour and no one’s there to play any games. You’ve got to have that competitive fire within you to keep going.We know you don’t have a major sponsor at the moment, tell us about how you fund your travels.
This is cool questions, because I can definitely give you a crash course on how it’s done. I have my sponsors which give me some financial backing. Those are: Wetsuit Warehouse, Havianas South Africa, Isdin Sunscreen, JR Surfboards, Darcs Eyewear, Go Pro and Red Bull covers my training and gives me a sum of cash at the beginning of each year.
But it’s really the local community that comes together and they help me when I’m in need. I keep as much money aside for travel from my sponsors, but living expenses is a big one and that’s where the local community really helps fill the gaps.Who is the local community? Is that the SA surf community or Strand in particular?
Strand, Somerset West, Stellenbosch, people in those regions are the guys who have been helping me.Do you run GoFundMe’s or Events? How does it work?
I haven’t done any GoFundMe’s yet. So what happens is the guys that support me would pay enough money to get my flights sorted, and then as soon as the prize money comes in, I pay them back. That’s how it’s been working the past couple events. It works well. Those people definitely deserve to be thanked!
It’s not easy. You got to do what you got to do. The system I got going now works and hopefully a main sponsor comes along to take up that nose-of-board real estate soon. But for now, I’m good where I’m at.
HowYou were supported by Billabong throughout your junior career, what was it like being dropped by a major brand and how did you overcome it mentally and emotionally?
Sheesh bru, that’s a good question. Billabong was really good to me through the junior ranks and I was on a decent contract back then. The foundation it gave me was great. And then COVID happened, they had massive budget cuts and I was let go. And it couldn’t have come at a worse time. I had just gotten back from a bad run on the Challenger in Europe. My stuff got stolen out of the Air BnB and then getting told Billabong wouldn’t renew my contract for the coming year was just the cherry on top.
It was some of the toughest months of my life. I felt lost. I had been branded from 13 years old. For 11 years I had this major surf brand that backed me. I thought to myself, “Is my career finished now? What do I do?” but looking back losing Billabong was one of the best things that could’ve happened to me.
As a person, mentally, emotionally I was able to grow through that difficult stage. You’re no longer defined by a brand. It’s not Adin and Billabong. You’re forced to find who you are independent from your major sponsor. I developed my own brand - and I was only able to do that through losing Billabong as a title sponsor.
In the long run, losing Billabong was one of the best things that could’ve happened to me. I grew as a person to become who I want to be - and the companies who identify with who I am - that’s the kinda company I want on my nose next.
After losing Billabong, I put my head down, trained super hard, I knew what I needed to do and ended up winning the Ballito Pro in 2021 against Jordy Smith.How will your approach be different at the J-Bay Open to surfing the Challenger Series?
I actually haven't thought about that yet. Hahaha. I’m on my way to J-Bay now, so I’ll figure it out when I get there. I’m just going surf to my strengths and stick to what I know. Go out there, have fun and enjoy the moment. I’m there to surf my best and make heats. I don’t just wanna show up.How do you handle the pressure that comes with competing at such a high level? Are there any methods or mental approaches you use to stay focused and calm?
I have recently been working with a sports psychologist on a regular basis and there are some things I do before a heat; sit down, be quiet, breathe and then maintain a solid routine. Don't change the routine wherever you are. Routine is key and it helps keep the nerves in check which helps with flow. And that usually positions me for the best waves in a heat and with a calm, quiet mind you can perform the way you want to.
If you could give groms wanting to be pro surfers any advice - what would you say?
You need to keep going. Never ever give up. Keep pushing. Train as hard as you possibly can. Do everything in your power, that you can do, to give yourself the best possible opportunity. You never know when that opportunity might come again.