Yadin Nicol (AUS), 26, battled for years to qualify for the ASP World Tour and achieved his goal, finishing within the top 34 at the midyear rotation last year, which should have seen the highly-awaited arrival of the progressive Aussie for the back half of the 2011 season. Unfortunately, Nicol suffered a career-threatening injury while on a surf-trip which led to four months of rehab. Nicol was guaranteed a wildcard spot on the ASP World Tour for 2012 and now that he’s had a few surfs under his belt, the ASP caught up with Nicol to see how the recovery process is going and what his prognosis is for the season opening Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. This… is his story…

First of all, how has the rehab been going? Are you fully recovered and back in the water?
YN: The rehab has been going really well, I’ve been doing everything I can to get it better. Every day for the last four months has consisted of physical therapy, acupuncture and being in the gym to get it better. My ankle has healed up well and everything on land feels great but in the water I’m a little hesitant on it. I’ve been in the water for about a week now and I’ve been cruising on a fish and figuring out how to surf again. Every day I’ve been pushing it a little harder and it’s been feeling better and better. It’s not 100 percent yet but it feels great to be back in the water surfing again!

What was the rehab process like and how hard has it been to get back in to rhythm?
YN: The rehab process was long and is still going. All I’ve been thinking about for the last four months is getting my ankle better so I can surf again and now that I’m in the water it’s all I think about. It will be 100 percent when I stop thinking about it when I’m surfing. I’m not sure when that’s going to be but I hope it’s not too far away.

Are you expecting to be 100 percent for the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast?
YN: I’m planning on it! I’ve booked my accommodation so I hope it’s 100 percent!

How hard was it to miss out on last year, after working all those years to qualify? Must have been pretty crushing to have the injury happen when it did.
YN: It sucked but that’s just how things go sometimes! At the end of the day I will still get my spot and start fresh so I can’t really be too bummed out. The only thing that was hard to watch was how fun the waves got for the last half of the year. Watching that from the gym or physio gave me some good motivation to get better!

Now that the board has voted to do away with the midyear rotation, you’re guaranteed a full year on tour, what are you most looking forward to in 2012?
YN: I’m looking forward for everything! I can’t wait to put the injury behind me and start having fun competing and surfing a ton again! And I just want to say thanks to Geoff Gray and Evonne Castillo and everyone at elite rehab, Erik Smith for all the needles, Andy Schmiess and the guys at p3… If it weren’t for him I would be a whale right now. I’d also like to thank .Dr. Warren Kramer for putting me back together.

Nicol’s debut as an official member of the ASP Top 34 will unfold at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, which holds a waiting period from February 25 through March 7, 2011.