When he needs it, rising star Hughie Vaughan asks his late mum for the perfect wave
Whenever Hughie Vaughan, the next big thing in Australian surfing, needs it, he asks his late mum to send that perfect wave.
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Hughie Vaughan, the next big thing in Australian surfing, has the number 5778 tattooed across his ribs.
It’s a painful and permanent reminder of an event that has shaped the life of the 18-year-old rising star.
“Everything happens for a reason, but tragedy is just one of the worst things that you can cope with,’’ Vaughan said.
“At the start, I didn’t want it to be true.’’
The tattoo reflects the exact number of days the Central Coast surfer shared on earth with his mother Jennifer before she lost her battle with cancer two years ago.
Jennifer is with the youngest Vaughan every time he surfs.
Vaughan won his first contest at Cronulla in 2012, at the tender age of five.
By 2014 he was posting pictures on Instagram showcasing his skills in big waves, captioning one: “Hi @kellyslater I’m hughie 7 years old do you like my wave.”
Signed by major surf label Quiksilver at the age of 12 and voted last year by surfing experts as the world’s best junior, Vaughan is on course to rival Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Tom Carroll as one of Australia’s greatest surfers.
And, if he’s successful, he’ll do it by asking his mum to send that perfect wave.
“Because I was the youngest of my family, my older brothers coped with it a little better than me … I’ve just got to do everything for her now,’’ Vaughan said.
“I always ask Mum for a good wave. Whenever I need one, or whenever I need one to win a competition, I always talk to her.
“It has happened before.
“I’ve talked to her and she’s given me a wave.
“It’s incredibly special.’’
A former Australian junior champion, Vaughan will compete on the world junior championships tour next year with a lofty aim of becoming the best surfer in the world within the next five years.
“I want to be the greatest surfer,’’ Vaughan said.
“I’m going to put everything on the line and just try and be the best surfer in all conditions.
“I’ve just got to put my head down to get there and work hard. I reckon I can get there.’’
Vaughan said his father Ian was pivotal to his pursuit of becoming the best surfer in the world.
“Dad was probably the first one to get me on a wave, I’m pretty sure I was two when I started surfing,’’ Vaughan said.
“He’s huge for me.
“He’s my coach, mentor, hero, everything.
“I’ve got four older brothers who have pushed me along as well.
“And Mum is with me too, every time I surf and with me every day.’’
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Originally published as When he needs it, rising star Hughie Vaughan asks his late mum for the perfect wave
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