One Last Shot: Nathan Hedge's Olympic Dream

Nathan “Hog” Hedge is a pro tour legend.
Intense and committed, the nuggety Australian has an extraordinary competitive record at Teahupo’o over the years. Hardly any surfer has come into the event as a wildcard and made the quarterfinals, beating surfers half his age in the process, the way he did 18 months ago.
Now, the Hog is hanging his intensity and commitment on a slim hope: that a wildcard spot may open up on the Australian team. Here’s how this could work: The winning teams - men’s and women’s - at the upcoming ISA Games in El Salvador will earn an extra spot at the Olympics. The national governing body will be able to select that surfer based on their own perception of their needs on the big stage - Teahupo’o.
If Australia does earn that spot, there’s no guarantee it will be offered to Hedgey. Ryan Callinan, Liam O’Brien, and Callum Robson are all standing in the wings with him.
It’s such an outside chance! Yet Hedge is putting it all on the line to prepare - even heading over to Cloudbreak for this week’s fantastic off season swell, surfing with old friends Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning, to tune in on the wave most like Teahupo’o. We asked the Hog, and his observant mate Joel, what drives the 44-year-old to chase this dream.
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[@tspps.sb805]

Hedgy we battled at sunset in Dec 1995 for a set wave you got me for it haha. I had just turned 15 and you had just come out in Beyond The Boundaries as a world known surfer the year before. I hope you get what you're chasing

[@wildthingsoceanicimages145]

Go for gold Hog!!!!

[@mckay_media]

Can Joel unretire?

[@paulsmith5167]

Love Hedgy surfing and enthusiasm, but come on he is in his mid forties and Joel is right, it’s a time and an opportunity for someone starting a professional career.

[@FromTheMosh]

Hell yeah, good luck hedgehog.

[@MR-hu1bx]

Go hedgy!!!

[@jerrybow8779]

Surely Aussie will pick jack robbo since it’s at chopes

[@matto1385]

Jack and Ethan are already in the Olympics. The winning team at the ISO games gets an extra spot. If America wins, Slater could get gifted a ticket... like stealing candy from a baby 😄

[@pumping426foot]

He never won a single contest on the CT

[@Swordofmichael333]

Give it up brother!

[@Chocochiphoneydip165]

Charger!!

[@THEBIGKUSH420]

Go the Hog !

[@bonniebob2802]

Slater would be my first choice of guys that should be in the Olympics at Teahupoo but Hedgie would be great to see as well.

[@millerlite502]

Totally Tubular !😎

[@Cockamouse-yu8eb]

Eddie would go? Waimea 24

[@goddamaddog]

lol good luck