NEW WAVE
Teen issues warning to top surfers
Rising star of surfing Macy Callaghan says Australia’s top three need to be afraid of the chasing pack.
AUSTRALIANS hold the top three spots in women’s surfing but a rising star of the sport says they should be very afraid of the chasing pack.
“It’s scary, I think some of the older people should be pretty scared because there’s some good girls coming through,” said teenage surfing champion Macy Callaghan, 17, who has received an injury wildcard to the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks this weekend after Californian Courtney Conlogue withdrew with a broken foot.
Callaghan will join fellow Aussies including world champion Tyler Wright (world No.1), six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore (No. 2) and Sally Fitzgibbon (No. 3) and is thankful she doesn’t have to fight it out in the trials for a wildcard spot.
Callaghan, who won Surfing Australia’s rising star award on Tuesday, said the depth of talent in the women’s tour was phenomenal.
“I am very happy I’m not in the trials this year because it’s so hard, you’ve got to win the event to make it (into the Roxy Pro),” the 2017 world junior surfing champion said.
Queensland Open women’s champion Piper Harrison, surfing prodigy Zahli Kelly and the in-form Kobie Enright – who is Callaghan’s best mate – are all in the trial competition to get a spot on the World Championship Tour event.
Callaghan, who recently moved to the Gold Coast from the NSW Central Coast, will face her idol Gilmore in her first heat.
“It intimidating when you’ve got Steph Gilmore in your first heat because she’s the local queen, she’s amazing, I’m really excited because anyone can win out at Snapper because it’s the most amazing and perfect wave,” Callaghan said.
While the women’s tour has just 18 surfers compared to 34 in the men’s draw, Callaghan said some female surfers were better than the men.
“(Surfing) was more of a boy’s sport back in the day but now I think (women’s surfing is) equal with the guys, and they’re probably ripping better than half the guys out in the surf,” she said.
Her comments echo others in the sport, including rival Harrison.
“In the past couple of years the levels of the girls’ competition has increased out of this world,” the 17-year-old said.
Asked who was the dominant gender in Australian surfing, Olympic coach and recently retired world tour veteran Bede Durbidge said: “If you went off rankings, and if you had to choose, you’d obviously have to say the girls.”
Weather permitting, the 2018 WSL Championship Tour will kick off with the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks on Sunday.