As frustrations rise among players on the European Tour over travel issues, Damon Heta has struck a strikingly composed tone, urging colleagues to accept the logistical challenges as part of professional darts life. The Australian world number fifteen responded to complaints from fellow players about delays en route to the recent Belgian Darts Open by simply stating: "It is what it is at the end of the day. You're playing darts and you're traveling."
The logistical problems surrounding the Belgian Darts Open caused plenty of irritation in the field, with Brexit meaning British players can no longer use fast e-gates within the EU and face time-consuming manual passport checks. Nathan Aspinall voiced his displeasure on social media, saying: "Another week, another Euro Tour, another wait to get through passport [control]." Jonny Clayton also shared his frustration: "Two-hour wait in Brussels Airport, this could be the last European Tour of the year."
Amid these complaints, Heta chose a different approach, skipping the plane and driving instead. "I don't know. Just get on with it," said Heta, who explained his road-trip mindset: "I went from one Euro tour to another, and then on the way, it just made sense to drive for myself. Just made a good time of it, I guess. You just got to look at it more of a positive sense and just, like I said, just get on with it, I think." He added with characteristic humor: "Probably just need a Wham Burger or some French Cries. Just get on with it. I ended up driving."
While maintaining perspective on travel, Heta is candid about his on-board ambitions. A semi-final at the Poland Darts Masters recently showed signs of recovery, but he has not reached a quarterfinal at a major for over a year. "I've probably just kept the same goals for the last couple of years now," Heta explained. "Where I want to be and what I have set in place for myself." He now takes a critical look at earlier comments about contentment: "I said something like I was very content being a darts player and that life's great, and it doesn't matter if you're winning. Not that it doesn't matter, but I was happy with where I am — it just doesn't sit right with me."
The Australian makes clear his ambitions go beyond just competing: "I'm not content because I work so hard and I do so much in darts and outside of darts, just trying to make everything better. I need these results to come, so it pays off." He admitted: "At the moment, the results just aren't coming as much as I would like them to. It just makes me a bit hungrier and a bit keener." That hunger will be needed as Heta seeks to translate his motivation into regular title contention once again.
