Straddie’s Ethan Ewing carves into World No2 spot despite fractured back

Straddie talent Ethan Ewing is still riding the crest of the wave despite finishing runner-up in the World Surf League finals this week, a month after breaking his back.

Straddie’s Ethan Ewing after his Teahupoo wipeout. Picture: Beach Grit

Straddie surfing talent Ethan Ewing is still riding the crest of the wave despite finishing runner-up in the World Surf League finals this week, a month after breaking his back.

Ewing came in second behind Brazilian Filipe Toledo, who scored nine and 8.97-points in the heats at California’s Lower Trestles.

The top five men surfers competed in the one-day shootout at Lower Trestles to decide the world champion.

Filipe Toledo of Brazil enters the water for the final heat against Straddie’s Ethan Ewing in the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles on September 09. Picture: Getty Images

The Straddie local showed no visible pain from the two fractures to vertebrae cracked in a wipe-out during the Tahiti Pro at Teahupo’o early last month.

His father, Bill Ewing, was able to bring him out of the water on a jet ski after the incident and take him to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fractured L3 and L4 vertebrae.

His withdrawal from the Tahiti Pro meant he slipped to third in the world ranking behind Toledo and American Griffin Colapinto.

A six-year-old Ethan Ewing with his late mum Helen, who died of breast cancer.

Coming in second to Toledo at Trestles was disappointing for the gutsy 25 year old, who was competing for another world title after winning the prestigious Men’s World Surf League trophy at Bells Beach in April, 40 years after his late mum Helen Lambert won the prestigious comp.

After that win, Ewing rose to second in the Championship Tour standings but sadly dropped back to third after the Tahiti annihilation.

Straddie’s Ethan Ewing carves it up in the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles on September 9 in San Clemente, California. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Speaking after the California event on Monday, Ewing said he had had “a lot of physio”.

“A lot of good people around me keeping me positive,” he said.

“Their support’s been huge; a lot of people were writing me off and saying I’d be done this year … I’ve been the underdog my whole career, so keep it going.”

Despite the injuries, the popular Queenslander had travelled from Straddie to Los Angeles last week and was spotted training with other Aussies including surf great Mick Fanning.

Ewing, who will be Australia’s highest-ranked male surfer by the end of the year.

Two second-place wins this year, in the Rio Pro in Brazil and at Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa, allowed him to qualify for the Australian Olympic team which will compete at next year’s Paris Olympics Games which run from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

The Olympic surfing events will be held at Teahupo’o, French Polynesia.

Originally published as Straddie’s Ethan Ewing carves into World No2 spot despite fractured back