Kingscliff community cheers for “their Steph” after seventh world title win

To some Stephanie Gilmore is a surfing legend, but to longtime friends in Kingscliff she’ll always be “Smiley”, bright, bubbly — and up for anything.

TRACY and Jeff Gilmore will be glued to the TV again this morning watching their daughter Stephanie etch another chapter in her glittering career.

No, they will not be watching replays of their baby girl’s record-equalling seventh world crown win in Hawaii yesterday. They will tune in to the 30-year-old’s quest to win the Maui Pro at Honolua Bay.

The Gilmores have ridden the many highs and few lows of Stephanie’s career more than others. For them, the joy is seeing her compete and being happy.

“Each time is such a surprise, will she, won’t she, and when she does it’s really exciting,” Tracy said yesterday of Stephanie’s world championship win, 11 years after her first.

“Friends congratulate us and say how good it is, they watch interviews and I’ve already had people call today.”

Stephanie Gilmore's parents Jeff and Tracy Gilmore watch her take home her seventh world title win from Kingscliff Surf Club. Photo: Brianna Morris-Grant

However, irrespective of the results, the Gilmores say their phone calls or text messages afterwards are always simple.

“We just keep her positive headed. She knows better than us (what she has done right or wrong in competition),” said Mr Gilmore, who celebrated in the Kingscliff Surf Life Saving Club yesterday.

SPORT’S POWER 100: HEAVIEST HITTERS

Stephanie Gilmore has always been known for being a role model for her young fans. Picture: Regi Varghese

“You feel for the other parents with sons and daughters competing as well, it’s not easy for the others. It’s really easy for us, because she’s winning.”

Stephanie, who advanced to the quarter-finals of the Maui Pro yesterday, claimed the world title when American Lakey Petersen was knocked out in the second round.

The win equals Layne Beachley’s seven world crowns.

Former world champion Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew said watching Stephanie grow from a spitfire little girl with a love of the beach to a role model for women had been an honour.

GILMORE HAPPY TO ADD BITE TO SURF RIVALRY

She’s never let her surfing career cloud her passion for what she stands for.

“I remember her when she was an 11-year-old,” he said. “She didn’t start really young when she was five or six, but when she started surfing at Rainbow Bay.

“You could always tell, she always had a great natural style. She was very fluid in it.

“One thing about her was that she just had a natural love of surfing. That probably stood out more than anything.”

Long-time friends in Kingscliff yesterday said her success had never clouded that passion, or what she stood for, like rushing home from winning her second junior world title in California to sit her HSC exams.

GILMORE’S MUSICAL MOVE TO LOS ANGELES

Even after seven world titles, she’ll always just be “our Steph” for the people of Kingscliff.

Teacher and Kingscliff High School surfing co-ordinator David Lloyd said his former student epitomised what could be achieved by working hard.

“She comes up in conversations when you talk to kids about achieving and working hard. I know a fair few teachers use her for a role model about that,” he said.

“She was going to be a professional surfer from about Year 9, but she didn’t put all her eggs in one basket. She still did her HSC.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR 50C A DAY

“She stuck it out, she could have easily left school but she didn’t.”

Outside of school Gilmore and her sisters, Bonnie and Whitney, got their start as Nippers with the Kingscliff Surf Club.

Among the local surfers, which included Jason McPhee, she provided a bright and cheerful face.

“It’s awesome, unreal,” he said yesterday. “She’s always super friendly, her nickname’s Smiley because she’s always happy to have a chat, say ‘hello’ in the water.

“I think she can go even bigger, she’s got a couple more (titles) in her for sure.”

Not that the people of Kingscliff use it as a barometer.

“If I saw her after the win today I’d probably just ask her where to go on my next surfing holiday,” Mr Bartholomew said.

“She’s been everywhere, she’d know all the good spots.”

TIMELINE:

-2002 – wins junior girls event at Rip Curl Grom Search, 14-year-old member of Snapper Rocks Surfriders Club

oJoins Rip Curl-Lifesavers Rookie Program, mentored by two-time world champion Damien Hardman and WQS surfer Zane Harrison

oWins Under-16 and Under21 Voodoo Dolls Series

-2004 – has already become Australian & Quiksilver Under-18 ISA World Junior Champion at 16

-2005 – receives wildcard + wins Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks, season-opening ASP world tour contest, gains international fame

oRaces home for HSC exams in October after second world junior surfing title in California

oGraduates Kingscliff High

-2006 – joined World Qualifying Series, finishes second overall to qualify for elite tour

oFinishes runner-up in ASP Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, upstaging seven-time world champion Layne Beachley to win Beachley Classic at Manly

-2007 – first year on ASP world tour, wins first ASP World Title in rookie year

-2008 – ASP World Title

-2009 – ASP World Title

-2010 – ASP World Title

oAttacked by a homeless man outside her Tweed Heads apartment, suffers fractured wrist and cuts to head and hand, reportedly costing her a fifth consecutive world title

-2012 – ASP World Title

oJulius Fox jailed for four years after attacking Gilmore with a metal bar in 2010

-2014 – ASP World Title

-2018 – Wins 7th ASP World Title, putting her on par with surfing legend Layne Beachley