Isi Campbell is doing what most teenagers only dream of… she’s travelling the world to go surfing.
Isi’s love of surfing started as a toddler – hitching a ride on her Dad’s board at her local beach in southern WA.
“Dad’s always surfed and he’s actually pretty good but if you ask who’s better I’d probably win,” Isi says laughing.
And Isi’s wins have been many including being named as last year’s WA Junior Surfer of the Year and collecting the 2022 Under-18 Girls State Championship Title. She has also achieved a silver medal as part of Team Australia at the International Surfing Association’s World Junior Surfing Championships in El Salvador.
“I definitely spend a lot of time away from home. Mum or Dad come with me, and often it’s both of them, but I still miss being home and seeing my friends.”
Making all this travel possible is a mix of competition funding, sponsorship and the good old ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’.
“There’s not much prize money for juniors but sometimes the organisers pay for a few things. Billabong has been my sponsor since I was 10 and I have several more sponsors now so that all helps.”
As a family the Campbell’s are very accustomed to juggling the demands of work and life while supporting their children’s aspirations as Isi’s older sister, Emi, was also a high achieving surfer as a teenager. Isi’s Mum, works as a school library officer and her Dad, is Deputy Principal at a local primary school so when they’re able, they travel as a family.
Funny thing is that Isi’s parents see inside more classrooms than their daughter as Isi does her schooling via SIDE (School of Isolated and Distance Education).
“I try to have a routine as I have WebEx lessons at set times on certain days. I totally prefer learning remotely than sitting in a classroom.”
But it’s not always all fun in the surf as like any surfer who pushes themselves to the limits, Isi has had her share of injuries. She’s had various shoulder injuries and split her eyebrow open when her board flipped up and smacked her in the face. She’s also had what could have been a catastrophic injury when her surfboard fin cut into the side of her neck.
“Had it been deeper it would’ve got my carotid artery.”
And when it comes to striving for a place on the podium, Isi is pretty level headed. “It’s a good feeling when you win and when you don’t, it’s pretty hard. I suppose that’s the same with a lot of things. When I don’t perform as I would’ve liked – I cry. Crying helps but you know, it’s not the end of the world. I just have to get over it and get back on the board.”
