Grom rides his wave to the big time

Surfing may be his ultimate passion, but eight-year-old Salt Rock surfer Julian Carbonel has had to sacrifice his goal of setting the record for not missing a day of school until grade seven, in order to follow his surfing ambitions.

“He was distraught about having to miss school, but Julian cannot wait to tackle the waves at the Billabong SA Grom Games,” said his father Pierre.

The Grade three Umhlali Prep pupil was selected for the Ethekwini surfing team in the U9 boys division to take part in a surfing competition in PE from March 30 to April 3.

Julian started surfing when he was four years old and began competing at age six.

He has so far never placed lower than second in a competition and last year alone he took part in the Wave Wizzards, O’Neil and KZN Central surfing contests.

In the O’Neil competition Julian also made it to the finals in the U10 division.

Julian said his dad has been his surfing teacher since the beginning and he hopes to one day make the South African team.

“I want to be a pro surfer like Kelly Slater,” he said.

A well rounded young man, Julian also enjoys cricket, soccer and hockey, “But surfing is my best”, he declared.

He said he loves to surf because, “You can cruise on the water and do whatever you want on the waves.”

One of his favourite, and also most challenging moves, is a ‘floater’ (riding over and/or along the top of a breaking wave, sliding across broken foam or a pitching lip, then drops back down into the main part of the wave. So named due to the floating weightless sensation induced by the move) – apt for a boy who moves with such ease in the water.