Liam joins the 100 club
Coast surfer enjoying one hell of rise in rankings
BURLEIGH Boardriders’ Liam O’Brien has been on a tear in 2018.
The 21-year-old powerful natural-footer hasn’t put a foot wrong, claiming three WQS wins to break new ground.
“A goal of mine was definitely to crack the top 100 (in the world), but I didn’t expect to end up with three victories though,” said the modest pro who has been consistently climbing the ratings ladder.
This time last year he registered his first WQS win at the Port Stephens Pro to set up a huge year of travelling in 2018.
His WQS campaign started in Hawaii and now finishes in Hawaii where he was unlucky not to progress from Round 2 at Sunset Beach in the HIC Pro.
“It was good fun out there. I managed to get one good ride at the beginning of the heat (seven-point ride) but ended up snapping my board on my second wave,” he laughed.
“Pretty unfortunate but I guess that’s how it rolls sometimes. I’m still grateful to be where I’m and to have had the chance to surf a heat at Sunset.”
While he was disappointed to lose, he said he took education from the experience.
O’Brien had travelled the globe this year from Hawaii, east and west coast of Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, South Africa and Barbados competing in 17 qualifying series events.
His plan for 2019 is to keep chipping away on the QS.
“Hopefully I’ll get into the higher-rated comps and have the chance to compete at the next level,” he said.
“My ultimate goal would be to qualify for the WCT but it’s a long road. If anything I just want to keep enjoying what I’m doing.”
He is a proud member of the Burleigh Boardriders Club and not surprisingly his favourite break is Burleigh Point. When not surfing, he likes playing video games.
A cool, consummate competitor with a big future, O’Brien has been coached by well-known supercoaches Mark Richardson and Burleigh’s former World Tour competitor Jay Thompson. His surfing hero is Dane Reynolds and loves watching his videos.