Staunton surfs to success at international event

A BELMONT surfer is beaming with pride after wearing the green and gold at an international surfing contest.

Melanie Staunton has just returned from representing Australia at the ISA World Longboard Championship in El Salvador.

Staunton surfed her way through five heats to finish in equal 25th position out of more than 60 surfers.

“It was such an amazing trip, full of amazing people, memories and many of learnings,” she said.

“Being able to mingle with heaps of the surfers from different countries was such an awesome experience.

“To get that far in the competition when you’re up against the world’s best – I was pretty happy with that result.”

She said the waves provided a pretty large challenge throughout the event.

 

“There was this big swell rolling through, and it probably ended up being six to seven feet.

“The wave itself is pretty bowly, and there’s a lot of current, so it was pretty tricky to get used to it at the start.

“I just knew I needed two solid waves from all the way out the back, keeping in mind it was a five-six-minute paddle back out. It was a lot of work, but you just had to make good wave selection.”

She said the camaraderie between the Australian team was second to none.

“I didn’t know the rest of the guys too well. I was quite close with Tully White but didn’t really know Clinton Guest or Archy Bemrose.

“But we all just got on like a house on fire. It was such a good mix. We had some great laughs.”

Staunton said she had her sights set on trying to re-qualify for the event in 2026.

“I 100 per cent would love to go back.

“Hopefully I can get into the Aussies event again this year and can give myself an opportunity to put my name down.”