Moffat Beach surfer Reef Heazlewood is primed for the world surf league’s challenger series

Moffat Beach’s Reef Heazlewood says he took inspiration from other prominent surfers’ comeback stories during his own injury journey and feels stronger than ever to chase a world tour spot.

Just over 12 months after undergoing surgery on his shoulder and Reef Heazlewood is US-bound to continue his fight for a world tour spot in 2022.

The 21-year-old flew out over the weekend ahead of the four-stop Challenger Series which starts at Huntington Beach, California.

He’ll be among 96 men surfing it out for one of 12 men’s spots on the 2022 Championship Tour.

“It’s going to be really exciting and tough, so I’m really looking forward to going up against those guys and trying to throw my hat in the ring,” Heazlewood said.

It comes on the back of a tough 2020 for the goofy-footed surfer, enduring a lack of events due to the pandemic and then pushing through a three-month recovery from surgery as a result of dislocating his shoulder on two separate occasions and tearing his labrum muscle.

He only started back surfing late last year and returned to his first proper event at the end of January for the Usher Cup at Snapper Rocks.

While being out injured on top of Covid-19 was a tough hit, Heazlewood took it in his stride.

“It was nice to take a break and review obviously what my goals are and what I feel like my purpose is in life and it really helped me get that drive,” he said.

Determined not to let the injury hold him back on return, Heazlewood said he looked to other top tier surfers stories of injury for inspiration.

“It (injury) definitely made me look at all other athletes that have had major injuries and look at them and see they how they all come out of it stronger after their injury,” he said.

“That was my goal for the end of last year and the start of this year to be getting back in the saddle.

“I feel like I’m at that point where I have put in a lot of hard work in my fitness and my mental and competitive surfing and I feel like I’m stronger and a lot better than I did when that injury happened.”

David, Ruth and their son Reef Heazlewood last year. Picture: Patrick Woods

While there were too many to name, Heazlewood said he particularly looked up to the comeback efforts of Mick Fanning, Owen Wright and Bede Durbidge.

“Mick Fanning is a classic one – he did his hamstring and just watching him, his comeback I feel like exceeded what his level was before he did injury,” Heazlewood said.

“He’s the pinnacle of surfing and an elite athlete in my mind.

“Owen Wright is one that’s happened pretty recently with his brain injury and he came back and got third at the Olympics which is pretty amazing.

“Bede Durbidge was another one, he did his pelvis at pipeline and then he came back and was surfing really well after that.”

Heazlewood came back firing this year, finishing second on the Qualifying Series for the CS and even earning two appearances on the world tour as a replacement surfer at the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic and Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro.

The former of which he finished ninth, just shy of the quarterfinals.

Heazlewood thanked all his sponsors for their support during the past 12 months including Hydralyte.

“They’ve been supporting me for quite a few years now which has been nice and I’ve been able to use their new hot hydration drink throughout the whole comeback from injury and its helped me be able to stay at highest level I can and to recover as quickly as possible.”