Tex Dixon’s move to Surfers Paradise SLSC for this summer is already paying dividends

His name is Texas but Dixon now calls Surfers Paradise home.

HIS name is Texas but Dixon now calls Surfers Paradise home.

Remarkably, the beach where the Tex Dixon now trains each morning is the same beach which brought an end to his summer earlier this year.

THE EXTENT OF THE INJURY WHICH NEARLY DERAILED MCKENZIE’S SUMMER

The Noosa turned Surfers Paradise emerging star was competing in an Ocean6 ironman heat on the Gold Coast’s most famous beach strip in February this year when he hit the bottom of a wave and broke his ankle.

Surfers Paradise rising star Tex Dixon. Picture supplied.

“I was a bit too far ahead of the wave I think because my ski got taken in the wave and my foot got stuck in the foot strap so it twisted and broke,” Dixon said.

The 17-year-old nearly made a miraculous recovery in time for the Aussies in April before opting to focus on rehabilitation and his move south to the Gold Coast.

“The rehab was really tough,” he said.

“I had to learn to walk again on that foot and it took 10 weeks for me to get back.

“There was a lot of paddling on my own and thinking ‘why am I doing this’ but my fitness base now is the best I’ve had.”

JUNIORS TO SHINE IN NEW LOOK SURF LIFE SAVING SERIES

Dixon’s move to Surfers Paradise is already paying dividends.

Not only is he quickly becoming a rare ‘triple threat’ ironman, with a particular strength in the board leg, Dixon recorded the third fastest short course male time at the Coolangatta Gold

“At Noosa, I was training there for a long time and the group of guys and that group died off a little bit as guys went off to do their own things,” he said.

“I wasn’t really being pushed but the competition at training everyday now, it’s tough but I love it.”

‘I ACTUALLY REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME OFF:’ BROWN’S BACK WITH VENGEANCE

Dixon, who hopes to one day qualify for the Nutri-Grain series, will compete in the open races this weekend at the Summer of Surf, national surf sports carnival.

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“The last few years, I’ve had to do it (race against elites) to get into finals so I’ve raced the majority of the guys before and now training with them as well, nothing is too daunting anymore,” he said.

“My goal for the summer is to make every board final.”