Xavier Huxtable makes semi-finals of awards

JAN Juc surfer Xavier Huxtable has been nominated as a semi-finalist in the Regional Achiever Award for this year’s Victorian Young Achiever Awards.

Sponsored by Academy Graphics, the Regional Achiever Award aims to recognise Victoria’s regional and rural community contributors, and acknowledges excellence in a chosen profession or field of endeavour.

Huxtable is a three-time Victorian Junior Surfing Champion and has carried this through to win two consecutive Australian Junior surfing titles – Under 14 in 2015 and Under 16 in 2016.

The 15-year-old has also been awarded the Duke Kahanamoku Award, recognising outstanding performance and sportsmanship at the Australian Junior Titles, and is the youngest recipient in the 49-year history of the award.

Huxtable is also the youngest committee member of the Torquay Boardriders Club, frequently volunteering his time to be involved in key fundraisers, administration and event management.

He also represented Australia at the 2017 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Japan, a key feeder event to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which will feature surfing for the first time.

The Victorian Young Achiever Awards began in 2012 with the purpose to acknowledge, encourage and most importantly promote the positive achievements of all young people up to and including 29 years of age.

The awards showcase the achievements of young Victorians, and pay tribute to their vision, innovation and commitment to contributing to their community.

The next round of judging will take place on Tuesday March 13, and the winners will be announced at an awards gala presentation dinner on May 18 at Flemington – The Event Centre.

All nominees regardless of judging results are invited to attend and will be presented with a framed certificate on stage to honour their achievements and community contribution.

For more information, head to the website at awardsaustralia.com/vicyaa.