Australia’s surfing champion Molly Picklum inspire next gen of groms
Newly crowned WSL World Champion surfer Molly Picklum has come home to Australia with one very heavy trophy, a big smile and these nuggets of wisdom for the next generation of grommets
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Fresh off her World Surf League win, Molly Picklum has touched down back home in Australia, and she’s already paying it forward to the next wave of surfing talent.
The 22-year-old NSW Central Coast local, now officially the Women’s World Surfing Champion, clinched the crown in a thrilling best-of-three final against American star Caroline Marks at Fiji’s famed Cloudbreak earlier this year.
“Yeah, it would have been nice to just smash Caroline first heat and be done with it, but I kind of made for a good story there, didn’t I?” Picklum laughed.
“The first heat, I just didn’t open up how I wanted to … and then the next one, it was no real reset. It was just like, okay, just go and still do what we’d set out to try and do. But yeah … the same sort of waves came, and I kind of got the same scores.”
Picklum’s composure under pressure delivered one of the most gripping finals in recent memory, capping off a dominant season that saw her rise to the top seed* ahead of the decider.
BACK HOME WITH THE GROMS*
Now back on home soil, the Central Coast champion said she’s still soaking it all in, and proud to bring the trophy back to where it all began.
“I’ve literally said all day just how strong our surf culture is, and to be a world champion is one thing for myself, but to bring it home to that culture means everything to me,” Picklum told The Daily Telegraph.
“I’m a proud Aussie and yeah, I just feel like I’m such a coasty kid, and to bring it back home and celebrate that with all of the rest of my community and just our nation, it’s just so, so special.”
Picklum’s homecoming coincides with the Rip Curl National GromSearch Final, which saw 72 of Australia’s top junior surfers compete at URBNSURF Sydney on Monday. The event is one close to her heart: she’s a proud GromSearch alumna* herself.
“Yeah, coming here, it’s like, (really) nostalgic*, because I did all these (competitions) growing up and when I was a kid, that’s all I focused on,” she said.
“Try and make the international final and just try and win the grand searches. That was like it for us … these events are super important, and honestly, it’s crazy. I don’t think we realise how lucky we are.”
Since 1999, the GromSearch has launched the careers of more than 40,000 surfers aged 16 and under, including global names like Gabriel Medina*, Stephanie Gilmore*, and now Picklum herself.
For young competitors like Ily Fraser, Hayden Mee, Levi Lowe and Estella Carbonelli, meeting their new hero was the highlight.
“She’s such a legend, so it’s really nice to be able to meet her,” 12-year-old Ily said.
“100 per cent. Yeah. I’d love to be that good,” added Hayden, aged 11.
When asked what advice Picklum had given her, Estella said: “Just to keep at it and keep enjoying my surfing.”
Reflecting on her own journey, Picklum said the Central Coast’s waves and community had shaped both her surfing and her character.
“Oh, it’s pretty crazy,” she said. “It takes (for) you to kind of (come) full circle … (and) get to the top, to then really realise and appreciate where you come from and the people and the waves that we get there. It’s truly special … I honestly think the whole surfer I am, and kind of the person I am too, is all from Central Coast surfing.”
As for what’s next, the freshly crowned world champ is taking a moment to breathe before preparing to defend her title.
“I’m definitely looking forward to defending it, but ultimately, I haven’t really set my eyes there yet,” Picklum said.
“I’m just enjoying Aussie summer, and I’m just going to be cruising for a little bit … when the season comes around, I know I’m going to be pretty pumped and pretty excited to work on my surfing and competing.”
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GLOSSARY
- top seed: player or team given the highest ranking in a tournament or championship
- grom and grommet: an affectionate term experienced surfers use to describe junior surfers
- alumna: a female graduate of a particular institution, college, university or in this case competition
- nostalgic: feeling happy and also slightly sad when you think about things that happened in the past
- Gabriel Medina: the Brazilian surfing star, born in 1993, has won multiple Men’s WSL World Championships titles
- Stephanie Gilmore: the Australian eight-time WSL World Champion is currently the most successful women’s champion in history
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QUICK QUIZ
- Which section of the NSW coast does Picklum call home?
- Who did Picklum defeat at the final to claim the Women’s World Surfing Champion title and in how many heats?
- Which famous break in which island nation was the scene of her championship success?
- How many of Australia’s top junior surfers competed at GromSearch at URBN Surf Sydney?
- GromSearch has been a career starter for up and coming surfers since what year?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Surf coast culture
Molly Picklum refers to the strong surf culture in Australia and how that helped shape her as a world champion surfer and as a person.
What do you think she means by this “surf culture”? List some examples of what it may look like and how it helped shape her:
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How is she bringing her success back home to the nation?
Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
What advice do you think 22-year-old Molly Picklum would give young, up and coming surfers to help them achieve their dreams?
Time: allow 5 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
My sporting hero
Write a letter to one of your favourite Aussie athletes. Explain to them how proud you are of them, why they are a sporting hero to you, and that you have noticed them.
Your letter can be anonymous or you can personally sign it off.
Remember when writing a letter:
Start with a greeting: Dear Sir,
Then on a new line, write the body of the letter.
Finish with a closing: Kind regards,
And finally, sign the letter.
Try to include detail and emotion in the letter to connect with your target audience: your sporting hero.