HAVING FUN KEY TO WINNING AT SURFING GAME
NO wonder Isabella Nichols is having fun.
The 21-year-old pro surfer will be one of the favourites when the revamped Gold Coast Open starts at Burleigh Heads today.
Part of the second-tier qualifying series for the World Surf League, the contest features vital rankings points that can carry those on the fringe into next year’s big leagues.
Nichols, who hails from Coolum but moved to the Gold Coast 18 months ago, burst on to the scene in 2016 – in more ways than one.
Not only did she win surfing’s junior world title in Portugal, but she also starred as Blake Lively’s body double for surfing scenes in shark horror movie The Shallows.
Since then she has been trying to scale surfing’s peak by securing a spot on the elite world tour.
The qualifying series leader, who won at Burleigh two years ago, credited her success to simply “having fun”.
“I know everyone thinks surfing is like the world’s best job, but there are times when you get down and it’s not as much fun as it should be,” Nichols said.
“But now I’m treating it like a game and having fun.”
While securing a place on the elite tour remained the primary goal, Nichols said she wouldn’t rule out any future movie appearances.
“(The Shallows) was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” she said.
The Gold Coast Open runs until Sunday.
SON OF A GUN P38