Keely Andrew inspired by surf champions Layne Beachley, Stephanie Gilmore ahead of rookie year on WSL

AUSTRALIAN surfing’s assembly line has produced yet another potential champion of the future with Keely Andrew to earn rookie rights on the World Surf League.

AUSTRALIAN surfing’s assembly line has cranked up and spat out yet another potential champion of the future with a former state cricketer and football player the latest Aussie to earn rookie rights on the World Surf League.

And 21-year-old surfer Keely Andrew, who has deferred a university degree in sport psychology to pursue a dream, is determined to make a mark in her first year on the women’s world tour.

“There’s pride on the line,’’ Andrew said in reference to long list of Australian women who have been making their mark on world surfing for the past 25 odd years.

“What they have all done is just inspiring. Just joining that list of Australians on the world tour is awesome.

“I also want to show people that I deserve to be here.”

Australia has dominated the world title race since 1989 with world champions including Wendy Botha, Pam Burridge, seven-time champion Layne Beachley and six-time titleholder Stephanie Gilmore.

Keely Andrew the latest Aussie woman to join the World Surf League.

The likes of Sally Fitzgibbons, Tyler Wright and Nikki van Dijk all have the talent to be world champions in the future with Gilmore, on the comeback from a season of injury in 2015, more than capable of matching, if not exceeding Beachley’s world title record.

Another driving factor for Andrew will be her need to make enough from prizemoney to fund her first year travels and accommodation on the world stage.

Six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore.

Surfing legend Layne Beachley

The Sunshine Coast surfer has put prizemoney aside from qualifying events to give herself a start-up but without a major sponsor is worried she will struggle without results.

“It will push me to the next level to get to the next event,’’ she said.

“I’ve managed to put some aside but I want to make a profit if I can.’’

Keely Andrew surfing at Snapper Rocks.

A wildcard or injury replacement at six previous World Surf league events, Andrew’s best result is a quarter-final appearance in Brazil in 2015, giving her confidence she can crack a semi-final or better in her rookie year.

“That would be a dream,’’ she said.

“The goal is to make the top 10 and requalify and turn a few heads while doing it.’’

Australian surfers will dominate the 2016 World Surf league start list with six qualifying for the world tour along with five from Hawaii, three from mainland US and one each from South Africa, Barbados, and France.

The Australians are Sally Fitzgibbons, Tyler Wright, Nikki Van Dijk, Keely Andrew, Laura Enever and seven-time Stephanie Gilmore, awarded a wildcard after a 2015 season of injury discontent.