As part of the Rip Curl Pro festivities, the Surf Coast Shire council has announced the recipients of its Gail Couper and Wayne Lynch Rising Star Awards, which celebrate local up-and-coming surfers.<\/p>\n
Among this year’s recipients is Jan Juc’s Willis Droomer, who has been selected to compete in the Australian team at the 2022 World Surfing Junior Championship in El Salvador in May.<\/p>\n
At just 15 years of age, the Surf Coast Secondary College Year 10 student is one of only three Australians competing in the boys under 18 division.<\/p>\n
We asked Willis about his surfing:<\/p>\n
How does it feel to be selected for the Australian team?<\/strong> What does training involve?<\/strong> How much of the year is spent travelling?<\/strong> Favourite local break?<\/strong> When and how did you get into surfing?<\/strong>
\nIt’s my first time going to worlds so it’s pretty exciting. It’s been a lot of hard work to get to this stage and I’ve learned a lot of things along the way. When you get selected only half the work is done because you still have to compete, but it’s been a great kick of confidence.<\/p>\n
\nDuring the week I surf for two hours a day after school, and on weekends I’ll surf for about four hours each day. Then I train twice a week in the gym and running.<\/p>\n
\nI compete in four interstate comps a year. The worlds will be my first international comp.<\/p>\n
\nWinkipop.<\/p>\n
\nI started when I was three, then had a little break and got into skating. At age five or six I got back into it. I saw surfboards around and wanted to try it out. Mum pushed me into the first few waves, then dad took me out to where the waves were a bit better.<\/p>\n