Valuable QS surfing experience for Gisborne’s Smith

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

DESPITE getting knocked out in round 2, Gisborne surfer Jasmine Smith gained some valuable experience at her first Qualifying Series event in New South Wales on the weekend.

Smith — the only Kiwi at the Carve Pro in Maroubra — started well to place second in round 1 against three Australian surfers, with a 6.35 two-wave total. The heat-winning score was 11.40.

Two-to-three foot sets were breaking on to some good sand banks at Maroubra Beach but the wind was strong from the south.

In round 2 the 19-year-old went up against three Australians again, and she came last with a 5.15 total — 7.5 points behind the winner — and was eliminated.

It was not the result Smith was gunning for but the experience was a confidence-booster.

“It made me realise I have the surfing ability to compete against them and it made me more fired up to train harder for the next one.”

She is on the waiting list for a number of other QS events in New South Wales.

This first is the Burleigh Pro from February 1 to 4 at her new home in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

Smith is familiar with many of the breaks, including the famous right-hand point where the contest is held, but is still lacking confidence and said she would be training hard to improve this.

“With around 11 days to go, I want to surf Burleigh as much as possible, train, stay healthy and hydrated, and be confident.”

Competition will be tough. Smith could find herself competing against the likes of Australian Dimity Stoyle, who won the Burleigh Pro last year and was 15th on the 2015 women’s Championship Tour.