During three days the 44 youngsters from across NSW, including five from the Hunter, gained an early insight into the life of an elite surf sport athlete.

Cooks Hill Surf Life Saving Club sent Isabella Campbell, Tiana Sargeant, Charlie Burns and Charlie Walker to the Junior Development Academy.

Sophie McGeachie from Swansea Belmont SLSC also represented the Hunter.

“It was a fantastic training experience and I really learned a lot over the program,” McGeachie said.

“I will definitely take a lot back including pilates which was something very different for me.

“It has reinforced my goal of making top three in my events going forward and that will be something I will be working towards.”

The selected participants gathered at Sydney’s Academy of Sport on the Northern Beaches between October 10 and 12 for a unique development program aimed at youth who have demonstrated an aptitude for any of the water disciplines contested at a surf sport event. 

The genesis behind the program is to create an opportunity for the young competitors to be exposed to a high performance environment, learn new skills that they can adapt to their own training, and create a pathway into the state’s senior representative squads and beyond.

With many of those selected already enjoying success at the NSW Country and State Championships competition for spots was fiercely contested.

Throughout the program the athletes participated in training sessions under the eagle eye of some of the best surf sports coaches going around, attended discussions on nutrition, had their skills and techniques analysed and were introduced to high performance and recovery techniques.

One of the positive aspects of surf sports is that is experienced former competitors are generous with their knowledge and the young participants certainly benefited from being able to talk to Michael Kember, Colin Marshall, and Michael Venis who have all represented their state and country.

Young guns Keeley Booth, a current Australian Youth Life Saving Team member, and Gabby Grieves shared their knowledge of pool rescue, while Graham Lees OAM and Rhonda Lycett were instrumental in the success of the camp.

Additionally, some of the lectures were delivered by guest speakers with their own background in competitive sport providing a raft of interesting experiences.

Mark Webster from Winning Edge spoke about the importance of sport psychology on performance, while victorious NSW Interstate Captain Mitchell Trim reflected on his journey from the junior to the senior ranks.

The opportunities to gain new skills were certainly appreciated by the athletes who are eagerly anticipating the chance to take the lessons learned back to their home clubs.

Surf sport development officer Chiara Nowland was impressed by the talent on display from the youngsters.

“While it was disappointing not to be able to finish on a high with a carnival due to the weather conditions, it was fantastic to see the improvement in just a few short lessons,” she said.

“The sport scientists and coaches were absolutely fantastic and for the athletes to get that knowledge at such a young age will be extremely beneficial to them, and I look forward to seeing how they progress both this summer and beyond.”