Harrison rides wave of success at ISA World Surfing Games

BARWON Heads surfer Ellie Harrison is riding a big wave of momentum after securing a top-eight finish in the ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador.

The 18-year-old said it was a “huge accomplishment” to surf through 12 heats of the event before falling narrowly short of a finals berth at the hands of fellow Australian Sophie McCulloch.

Held across a nine-day period, the ISA World Surfing Games brought together top competitors from more than 30 nations.

Harrison was selected alongside world tour veteran Sally Fitzgibbons, former world number Jack Robinson and 2023 Rip Curl Pro champion Ethan Ewing in the Australian team.

She said her experience in El Salvador was one of the highlights of her competitive surfing career.

“It felt so surreal being there at the event and meeting so many new people from all around the world.

“To ultimately finish in the top eight of the competitors was a great feeling.

“I felt I put plenty of effort and preparation into this event and it was great to get a bit of reward for that.

“On this sort of stage, I really wanted to do my absolute best and show everyone how much I really wanted it.”

Harrison said the weather conditions in El Salvador were some of the hottest that she had ever experienced.

“The weather in El Salvador was next level hot, you were sweating and feeling completely drained before you’d even get in the water!

“I definitely felt it on the days where I was surfing three or four heats.

“While it was tough, I was just trying to hydrate as much as possible and do heaps of breath work to conserve my energy.

“I didn’t get to have a free surf for three days because I was just so exhausted from the heat and surfing in so many heats.

“But while it had its challenges, it was just an amazing experience and I couldn’t have done it without my support crew and coaches.”

Harrison now sets her sights on a jam-packed schedule of surf events across Indonesia and South Africa.