Felicity Palmateer making waves in the surfing and art worlds during Australian Open of Surfing run

FELICITY Palmateer has tasted early success in the Australian Open of Surfing, fresh from whipping the covers off her first art exhibition.

PRO surfer Felicity Palmateer is vying for a spot on the world tour after a year focused on her blossoming art career.

This afternoon she takes on world number one, Stephanie Gilmore, at the Australian Open of Surfing, one of the sport’s toughest competitors.

The 22-year-old, who grew up in Margaret River, Western Australia, is hoping to back up her first art exhibition launch with success in the surf.

Palmateer is currently un-ranked but won her first heat of the year at the Australian Open of Surfing on Monday and will take on world number one and fellow Australian Stephanie Gilmore in round two.

If she is one of the top two in the next heat, Palamateer would get into the head-to-head rounds with a chance to pave the way to the professional world tour.

She relocated to Tamarama late last year to focus on re-earning a spot in the tour, after getting a taste of the top when she was a mid-season add-on due to injury in 2013.

While she wasn’t able to land back on the tour last year, she is hopeful of getting there this year.

Palmateer made waves in 2013 beating Gilmore at the Margaret River Pro, and she thinks she could do it again.

“Two years ago I beat her, I have done it before I am confident I can do it again (today),” Palmateer said.

“I don’t have anything to lose. If I can get the right waves and I surf the best I can, hopefully I get a bit of luck, I can win.”

Palmateer, who has 88,000 Instagram followers, admitted she was more focused on her art last year than surfing, but is now committed to dedicating the same attention to gaining a place on the World Surf League world tour.

She launched her debut art exhibition in Paddington last weekend.

Aptly titled Bombora, translated from indigenous Australian culture as waves that form over offshore reef, the exhibition unveiled a unique tribal-like collection of watercolour canvas prints, etched surf boards and individually handcrafted ceramics.

“My two greatest passions have always been surfing and art. And while I’ve been surfing competitively for a number of years, this exhibition gives me an opportunity to step away from the water and show the world my creative passion,” she said.

PALMATEER MOVES TO TAMARAMA TO FOCUS ON SURFING

The advocate for environmental issues and conservation, is also auctioning a piece of artwork and donating the proceeds to the Sea Shepherd organisation.

The exhibition ran for three days from Thursday to Saturday at William St Gallery.

The best five results of the year are taken when calculating the top 32 in the world who make the WSL.

“Definitely to qualify for the world tour would be amazing. This is the first contest for me this could be a good start,” Palmateer said.

“I’ll just take it, day-by-day and heat-by-heat and see what happens.”

Palmateer will take the water between 2pm and 5pm today.