Gisborne surfers excited at Olympic opportunity

OLYMPIC HOPEFUL: Gold Coast-based Gisborne surfer Jasmine Smith says the prospect of representing New Zealand at the 2020 Olympics is “so sick”. File picture

SURFING'S inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could provide exciting opportunities for top Gisborne surfers such as Ricardo Christie and Jasmine Smith.

Speaking from her new base in Burleigh Heads on Australia’s Gold Coast, Smith said the news was “such an exciting step forward in the sport”.

She found out early yesterday morning alongside her flatmates — cousin and fellow Gisborne surfer Abby Falwasser-Logan, and Auckland twin sisters and surfers Gaby and Bianca Sansom.

“It kind of sank in that one of us could possibly be representing New Zealand in the 2020 Olympics.

“It would be such a huge honour to represent New Zealand in the biggest sporting event in the world — so sick.”

Smith has been working hard this year, getting fit and training for surfing and surf lifesaving competitions later in the year.

Surfing New Zealand communications manager Ben Kennings says having surfing in the biggest competition in the world is “massive” for the sport and the athletes.

“It is every child’s dream to be in the Olympics.”

Increasing fans and sponsorst will grow the sport’s profile through increasing fans and sponsors.

On a New Zealand level, if surfing stays in the Olympics it means the sport will be supported by High Performance Sport New Zealand, giving them access to more funding, coaches and nutritionists.

“There are no downsides,” says Kennings.

He concedes some “purists” might say surfing is not an Olympic sport, as there is an element of subjectiveness to judging, but it does not matter.

“It is good to include otherwise the Olympics will be left behind. Kids have so much variety in sport these days . . . and are choosing surfing more and more.”

The competition will take place on the beaches of Chiba in eastern Japan, which tends to have small surf but can get big. The two-week Olympics window gives surfing the same waiting period run by top professional surfing contests, meaning the best chance of decent waves turning up.

Kennings says there are a few details to be worked out but at the moment qualifying surfers will come from the top 20 countries at the International Surfing Association World Championships, with one male and one female selected from each country.

Countries with athletes in the top three on the World Surf League will get a further athlete in the competition.

New Zealand is eighth on the ISA so would qualify but those surfers would still have to be confirmed by the New Zealand Olympic Committee, whose criteria includes athletes having to show top 10 potential.

“There is a lot of work between now and then to get ready,” says Kennings.

Other New Zealand surfers Kennings says have a strong chance are Raglan professional Billy Stairmand and 16-year-old Kehu Butler (Mount Maunganui), one of New Zealand’s top up and coming surfers, along with professional Paige Hareb (Taranaki) and Ella Williams (Whangamata).