Talented surf sisters ready to blast off in Sydney
SURFING siblings Mia, Isla and Anna Huppatz will join 13 members of Torquay Boardriders Club at Hurley’s Barton Lynch Blast Off in Sydney this week.
The BL Blast Off will see 350 young surfers across Australia come together in the biggest surf festival for prejuniors from today until Friday.
For Mia, 12, this will be her second interstate festival after strong performances for several years.
Mia said surfing was a huge part of her whole family’s life. “I love competing,” Mia said. “My sister Isla and I surf every day, and in summer twice a day.”
Isla, 10, said competition surfing could be tough but she was hoping to just enjoy the festival in Sydney.
“My favourite thing about surfing is catching waves,” Isla said.
The girls’ youngest sister Anna, 7, took up surfing because she grew up envious of her older siblings’ surfing exploits.
Anna, although young, has competed in six competitions this year and made her first final last start.
The Huppatz sisters all dream of being surfing’s next big thing with Mia’s idols being pro surfing siblings Tyler and Owen Wright.
The girls’ father, Marcus Huppatz, said his daughters were very lucky that they had these types of opportunities.
“Every chance they get to do some extra training with Surfing Victoria (for example) they jump at it,” Mr Huppatz said.
“They certainly have a great opportunity in this location to progress through if that’s what they aspire to.”
Hurley’s BL Blast Off is another opportunity for the girls to measure themselves against surfers their own age as well as receiving advice and coaching after each heat.
Blast Off is not a typical surfing festival, with a huge focus on enjoyment and performance improvement aside from competition.
The three-day festival will also feature coaching from surfing legends including Layne Beachley and former World Masters champ Terry Richardson.