Eight trophies for young surfer, and counting
ANIKA AYSON sure has wonderful balance.
She did extremely well to balance all eight of the surfing trophies she won this season on her board when the Otago Daily
showed up at the school with the unusual request.
The year10 Queen’s High School pupil took it in her stride, of course. The ‘‘Queen of the Waves’’ has had an extraordinary summer, as the photo illustrates.
You need to take a deep breath to list all the diminutive 14yearold’s achievements in one go. She won the under16 Canterbury title, the under16 and under 18 Southland crowns, was second in the Otago junior women’s event, third in the under16 grom series, finished third in the under18 girls’ South Island Championships, came second in the under20 Canterbury Surf championships and was fourth in the open women’s Canterbury Surf Championships.
Her wonderful balance came in really handy on the water.
Anika’s family are all keen surfers and live near St Clair Beach. She started competitive surfing when she was about 11 but basically grew up in the waves.
In the summer, Anika surfs every day and sometimes twice a day. In the winter she does not get out as often but still spends about six hours on the board each week.
It is a big commitment but the talented athlete does not have any big plans to turn professional or star in a sequel of The Endless Summer.
‘‘I just want to chill out, go to university here and just do the comps around New Zealand,’’ she said.
Her dream surfing location is Bali and the family have a surfing trip planned there later this year.
Her father Richard and sisters Shani (18) and Sari (10) will be competing for the breaks on the Bali holiday.
But her next assignment is to gain her ninth trophy. Anika is leading the under16 girls’ South Island series with two events remaining. She is hoping to go to Christchurch this weekend for the Winter Freeze event.