WA Surfers Receieve WAIS Scholarships
Two West Australian surfers have been awarded WAIS scholarships following a partnership reached between Surfing WA and WA Institute of Sport.
The scholarships were awarded to World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) surfer Bronte Macaulay from Gracetown and WSL Qualifying Series (QS) surfer Jacob Willcox from Margaret River.
Surfing WA CEO Mark Lane said the strategic pathway would provide a boost for the sport in this state and represented great news for rising and professional surfers.
“This partnership creates opportunities for the State’s best surfers to be provided with first class elite athlete support to help them to achieve their goals,” Mr Lane said.”WA’s surf athletes already have access to Surfing WA’s high performance coaching program and now they also have the opportunity to access experts and facilities that WAIS offers other elite athletes.”
WAIS National Team Performance Director Teagan Colgan said the establishment of surfing as an Olympic sport had paved the way for a link between organisations.
“Given surfing is confirmed as a sport at Toyko 2020, both Bronte and Jacob were able to apply and now be a part of the Individual Athlete Scholarship Program,” Colgan said.
“Both Bronte and Jacob will have access to industry leading clinical and performance service providers such as biomechanics, physiology, strength, conditioning, nutritionist, athlete career and education, performance psychology as well as world-class facilities and funding opportunities – essentially value-adding to what each athlete already has in place.
“They both demonstrated exceptional results in World Qualifying Series events; these results clearly put both athletes in contention for Olympic Games selection.
“In addition, both athletes have been meticulous in their performance planning which shows WAIS that they are capable of putting together a process to develop into Olympic medal-winning athletes.
“Both athletes were also assessed as adding great value to their local community environments as much as a high performing athlete is able. This is an important aspect, as athletes are athletes for only a period in their life. WAIS encourages and provides service provision for athletes to have a well-balanced athlete life by developing the skills necessary to transition into life after being an athlete,” Colgan added.
Macaulay said she was looking forward to discovering how WAIS could help shape her sporting journey.
“I’m still finding out about what I can access as part of the WAIS scholarship but it’s exciting to know there’s experts available to add insight and support in different areas.”
“I’m keen to make the most of the opportunity and if competing in Tokyo 2020 (and) representing Australia is an option, I’ll definitely be going for it.It’s a terrific initiative by Surfing WA and I’d like to thank them for their support.”
Willcox echoed Macauley’s sentiments and said that he was delighted to be one of the first surfers to benefit from the link.
“It’s pretty cool, I’m stoked actually. It’s a good pathway for surfers and for surfing to make it a bigger sport. Surfers have never been offered opportunities like this before, so it’s great,” he said.
The Drug Aware WA Trials prelude the Margaret River Pro on 10 April 2018 and provide an unparalleled opportunity for local surfers to compete against the world’s best; the winner of the WA Trials is given a wildcard entry into the Pro.
The 33rd edition of the Margaret River Pro will be held from 11 to 22 April 2018 at Surfers Point with competition taking place on waves at Main Break, The Box and North Point depending on conditions.
– SurfingWA (Photo copyright of Ed Sloane – WSL)
