Ethan rides wave of success

NORTH Stradbroke Islander Ethan Ewing has made a big splash on the surfing scene after winning the under 14 boys division 2012 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open at Lennox Heads recently.

The 13-year-old Billabong-sponsored surfer said this was his biggest achievement in his surfing career and won with a score of 9.9.

"It was the finals and there was only three minutes to go. Everyone had started heading back in but I was out there waiting to catch a wave," he said.

Ethan said the weather conditions were treacherous with on-shore winds and a matching grey sky, but he managed to catch the last wave of the day.

"I just wanted to do really well and stayed out. There was a bit of pressure," he said.

Ethan said he hit the wave hard and busted out his best moves, which rewarded him with the highest score of the competition.

"It was pretty good, probably the best thing I've achieved in surfing just yet," he said.

"I ended up with two trophies, one for the highest wave score and one for winning the under 14 boys.

"I got carried up the beach after winning. That was pretty cool."

Ethan said he had previously entered the Lennox Heads surfing competition, but narrowly missed out on placing.

"It felt heaps better to win it. But I'll just keep up practising and entering into more surfing comps," he said.

Ethan said he tried to surf as often as possible at Point Lookout, after attending school at Cleveland High, in the hope he would be able to surf on a world tour.

"That would be pretty cool. But I've been surfing pretty much my whole life," he said.

Ethan's father Bill said his son was a "brilliant little surfer" and was following in his 24-year-old brother Curtis' footsteps, who is trying his hand on the world circuit.

"When we were at the competition a few people were saying 'who's this kid who comes from Point Lookout?'. He made a good impression," he said.

"He thinks he's got surfing in his blood."