Newcastle Pro: Philippa Anderson gets wildcard for world tour surf event
For nearly a decade Philippa Anderson has dedicated herself to the cause of surfing on the world surf tour. Then a phone call came out of the blue offering her a once in a million opportunity.
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If perseverance won titles, Philippa Anderson would have a cupboard full of silverware.
The 29-year-old has been toiling for a decade to make the world surfing tour.
She’s come close on a four occasions, heartbreakingly close in a few instances, but never quite made the cut.
But the Newcastle surfer said she has never seriously contemplated shelving her dream of competing alongside the best women in the world.
Now, Anderson will get her chance to do just that as a wildcard in the new World Surf event at Merewether in April.
“It’s super incredible to just have the worlds best coming here to Merewether. When the wave is on it will be pretty special,’’ Anderson said.
“To get the wildcard is pretty special. There are a few girls around he could have got the opportunity but if I really think about it, I feel I am surfing well enough to be with the big girls.
“Hopefully I can showcase that I deserve to be at this level.’’
Anderson said she knew from an early age she wanted to be a world tour surfer. But even she didn’t expect it to take quite so long.
“Everyone peaks at their own time. It doesn’t matter how you get in or how long it takes, it’s my dream to be on the world tour,” she said.
Anderson said a number of close calls with qualification had knocked her confidence at various stages but she had always bounced back.
“The last four or five years when I almost made it I struggled with ‘am I good enough’. But deep down I knew I deserved to be there.” Anderson said.
“A new sponsor would turn up and I think, ‘this is meant to happen’.
“To be so close I thought maybe it’s time to finish this then something would come up, someone give me some money or whatever and it would feel the fire.
“I’m a pretty competitive human.”
Anderson away from Surfing has set up and runs their own surf school.
And while she will be competing in front of her hometown and with close family and friends watching on, Anderson is confident she can put on a show at Merewether.
“I can’t wait. It’s very exciting.’’
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