MAKING WAVES
Fresh from a national competition, you might be forgiven for thinking 16-year-old Gold Coast girl Latisha Clark has been surfing her whole life—but she rode her first wave less than three years ago.
LATISHA Clark hasn’t been surfing for long but the 16-yearold Gold Coast girl is already making a name for herself.
Latisha took out second place in the Open Women’s Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles at Bells Beach this month, also finishing third in the junior girl’s event.
While it looked like she had been surfing since she was very young the Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles was her first major competition.
Latisha rode her first wave two and half years ago after moving to the Gold Coast from Brisbane.
“When we moved to the Gold Coast it looked like everyone surfed and I thought I wanted to surf too so I got a surfboard for Christmas and it started from there,” she said.
Now she’s regularly found surfing her local break at Burleigh Heads or swaps to Miami or Nobbys Beach.
“I usually surf every morning and sometimes twice a day,” she said.
“I’m really enjoying it and now I’m starting to compete which is good.”
Latisha has surfed several local competitions for MNM Boardriders but Bells Beach was her first big event.
“I was really nervous to start with but once I got out there and surfed it was a great opportunity and really fun to get to know all the other people — that’s what I liked best about it,” she said.
Latisha fell short on her final wave in the Open competition to narrowly miss out on top spot finishing on 11.30, only 0.04 points behind the winner.
“It felt really good (to finish second),” she said.
“I was a bit bummed to miss out by such a small amount but I was so grateful to have the opportunity to fly over there and surf Bells Beach with just a few other people in the water.”
Latisha’s efforts also saw her take home the Rip Curl outstanding performer award.
Now it’s onto bigger and better things for the avid surfer.
“To become a professional surfer is the dream,” she said.
“I just want to compete in as many competitions as I can and win as many competitions as I can and be the best surfer I can be.”
Latisha, in Year 11, is part of the Miami State High School Surfing Excellence Program which is running for the first time this year.
After trying out for the program last year she was accepted to start this year and claimed Girls Champion at Miami High’s Surf Competition in April.
For Latisha the program involves about six hours per week of gym-based sessions, surfing training and surfing coaching on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.
Dean of students — Enrichment at Miami State High School Rob Petersen said the surfing program was established after huge interest from the community.
“The goal of the program is to not only develop the competitive and free surfing performance of the athletes but also to give students opportunities to gain employment in the wider surfing industry,” Mr Petersen said.
The program has already attracted interest from overseas applicants.
Miami State High School Principal Susan Dalton said the school’s location just moments from the beach made the excellence program possible.
“We are very blessed to have one of the most beautiful beaches in the world at our doorstep,” Mrs Dalton said.
“Our location ensures the course nurtures and promotes the development of young surfers and our staff, with specialised teachers and industry professionals, deliver a world-class school surfing program.
The program provides students with career pathways including professional surfers, qualified coaches, professional surf judges, fitness instructors, event co-ordinators, sports administrators and high school teachers.”