Classic to qualify for the WSL. Photo Gary McEvoy
Ballina-based surfer Roisin Carolan has qualified for the World Surf League longboard tour that includes contests in El Salvador, California and Australia’s Bells beach.
Roisin, a member of the Byron Bay Malibu Club, took enough qualifying points at a contest at Manly last weekend to get onto the world tour as a wildcard.
The Manly contest was won by Tully White (Sydney), who will also represent Australia on the WST.
Roisin has been longboarding since she was 11, and really started to go for a WST spot when she was 18.
‘But I kind of got over it, there were four or five years of not trying,’ she said.
‘I did a chef apprenticeship, because there isn’t much money in longboarding.
‘I had a go this year and it all went well’.
At this stage three legs of the tour have been confirmed starting off at Bells Beach, Australia, in August before heading to the USA and El Salvador.
‘I’m really excited to surf Bells, I’ve never been before. There’ll just be two or three surfers in each heat’.
Heading to California is also a pleasure as she has competed there before and plans to spend time catching up with friends.
The 28-year-old is not too fixated on results.
‘I’m just so happy to qualify, everything from here is a bonus. I’m happy to learn from the experience. I’m not too concerned with wins,’ she said.
