Peterson’s patience really pays
IT’S possibly one of the most annoying songs in history but Let it Go could be the anthem for the WSL’s women this year, with the mantra helping propel the careers of some of the best in the world.
American Lakey Peterson, 23, won the Roxy Pro at Kirra yesterday, beating Sunshine Coast young gun Keely Andrew, also 23, in a victory for perseverance seven years after she notched her first tour title.
One of the most gifted surfers on tour, Peterson burst on to the international scene at 17, winning the US open in 2012.
She hadn’t been able to repeat the dose until yesterday though and while the rollercoaster ride had been emotional, Peterson said she had to learn to let go to find her best form.
“Everyone works so hard on this tour and it’s really hard to win an event, so to do it here and have it finally all come together just feels amazing really and to have it all finally click, I feel like all the hard work has come together and I’m so stoked,” she said. “There’s so much up and down and you can lose hope and you can get a bad string of results for a long time and it’s hard.
“You’ve got to go through those low points and I think the biggest thing I learned is to let those moments make you better and learn. My mentality going into this season was to let go of the results and just be satisfied with who I am and work my hardest and let it happen when it’s going to happen.”
It was almost a magic bullet for Peterson.
“It’s just kind of funny that straight off the back, letting go really made it all come together,” she said. “I just want to carry that momentum into the rest of this year.”
Peterson made the final last year against six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore but struggled to overcome the “Queen of Snapper Rocks” at her home break.
“To be in the final again is incredible and to go one better is amazing,” she said.
Peterson will wear the tour leader’s jersey to Bells Beach but in keeping with her mantra, won’t let expectation weigh her down.
“It’s the yellow jersey, No.1 in the world and a target on your back but I think for me, it’s continuing to have fun, learn from each experience and jut take the same headspace I had here into everything else,” she said.
“That’s super open-minded and excited to learn and just be my best.”