Thank you for taking the time to read this...
As many of you know, I love the ocean, it has been a major part of my life since I was born. My love of swimming, surfing and bodyboarding led me to try bodysurfing with a hand plane and fins about 15 years ago. Then in more recent years I started competing in the UK bodysurfing champs in Newquay. Last year I won the open bodysurfing competition with fins, no hand plane. This encouraged me to enter the first leg of the European/Africa stage of the International Bodysurfing Association World Tour Qualifying Series in Anglet, France. I made the semi-finals in the open and won the Ondine Masters event in the Euro Bodysurf event. With this encouragement and a "you only live once" attitude, I went to the next event in Mehdia, Morocco. Both wonderful places, incredible waves and a fantastic group of fellow bodysurfers.
This has all come together to give me the opportunity to compete in Hawaii at the IBSA World Finals 2024. The event will take place at Point Panic, a predominately bodysurfing wave, famous for its long, fast right hander.
However, due to the uniqueness of the sport, there is no financial support to get me there and unfortunately it is a long and expensive journey, with a two week holding period to make sure the swell is ideal for the event. The final is to take place over a 2/3 day period at Point Panic, Honolulu, Oahu. Therefore, I'm reaching out to seek your amazing support to help with the costs of flights and accommodation. I have left it quite close to the event, as I have been reluctant to reach out but with a few recent conversations, I have been encouraged to go for it! It's the most incredible opportunity that a younger version of myself would not believe was even a possibility. I want to prove to myself, my children and anyone, that you can go for challenges in life and push yourself to the limits! It is not often this type of challenge comes along when you're 43! So please, if you have only a little to spare it will help me go a long way and I will endeavour to pay it forward upon my return, when I hope to set up a local Bodysurf Club - watch this space!
Thank you, once again, for reading my story. Please contact me via [email protected] if you have any questions or top tips!
photo credits - Jamie Elliott