Zara Morris, Kaylea Jackson, Taia Anthonisz, Sarah Schwabe a surf boating chance at North Australian championship

Competing in your first state championship could be a daunting experience, but a crew of four girls is defying expectations and going for glory.

New sport, friends and memories.

Joining a crew and learning surf boating was not something Zara Morris, Kaylea Jackson, Taia Anthonisz or Sarah Schwabe thought they would start at 18 years of age, but the under-19s crew is loving the experience.

The four joined forces as strangers, with just Morris and Anthonisz friends before, but now the crew is a couple of races away from being North Australian surf boat champions.

Morris said it was exciting but daunting to be competing in her first championships, but she was loving the experience.

“It’s been so fun to be competing against some of the best athletes in Queensland,” she said.

(from left) Zara Morris, Kaylea Jackson, Taia Anthonisz and Sarah Schwabe at the North Australian Championships for Surf Life Saving. The crew of four finished second in four of its five races in boat surfing in Mackay, October 30, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

“The whole experience is so strange, considering we didn’t really know each other in April and now we’re at the championships, relying on each other.”

The Mackay region is hosting more than 550 athletes from across Queensland’s coastline, with teams travelling south from as far as Port Douglas and north from Noosa.

Sarah Schwabe said it was intimidating being at her first championships, but she had learned from other athletes from across the state.

“In some races we’re up against people who have been racing for 10 or more years,” she said.

“I’ve learned that it’s really important to be committed to the team, because if I’m tired and I stop rowing, all the girls in the boat suffer and that’s not fair to them.

“You can’t hide out there.”

(from left) Zara Morris, Kaylea Jackson, Taia Anthonisz and Sarah Schwabe at the North Australian Championships for Surf Life Saving. The crew of four finished second in four of its five races in boat surfing in Mackay, October 30, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Jackson said each member had to be in perfect harmony for a team to be a chance to win.

“Each person has to put out an equal amount, it’s really a team sport,” she said.

“Being friends is really important, because you need to work together.

“Even though we’re new to each other we’re still great friends and I think we work together well.”

Anthonisz said the taste of the championships in Mackay had given her extra motivation to continue competing in future events.

“Even if it’s not something I want to do in the future, it’s helped build these connections and friendships,” she said.

“These girls I had nothing to do with them really, and now we’re really close.”

Originally published as Zara Morris, Kaylea Jackson, Taia Anthonisz, Sarah Schwabe a surf boating chance at North Australian championship