CULBURRA Beach’s Keira Buckpitt has showed courage beyond her years, as she stormed to victory at the under 12 girls Rip Curl GromSearch national final on Wednesday.
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In four-six foot waves, the soon to be Year 7 St John the Evangelist Catholic High student, attacked the Sandon Point waves with a combination of gusto and courage.
“In round one, the surf was tricky – I tried to pick the best waves that would stand up, so I could get a couple of turns in and ride them as far as I could,” Buckpitt said.
“After winning my round one heat, I progressed straight into the semi-finals.
“The surf was big, so I decided to sit out the back and get onto some set waves.
“This is when I caught a huge wave that allowed me to do some turns and ride into the beach – scoring me an 8.33, which I backed up with a 6.50 to win my semi-final.”
Buckpitt, 12, took off on multiple waves that stood well above her head in the final, posting a 14.7 heat total to claim the win ahead of Jan Juc’s Mia Huppatz, who remained hot on her heels for a giant portion of the final – finishing on 13.6.
Third was Tweed Heads’ Quincy Symonds (11.8) and fourth was Port Kembla’s Tyla Hurst (9.47).
“Going into the final, I really stuck to what I did in the semi-finals but the other girls were getting some good waves as well,” Buckpitt said.
“I was running second at one stage, so I decided to take a chance on this big set wave and airdropped into it – I landed and was able to do some big carves and turns and riding it all the way in.
“This wave, rated a seven, set up my victory.”
When the final siren sounded, Buckpitt was over the moon with joy.
“I was so happy at first – I wasn’t sure but then I heard the commentator say it,” she said.
“I really knew I had won when I saw my friends Sasha Baker, Ellie Harrison, Zahlia Short and Elle Clayton-Brown all running towards me to chair me up the beach.
“It was such an amazing feeling.”
Buckpitt, a Culburra Beach Boardrider, ranks this as one of the top results of her career.
“This is huge in my personal achievements, as I have been practising and training really hard,” she said.
“Even when there weren’t any waves at Culburra, my Dad would drive me down the coast to find something to ride.
“I feel all my early mornings and hard work has paid off.”