PROFILE
The Gold Coast is spoilt for choice for great surfing spots, including the legendary breakers that can be found at Snapper Rocks. It’s also a part of the world that produces some truly exceptional surfers. To the south of Coolangatta, where Mick Fanning is from, you’ve got Kingscliff, where Steph Gilmore grew up, who many see as the future of women’s surfing. Steph Gilmore has only just turned 18 but she is impressively mature : she didn’t just jack everything in to go after a career as a pro, she has tried to maintain a balance in her life between her surfing, her family and her schoolwork. School brings her an opening and space to breathe, whereas her huge talent could easily have sucked her into a whirlwind of competition. However, when she was invited to take part in the WCT trials on her home spot at Snappers Rock in March 2005, she had to bunk a few lessons. She won the trials, winning her first ticket to the WCT. Steph knocked out the best surfers in the world one after the other (including the reigning world champion Sofia Mulanovitch) and took the title in front of an absolutely hysterical crowd of fans. This victory gained her the honor of being the youngest ever winner of a WCT event. After her ISA Junior World Championship titles in 2004 and 2005, Steph has earned her place on the WCT tour after a 2006 steeped with trophies. Now she’s finished school, she can now concentrate on her main objective : becoming the youngest WCT World Champion.