After emerging as one of Australia’s brightest junior surfers, Holly Williams is diving into the deep end of the sport.
The Buddina talent is one of a handful of young Sunshine Coast surfers who are making the transition to the senior ranks, via the professional world Qualifying Series.
The QS is a tough circuit, with significant, large fields and relatively small amounts of prize money.
And the competition is cut-throat, with surfing stars, seasoned veterans and up-and-comers jostling for valuable rankings points in their quest to earn a berth on the world tour.
Williams, 18, is adjusting to her first serious QS campaign.
She’s in the midst of a road trip, encompassing four events in New South Wales.
“I was at Boomerang Beach last week and then Port Stephens and now we’re heading to Maroubra and then Avoca,” she said.
“It’s really cool because we get to go on a road tour for about a month, which is a good experience.”
“It’s my first year being on the QS fulltime so I’m just learning and getting some experience under my belt, without travelling with my parents.
“I’m just becoming independent, so it’s more of a learning curve.
“I obviously want to do well and make (it through) heats, but this year is a transition into the QS.”
Williams is staying and travelling with different people involved in the circuit, more recently with fellow competitor Elle Clayton-Brown.
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“She is a local, so it’s been really nice to have her around, with her local knowledge.”
Williams is taking the QS in her stride.
“I have goals to reach more rounds and even a final this year, but the reality is you’ve got to take it as comes and have fun and don’t let everything overwhelm you.”
“Competing can be straining, not just physically but mentally, so being on the QS, you learn how to mentally prepare (for heats) because it’s such a big thing in surfing.”
She hopes it’s an eventual path to the world Championship Tour.
“Qualifying for the CT is my ultimate goal and doing all these QS events is going to get me closer to achieving that goal of getting on the big stage,” she said.
Williams emerged as one to watch on the Australian surfing scene with her efforts in the junior ranks.
She featured in Pro Junior finals and was captain of the Australian team at the ISA (International Surfing Association) Junior World Championships in California in 2019.
She finished 16th amid a huge field there, despite stepping on a stingray and getting an infection.
A serious knee injury sustained in March last year proved a setback.
She suffered a torn MCL (medial collateral ligament) and meniscus and spent five months out of action.
Much of surfing’s 2020 schedule was cancelled due to the impacts of COVID-19, and elite surfing competitions only returned recently.
“It (the hiatus) was a good chance to stop and reflect on everything,” she said.
“I didn’t miss much so it was a good year to have an injury.”
She did a lot of rehab work with Kerry Keightley at the Ocean Performance Centre at Maroochydore.
“He’s helped me get back to where I need to be in time for these events,” she said.
“I’m feeling stronger than ever and my knee feels stronger than it has ever been as well.”
“It’s really good to be back in the water and competing in a rashie with girls I haven’t seen for a long time.”
Williams was 25th at the Great Lakes Pro and 17th at the Port Stephens Pro.
She has claimed three top-10 finishes in sporadic QS events in previous years.
Among other Sunshine Coasters on the circuit at the moment are Sophie McCulloch, Gia Lorentsen, Elia Smith, Sasha Baker, Dimity Stoyle, Amber Dods, Reef Heazlewood, Alister Reginato, Cooper Davies, Noah Stocca, Zane Assink, Connoy Lyons and Taj Stokes.
