LAKE Tabourie’s Koby Jackson announced himself as a star of the future, after recently winning the under 10s Wahu Surfer Groms Competition held at Kiama.
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The son of well-known surfer Vern Jackson, Koby was always destined for big things, after starting his assault on the waves at a young age.
“I started surfing at four years of age in the key hole, where you paddle out to Mollymook Point – we named it Mini Crystals,” Koby said.
“Then my dad started taking me out on the front of the long board.
“That's when I got the thrill of surfing going down the face of a wave four times overhead and my dad saying look down the line.
“I went in my first surfing contest at age six in Sydney.
“I was super nervous for my first heat and keep falling off but after that I couldn’t wait for the next heat and kept asking my dad how long to go.
“I love surfing when it’s big – I’m not scared and have surfed good sized waves in Hawaii.”
Now aged nine, the Ulladulla Primary School student is slowly becoming a household name on the Groms circuit.
“I have entered a lot of contests this year and in the last three months I have done 10 competitions - finishing in the finals of all of them and winning my last big competition in Kiama,” he said.
“After winning at Kiama, I’m now 152th on the NSW junior boys ranking for under 18s but highest for my age.
“This win also moved me into the lead for the Wahu Surfer Groms series.”
This year has been massive for Jackson, who placed first in under 12s Ulladulla Boardriders (winning six of the eight contest), placed second at Coffs Harbour Wahu, fourth at the Northern Beaches Curl Curl Wahu, third at Cronulla Wahu, first in the South Coast regionals and made the top eight at the under 12s state titles.
“To achieve all this, I have a busy training schedule, which usually involves leaving home at 7am every morning - surfing before and after school.
“On weekends, I try and get out there three or four times and if I don’t, I get on the skateboard and practice my aerial skills.”
Coached by Terry Day, Jackson said his ultimate goal is to make the World Qualifying Series before he’s 18 years of age.
“Next year most competitions I will enter will be under 12s divisions but I will step it up into the under 14s and open men’s at Ulladulla Boardriders,” he said.
“The Boardriders have really good surf competitions, so it’s good to compete against guys and girls much older then me and some guys are four times my age and have been competing for a long time.”