2019 – and it’s already a whirlwind!

And just like that it’s April 2019!

Highlights –

1. Burleigh Single Fin comp – first place

2. Pro Junior competitions – 2 finals finishes (current ranking #4)

3. World Qualifying Series competitions, Australia leg (current ranking #90)

4. Turned 18 and had so much fun!!

5. Panama photo shoot and hosting Summer McKeen in Australia for Billabong Womens

6. Helping Launch the Global Wave Conference set for Feb 2020 (Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve)

7. Surfing Australia finalist for the ‘Rising Star’ award

8. Visiting Taiwan, supporting girls surfing and Iriomote, Japan for #Women Of the Sea part 3

It’s been a whirlwind through busy Australian surf competition season and I apologise that its taken me so long to keep you updated! It’s been filled with surfing, training, travelling (mostly road trips!) across the country – and that’s my best excuse for being so late with this post!

The year started with the prestigious Burleigh Heads retro single fin competition – only the second time woman have been allowed to join in! I was so stoked to come away with the win. Now we have a beautiful blue single fin in our board quiver – mixing it up when we get the chance!

This year I’m entering as many pro junior events as I can – and have been doing ok – ranked at number 4 in the Australasian leg so far after 3 contests. There are a few more to go and the aim is to make the top 3 to qualify for the world junior surf competition. It’s tough going with the talent coming up the ranks in Australia – but it’s such a great opportunity to progress. Working out at the Surfing HPC when I am at home has been so helpful as well as P3 Sports and Recovery for recuperation!

I’ve also surfed in a few WQS competitions in Boomerang beach, Avoca, Newcastle and Manly and have managed to stay ranked in the top 100 women surfers. It’s a hard slog and I have a loooong way to go, but I’m so motivated work hard to improve! Turning 18 will definitely make the international solo travel easier – I feel better equipped and more confident in who I am and what’s motivating me with every experience along the way.

I’m so grateful for the support – especially from my family who put up with me! We’ve been mostly road tripping in the old van to the surf competitions with my brother, Yani, entering a few contests too and figuring out the formula that works best for us all.

I’ve been trying to stay actively involved in environmental campaigns and it was fantastic to join in with 30 000 other young people for the the Global Strike for Climate in Sydney. We also supported the media launch of the Global Waves conference set for February next year at the Southern Cross University that brings together some amazing organisations including Surfrider Foundation and reminds us just how important it is to stand up for what you love. Being involved in local campaigns like protecting the southern Gold Coast protected as a world surfing reserve and supporting community access by opening up the ocean way path connecting Tugun to Kirra has been so empowering!

Billabong brought Summer McKeen (American and instagram youtube star!) out to Australia and I had a blast showing her around my own backyard. From horse rides with Ollie, morning Yoga with Suzanne, to skate boarding fun along the ocean way (thanks OBfive) and lots of laughs in the ocean on the long boards, it was great to hang out! I was so inspired by Summer’s positivity and dedication and the way she could juggle it all!

At the WQS 6000 competition in Manly I met and chatted with Kelly Slater (Slater designs and G.O.A.T.!) and the Firewire crew and feel so grateful not only to be getting such incredible boards, but to be part of a culture of commitment to the planet and innovation to use the best designs and best materials that is shaping a new future in surfing.

Finally, I’ve just returned from an amazing journey to Taiwan and Japan, travelling solo, learning and growing and sharing passion for the ocean and for an empowered generation of girls in the waves. I came back just in time to see Caroline Marks take out the first World Surf League event of the year in my own Gold Coast backyard – taking the podium as the youngest female surfer to wear the yellow vest and take home the equal prize money! Truly making ‘HERstory’!

I’ll do my best to get the video footage from travels so far up on my channel. Thanks to GoPro for the continued support in being able to share this story!