COAST’S SURFING STAR REVEALS HER REAL NO.1 AMBITION
STEPHANIE Gilmore has had an amazing year.
The Tweed Coaster’s wins in the Rip Curl Women’s Pro, Rio Pro and J-Bay open culminated in her seventh world championship.
The 31-year-old, though, believes another moment defined her 2018.
Last year the World Surfing League announced that it would in 2019 award equal prize money to male and female athletes, and Gilmore couldn’t be happier.
“To win the world title last year was an incredible feeling but it was really just the exclamation mark on so many barriers that were broken down last year by the WSL to really set the standard in what should be normal,” she said.
“To show that gender equality is first and foremost a priority for our sport and to lead the way for other sports is an amazing thing to be a part of, it’s empowering.
“As a woman, as a female athlete, as a surfer, it encompasses so much of what we believe in.
“To be a youthful sport and send a message out to the world like that is fantastic.”
Back on home turf for the opening round of the WSL tour, the Boost Mobile Pro starting on Wednesday, Gilmore told media on the red carpet of the WSL Awards last night that she couldn’t wait to compete in front of family and friends this week.
“It’s very fun and I always love coming home,” she said.
“Snapper Rocks is my favourite event so be able to roll out of my own bed and head to the event is really special.”
Gilmore said that emerging talent motivated her to stay at her best and tipped Macy Callaghan as the Gold Coast’s next big surfing star.
“She’s up and coming, she is on fire at the moment so I’m sure she’ll be doing really well,” she said.
“Every time I paddle out in the line-up there are so many girls surfing well.
“I’m nervous every year because all of the girls just get better and better.”
Retiring great Joel Parkinson believes Jack Freestone will be the one to overtake his mantle as the Coast’s best surfing talent.
“He’s matured in his surfing a lot lately,” he said.
“For the past year and a half, he’s gotten rid of some of those mistakes.”