Teenage surfing sensation Ocea Curtis is reaching new heights as she prepares to represent Australia at the upcoming ISA World Junior Surf Championships in El Salvador.
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With her dynamic style and unwavering dedication, the 15-year-old has quickly emerged as one of North Coasts brightest talents, captivating the local surf scene and earning her a spot among the world's elite surfers.
Ocea's journey to the world stage began on the golden beaches of Lennox Head.
Since then, she has spent countless hours developing her craft, pushing boundaries, and chasing the thrill of riding the perfect waves.
Ocea joins another three competitors representing Australia in the under 18 category, along with over 30 countries competing in El Salvador.
When speaking about the event Ocea said: "The experience of travelling overseas with the Australian team and meeting new people is what I'm looking forward to the most."
When speaking about how she will compete Ocea stated: "I am just looking to surf my best really, El Salvador's surf is very similar to the point of Lennox".
Her dedication paid off when she received the news of her qualification for the ISA World Surf Championships.
The excitement was obvious as Ocea and her coach, James Wood, finalised their preparations for the international competition.
"It's amazing, I couldn't be prouder of Ocea," Wood said.
"She has really put in the hard work, she has gotten a few results and everything has come together for her from that effort she put in."
As Ocea readies herself for the challenges ahead, she remains focused on her training regimen, which includes regular personal and group sessions, along with travelling regularly for tournaments and events.
"I've travelled all around Australia, basically the whole last year so I can get the results and get that wildcard," she said
Ocea is a member of the PURSU32+ program.
"I have learnt a lot of skills out of it regarding preparing both physically and mentally to perform my best, it has given me a lot of confidence in these big tournament environments."
The ISA World Surf Championships in El Salvador promise to be a thrilling showcase of talent from around the globe, and Ocea is eager to test her skills against the world's best.
"This is the biggest competition I will go to this year," she said.
"But I'm the youngest in my age group at the event, I am just ready to give it my all."
Back home at Lennox Head, the community rallies behind their local hero, with members of the public throwing their full support behind Ocea and her journey.
With her eyes set on the horizon and the World Junior surf championships looming closer, Ocea stands poised to make waves not only in El Salvador but in the heart of the surfing community worldwide.
Her infectious passion and unwavering determination serve as an inspiration to aspiring surfers everywhere, proving that with grit and dedication, dreams can indeed become reality.
Ocea is part of the Lennox-Ballina Boardriders and surfs with the All Girls club on weekends.
As the countdown to the ISA World Surf Championships begins, NCAS eagerly awaits the next chapter in her remarkable surfing journey.
This article was supplied by the North Coast Academy of Sport
