SURFING
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Dreams of a career on the women's pro surfing circuit could become reality for rising star Kiara Meredith.
Competing at Maroubra in last weekend's Ocean and Earth Teenage Rampage, a highly regarded international event for juniors, Kiara finished third in the under-13 division.
The 12-year-old from Barrack Heights has contested events all over the nation in the past 12 months, winning at Jan Juc in Victoria, placing second at Coolum in Queensland and third at Cronulla.
Last month, she triumphed at an event in Sydney and earned selection for an exclusive training camp at the Surfing Australia high performance centre on the wave-rich NSW North Coast.
"Kiara dreams of becoming good enough to compete at the top level of the women's surfing arena and tour the world," her mother, Amanda, said. "She would love the opportunity to surf some of the most challenging waves around the world."
Rip Curl is obviously excited about Kiara's potential after recently signing her. She is also backed by other sponsors.
"The local surfing community has been very supportive of Kiara and her ambition to try and make it to the top level," Amanda said.
"Her local Southbridge boardriders club helps out, as well as getting a few tips from [former pro surfer] Michael Lowe and Skye Burgess.
"With the level of surfing being so high at these competitions, Kiara could never have gotten to where she is without the help from the Pines Surfing Academy and the Matt Griggs Pro Surf Academy. Kiara also does surf lifesaving and knows that you need to be aware of the ocean and what the ocean is doing. She has learned a lot from her years at Windang Surf Life Saving Club. That knowledge has been called upon already when she recently rescued two people out in the surf."
Kiara's next major event is the regional titles.