Surfing: High performance training 'a big step forward for New Zealand', says Ella Williams

By Christopher Reive

NZ Herald·

21 Apr, 2018 04:39 AM4 mins to read

Ella Williams is one of a number of Kiwis competing on the World Surf League qualifying series. Photo / WSL

The introduction of high performance training could close the gap between Kiwi surfers and the rest of the world.

Due to a lack of funding for the sport, the high level of strength and conditioning, psychological and sport-specific training needed to perform consistently at the top level hasn't been available to developing athletes.

However, with the sport being added to the Olympics, Surfing New Zealand has acted, holding the first of three self-funded camps for Kiwi athletes this month.

Ella Williams took part in the first high performance camp held by Surfing New Zealand. Photo: Cory Scott / NZ Surfing Magazine

While it's come 17 years after Maz Quinn became the first Kiwi to reach the World Surf League Championship Tour (CT), 2013 junior world champion Ella Williams said it was a huge step forward for the sport.

"Places like Australia and that are a little more advanced but at least it's happening now. This is the start of something totally new, and I'm glad it's happening now rather than still not happening at all."

Since Quinn, Ricardo Christie (2015), Sarah Mason (2012) and Paige Hareb (2009-14, 2018-) have qualified as full-time CT athletes but no local high performance training has existed.

Williams, who has made a few wildcard appearances on the CT, is one of several Kiwis competing on the World Surf League qualifying series with the hope of cracking the CT. However, the Olympics are now another goal.

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Amazing working on three different aspects of surfing over the weekend!! Surf training with @mattyscorringe , physical training with @farley_performance_training and psychological training with @jhangavala . I personally took away so much and am going to put all of it to practice ASAP. Thanks again guys! 🙏💯🔥 @nzolympics @surfingnz @oakleyaus_nz @oakleysurfing @reef_anz @reef

A post shared by BILLY STAIRMAND (@billystairmand) on Apr 17, 2018 at 6:41pm PDT

"It's come at the right time, we definitely need it now more than ever. I think it'll be great for us to make the most of it," the 22-year-old said of the training.

"Kiwis in general have so much raw talent and if you can add what these people on the world stage have compared to us, we could just do so much damage."

Williams was one of more than 30 Kiwi surfers to attend the first camp, alongside fellow QS athletes Billy Stairmand and Christie.

Christie, who competed on the world tour in 2015, said the additional impact high performance training would have, particularly on younger athletes, will show on the world stage.

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Was epic to be a part of the first @surfingnz High Performance camp that took place last week. It is such a great step forward for the future of NZ surfing competing on the @wsl , in the @isasurfing World Games and of course the 2020 Olympics. Really grateful for everyone’s hard work which made it happen. Thanks to the teachers for your knowledge!!! Was great to catch up with everyone. There’s a piece on the channel 3 news tonight so tune in if you wanna see more and if you want to get involved somehow, get in contact with @surfingnz 🇳🇿💪🏿 #newzealand #aotearoa All photos by @coryscottimagery @nzsurfingmag

A post shared by RICARDO CHRISTIE (@ricardochristie) on Apr 18, 2018 at 11:23pm PDT

"It's not something I was introduced to at a young age. Having all those things in place for all the young kids that were there, getting introduced to that kind of thing at like 13, 14 years old is really amazing and important for them," Christie said.

"It's taken me my whole career to kind of learn about all that stuff on my own from watching what other countries are doing. If we've got a community in New Zealand using all that info and feeding it to young kids, it's going to work out, for sure."

The second and third camps will run in June and August, ahead of the ISA World Surfing Games in September. While the camps were currently self-funded by the athletes, Surfing New Zealand's Ben Kennings said they were hoping to secure funding in future.

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The only limits are the ones in our minds ⚡️💥 || @coryscottimagery @nzsurfingmag || #reachhigher #dreambig #anythingispossible

A post shared by Ella Williams (@ellaoliviawilliams) on Apr 18, 2018 at 12:48am PDT