AT the age of 17, there's not much Mollymook SLSC's Sam Zustovich hasn't won on the sand during his young career.
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From a world title last year to numerous state and national crowns - as well as endless strong displays during the Ocean6 Series - Zustovich has conquered everything in his path.
Now he can add dominating the International Surf Rescue Challenge in South Africa to the list.
Zustovich was named to compete at this prestigious event in July - being just one of 12 athletes selected to represent the green and gold.
"I was very lucky to be injury free this winter after having back and hip issues in 2018," Zustovich said.
"I focused a lot on my speed endurance these past few months, as the second half of my sprint race is an aspect I need to improve on.
"For flags, I'm lucky to have my teammate Brock (Scrivener) to train against, so that had me ready to go for South Africa."
During his time at Durban's North Beach with the Australian Life Saving Team (ALT), Zustovich helped the team clean sweep the three trophies on offer; International Surf Rescue Challenge (for the eighth straight time), the Trans-Tasman Test and the Tri-Nations Test.
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And although the team achieved great things, Zustovich's assault at South Africa didn't start as he had hoped.
"My first event was the sprint and I actually fell over the line and got disqualified," the youth male athlete said.
"I was devastated but my teammates helped me refocus and from then on, I was unbeaten.
"I won the flags in all three Tests, including a competitive last round where South Africa and New Zealand were really trying to get me out.
"I recovered after the first Test to then win the next two sprints and back up with my teammates to win the beach relays also."
So despite his rocky start, Zustovich, who said the fall taught him a lesson he'll never forget, responded like all champions do in the face of adversity, to win his next five events.
"The sprint in the second Test was my most satisfying result," he said.
"I was so gutted to have not earned my team any points the day before and I really wanted to come back and get maximum points for them too.
"The relays meant a lot too, as the water boys lifted and on the last day, we were able to beat a South African team who had two beach athletes."
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Despite all these achievements on the sand over the past decade, Zustovich ranks pulling on the green and gold in South Africa as his greatest accomplishment to date.
"Representing Australia is honestly something I never thought was possible coming through the ranks," he said.
"My coach [Daniel Robberds] had mentioned it to me two seasons ago after I won both events in Perth but for it to become a reality was awesome.
"Now I've had a taste of it, I just want to make sure I retain my spot for the World Championships in Italy next September.
"I didn't realise how much it [wearing the green and gold] meant until I was in camp with all the other youth and open athletes.
"I was in awe of the talent in the team and felt so privileged to be able to represent my country in something I enjoy so much - it's 100 per cent at the top of my achievements list."
Zustovich will now turn his attentions to the Sydney Water carnivals, which start at the end of November.
"These carnivals will be a good chance for me to perfect some technical changes I'm making in my flags turn," he said.
"I obviously want to be selected for NSW again and need to have some solid results early to make sure I'm in the team.
"I also want to win gold in the open male beach flags.
"After finishing second last season and proving to myself that I'm good enough, I just want to get in there again and battle it out with the best."