Behind

the WORDSCurtain BY BRAD BRICKNELL

Australia’s Quest for Olympic Gold.

In the Olympic qualifying year, we pull back the curtain on ’s National High Performance Program to find out how the Australian Olympic squad are preparing as they head towards Tokyo, 2020.

fter decades of lobbying of former championship tour Aby International Surfing surfer, to the role Association (ISA) President, of Surfing Australia’s Elite Program Fernando Aguerre, on the Manager. The appointment came 3rd of August 2016, the while Bede was still competing International Olympic full-time in August 2017, but the Committee (IOC) confirmed announcement became a precursor that surfing would be to his retirement from competition included in the 2020 Summer at the end of that year. Games. As the core support team and The sport’s biggest drawcard high-performance program was for organisers of the games was already in place, the new position that it brought a more youthful galvanised the push towards 2020 and vibrant sport to the Olympic and beyond. program. And yes, the event will To find out a little more, we take place in the ocean in Chiba, sat down with some of the key Japan. members of Surfing Australia’s Surfing Australia was the first National High Performance national surfing organisation Program to find out what they do, to take major strides towards and more importantly what their participation in Tokyo. Early moves The rise of Ryan Callinan roles are in preparing our surfers over the last few years could indicating the seriousness of their for their Olympic debut, across the culminate in Olympic gold! quest included the appointment PHOTO: BARRIPP areas of surfing, mind and body.

SURFING LIFE 34 SURFING LIFE 35 THE PROGRAM High Performance System operates, every sport at a national level comes So what does Surfing Australia and with clearly identifiable measures of its National High Performance Program success by which it will be judged. I look like? Kim Crane, the National High sit really comfortably with this, as it Performance Director explains: drives team commitment when you’re accountable for results. Surfing Australia’s National High Personally, I’ve been operating in Performance Program exists to support sensitive, high pressure environments our Australian athletes to become the most of my life, and I’d choose this world’s best surfers and people. High every day of the week, as I know I’m Performance is a Department within the best version of myself when there’s Surfing Australia. It was identified that a clear target. That being said, with all to ensure sustainable success on the the complexities and the highs and lows world stage, Surfing Australia needed to that high performance brings, if you ‘reboot’ the program in order to set it don’t find true meaning and enjoyment up for its next stage of growth. from the journey along the way, there’d Regardless of the announcement of be some days you’d question why you the sports inclusion into the Olympics, do it! The rewards outweigh the tough which simply acted as a strong catalyst days… I wouldn’t have it any other way. for change, the rich pool of surfing talent in this country needed and What will the on-ground support deserved more. The high capability team look like for the Olympics? of people in our High Performance The Australian Olympic Committee Program team means we can offer both will appoint surfing’s official roles for standard and/or individually tailored the on-ground support team and we program support that can be mobilised are working through that process now. nationally and globally, adding value to As compared to swimming, cycling, athlete campaigns and progression. or the team sports we’ll be a relatively I’m amazed by the passion and small group. Working with the athletes expertise in our team — they are the selected to then identify if there are any world’s best. additional support roles or expertise to consider for the on-ground support What is the program looking to team will be important to ensure they achieve heading towards an Olympic are best prepared to perform. year? To build trust with our elite athletes Who has been involved in the early we’ve been mindful of finding ways stage preparation of the Australian to add value to their individual WSL squad? campaigns, if and when they require. We are blessed with such a rich Knowing how demanding their WSL history of success in surfing, in schedules are we work creatively and Australia. We immediately invited Mick collaboratively with the individual Fanning, MR, Layne Beachley and Kate athlete, coach or performance team, Wilcomes to be part of the journey. if it is deemed that the National High They’ve been so generous with their Performance program service and personal insights that they’ve shared expertise can assist. with the athletes, so when everyone’s In context of the group as a whole, together, this has added some powerful there’s been emphasis on building a reflections and learnings. ‘Team Australia’ culture of performance Within our Australian surfing and support — an outcome of simply community, we’ve got an enormous creating opportunities for everyone amount of experience to draw from and to be together. We’ve facilitated we’ve appreciated it when others want camps based on daily performance to lean in and contribute. environment opportunities, whereby With other successful Olympic just having the athletes in the same athletes invited to share their impactful space generates fun, learning, planning stories at different camps, every athlete, and meaningful communication. coach and staff member involved, has Stronger relationships will naturally had individual takeaways. Whilst camps translate then into the competitive have been just one forum over the last WSL or ISA World Surfing Games 18 months, we’ll also take a highly Sally Fitz has always been the environment, and we can already see a competitive Team Australia to Japan, in quintessential Aussie team real uplift. supporter — the Olympic September this year, for the ISA World format will suit her perfectly. Surfing Games. The ISAs are an Olympic Is there pressure to deliver gold for PHOTO: BARRIPP qualification event in 2019, and are Australia? another opportunity for athletes to test The way in which our Australian themselves and learn.

SURFING LIFE 36 SURFING LIFE 37 ALEX CREWS SHAPES OR DIE.

An Olympic medal would look great next to those seven world title trophies! PHOTO: BARRIPP

THE SURFING and allowing our team at Surfing leading into the Games. He has adaptable as possible and Australia to take care of the rest a long history working with the supporting their personal growth Bede Durbidge is the Elite of it. Australian Institute of Sport and both in and out of the water. Their Program Manager for the Surfing joined Surfing Australia in 2018. journeys are very individualised Australia High Performance Jason already has a strong rapport and are shaped by surfers’ Program, and the Olympic Head What’s the plan leading with the championship tour surfers curiosity, and the drive to develop Coach. into 2020? on the Surfing Australia roster, but themselves. Bede’s best ranking on tour was It’s still the qualification time of what will change heading towards Some of the key areas of support #2 in 2008, and he retired from year, so adding value where I can 2020? that Surfing Australia’s High the WSL Championship Tour in with the athletes and their coaches One of the strengths of our crew Performance Program offers to 2017, after 13 years of travelling CT campaigns. There’s some is that they are all experienced surfers and coaches include support the globe. His experience, including preparation to do for Japan’s ISA at travelling internationally in performance psychology, mental three career victories and three World Surfing Games in September, and adapting to the specific health, personal development, dual consecutive years in the top five whilst trying to ensure we do what environments to get the best out career and adjustment. Surfers (2007–2009), will ensure his charges we can to support the remaining of themselves. There are some and coaches will differ on what get the relevant input they need to events. differences that exist for an support is desired, based on need not only prepare for the games, but Once the team is chosen, it’ll Olympics as a result of being an and timing. to gun for gold in 2020. be a lot more emphasis on the international multisport event. Our philosophy is to empower individual planning — how they In our preparation, we aim to each individual member to grow But how is it different want to approach preparation for anticipate these new experiences not only as a surfer, but also as a to the lead-up for a the Olympic Games and working and build on the strengths that person, and that’s why respecting collectively with them to give them already exist. each member’s readiness for championship tour event? the best opportunity to go to Japan support is important. It’s different to a WCT in a lot with an edge. What does a sports Going into 2020, we’ll make of ways, but still very similar to a sure we understand each member’s stop on the tour once the athletes THE MIND psychologist add to the unique performance needs and are in the water and competing. Jason Patchell is the Lead world’s best surfers? journey, and use that intel to I’m very mindful of keeping things Psychologist (Performance & SURFBOARDS DESIGNED & SHAPED BY From a psychological prioritise what’s important and simple for the athletes so they Wellbeing) for Surfing Australia perspective, it’s a lot about what’s not. This is always easier ALEX CREWS. GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA. can just focus on having their best and is tasked with preparing supporting surfers to be as said than done! performance come Games time, the mind of our Olympic surfers WWW.ACSOD.COM.AU

SURFING LIFE 38 Jerome Forrest Jerome

Behind the curtain at Surfing Australia’s High Performance Centre. PHOTO: SURFING AUSTRALIA

THE BODY for physical preparation for the occur during the specified training What will you focus more athlete compared to a WSL event. periods and time frames in order to Deb Savage is the lead physical The points of difference being the achieve desired outcomes. on, as the event gets preparation provider with additional logistics of being on an This will be across medical, Surfing Australia’s National High closer in 2020? Australian team with multisports nutritional, physiological, physical Performance Program. With a It will be vital for the Olympic made up of both individual and capacities such as mobility, power 16-year career history with the athletes to comprehend not only team events, lengthy opening and strength, skill and technical Australian Institute of Sport the scope of what an Olympic and closing ceremonies, Olympic advancements, along with total and senior experience working Games brings, but also the compliance components, sport- load monitoring to name a few. with a range of Olympic, World energetic requirements required, specific scheduling and event Championship, Commonwealth due to the extra demands they have requirements, etc. Games athletes including What are the key areas to juggle. With this in mind, the physical swimming, triathlon (Able and you will work on in 2019? The ability for the athlete to demands on the body that are have an individualised performance Para), athletics, BMX, kayak, With the Olympic team still required to adhere to this must be plan, including recovery modalities, her primary responsibilities are to be determined, 2019 acts as taken into consideration during and total event strategy in providing performance support in a period to identify individual planning and different strategies conjunction with silky transitions the area of physical preparation physical performance plans and will ultimately enhance the will all be fundamentals provided to individual athletes. Along with areas of improvements, and best athlete’s performance rather than to guide the athletes who will Surfing Australia and its rostered periods to achieve gains. deplete them. be competing at their very first surfers, Deb also implements and It is a year to identify The performance support team Olympic Games. It is so rewarding drives a collaborative approach opportunities, to observe, collect that surrounds each Olympic and exciting to be on this journey to planning, preparation and data, network and collaborate with athlete will provide expert advice with all our athletes. performance that optimises coaches, athletes and professionals based on evidence of individual No matter what side of the expertise to close ‘gaps’ to in their field on modes and athlete assessments, screenings Olympic fence you sit on, you can’t performance. methods for application not just and observations. The individual knock the effort and professional for after the team is announced, performance preparation approach that Surfing Australia is but also to add value to their World So what challenges do will be detailed to provide a taking on the road to 2020. Championship Tour campaigns. the looming Olympics full encompassing physical There’s still a long way to go, bring? performance enhancement process but one thing is for sure — if we where outcomes will be highlighted bring home Olympic gold, no one The Olympic Games brings some for optimal performance shifts to will be complaining! different experiences and demands For more surfing food made in Australia visit www.surfmeal.com.au

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Surfing Life Ad Jerome.indd 1 16.07.19 07:24 Flying the Australian flag will take on a whole new meaning come Japan in 2020. PHOTOS: BARRIPP Marcoola Sunshine coast winter getaway

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