"The name was decided by a vote of all the team members," says Team Tsunami captain Kathy Heberle. "It sounded cool, but it's also the name of a really big wave and we want Tsunami to be a big wave that sweeps away the competition while being a force of positive change within the surfing community."
"Basically a team tells everyone: 'this is my group of friends, this is who I like hanging out with,' says Abel Halderman. "It gives us a reason to celebrate when one of our number does well and it gives us a base to help improve our surfing. I also think that teams have the ability to help build the surfing community too. For example, I might not always be able to compete or help out at a competition, but through my team I can make sure that someone can."
There are curently 10 members of the Tsunami Team.
Team Tsunami left to right: Mal, Amp, Colleen, Abe, Kathy,Milo, Amanda, Oroonie and Wil
Kathy was ranked 8th overall in the 2007 SLSA standings; Abel, a fast learner, is currently 15th in 2008 standings; Colleen Brennan, who was 4th overall in last season's rankings and is currently ranked third in 2008; long time resident and Second Life surfing legend Malcolm Sydney; and Milo Voss, joint third at the SLSA's Monkeh Barrel competition and currently ranked 4th overall in the 2008 standings. Colleen, Malcolm and Milo are all co-captains of the team. Then there is Oroonie, who was number 8 at the end of last year's season and is presently joint 42nd in 2008 alongside Malcolm; fast learners Wilfrid 'Wil' DeCuir (a.k.a. the crazy Canuk) and Amanda Stine; plus the team's newest additions Pyper Dollinger, previously with the Reaction Pro team and Amphiprion Watanabe, who was ranked 25 last year and is now also 25th in the 2008 standings.
Team members are enthusiastic about working together. "We have the nicest people who also happen to be some of the best surfers in Second Life," says Kathy. "We do have some of the best surfers in Second Life," agrees Colleen. "And all of us would surf just as much even if there were no SLSA events, simply because we love doing it!"
"And we're all surfers, who have the drive to succeed," says Wil.
"It's the experience of the team members, the willingness to teach each other and the enthusiasm for the team to succeed that really sums up what Team Tsunami is about," says Milo.
"And we like to talk a lot," adds Mal.
Team Tsunami signs Reaction
Team Tsunami has just signed Reaction as its first major sponsor. "Team Tsunami is a well formed team, with some great people on board and it has a lot of potential," says Radical Twang, head of Reaction. "Reaction is always looking for ways to support the surfing community and help further the sport in Second Life, so working with Tsunami made a lot of sense."
"We're very pleased to have Reaction on board as our first big sponsor and oh my gosh, there is such an opportunity for sponsorship!" says Kathy. "Surfing has to be one of the fastest growing sports in Second Life. I can't think of a better, cheaper way to get good, in world advertising for yourself than to sponsor a team."
Radical agrees: "there are plenty of opportunities for sponsors and surfing is now certainly one of the fastest growing communities in Second Life. We took the decision early on that Reaction should be active in sponsorship right from the start." Reaction also has its own Reaction Pro surfing team.
"My biggest goal is to establish an identity for the team," says Kathy. "We'll do that at a community level by competing and doing well in those competitions, although those are also individual achievements. Establishing ways of communicating with each other, developing a presence on the web, practicing together and soliciting sponsorship are all collective ways Team Tsunami can establish its identity."
"Tsunami is power and strength. It is nature's freight train and a hell of a wave to surf," says Milo.
"So when you surf against Team Tsunami be prepared to be blown away!" warns Amanda.
"Total destruction!" yells Oroonie.
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