Macy’s story tells of tough side of world tours
SURF teen Macy Callaghan says from the outside looking in it appears she is living the dream, travelling the world and surfing postcard-perfect locations. But there’s a flip side.
After a season testing the waters as a wildcard to most events on the 2018 women’s world surfing tour, the NSW
teenager has learned valuable lessons she hopes to put in place for her rookie year.
“I think people think we live like rock stars but it’s not all rainbows and unicorns,” said the 18-year-old who is the youngest Australian surfer to crack the tour since two-time world champion Tyler Wright as a 16-year-old in 2011.
“I had no idea how hard it
would be. I really thought it would be easy.
“You are away from family and friends for so many days each year and it can be a little frightening. I learned last year that loneliness was a real thing and you have to learn how to deal with it.”
A world junior champion at just 15, she showed she had the talent to emulate the feats of
multiple world champions Stephanie Gilmore and Wright when she made the Roxy Pro France final five months ago.
But to make life out of the water easier in 2019, Callaghan will travel much of the year with her mother Deb or two sisters, creating a touring “family” with other surfers including Californian best friend Sage Erickson.
“I don’t think I was too young. I felt my surfing was there,” Avoca-based Callaghan said of tackling the world tour as a 17-year-old last season.
“But maybe with the mental side I could have been a couple of years older.”
Callaghan is one of two rookies on the women’s tour with Costa Rica surfer Brissa Hennessey, 19, also qualifying.