The Break will close this weekend, here are some that have thrown their collective hats in the ring…

PORT KEMBLA SURFER COMPETING FOR THE ‘BREAK OF A LIFETIME’

She has only been surfing for five years but that hasn’t deterred local Port Kembla teenager Skye Burgess from aspiring to become the suburb’s first representative on the women’s ASP World Tour.

Having placed second at this year’s Surfest, a WQS event in Newcastle, Burgess, 18, is showing tremendous potential for someone who only took up the sport recently.

“Although I’ve only been surfing for the past few years, I’ve always been around the water growing up and my dad surfs so it’s kind of been a natural progression,” Burgess said.

“To travel and compete full time would be a dream come true but the WQS (World Qualifying Tour) is so expensive.

“But if you want to become the best surfer you have to find a way to do it.”

The good news is that Burgess may have just found a way courtesy of Jim Beam’s innovative competition The Break.

The Break, an online contest will let one lucky female surfer ‘catch the break of a lifetime’ that includes $25,000 sponsorship in cash and prizes to help in an assault on next year’s World Qualifying Series tour.

Burgess knows that a break like this one doesn’t come around very often.

“This is a chance of a lifetime to be able to travel and try to make it in surfing,” Burgess said.

“Without this kind of support, surfing for a living is really difficult.”

And how will she go against some of the best surfers in the world should she ‘catch the break of a lifetime’?

“You never really know until you give it a try, but I would definitely give it my best shot and would love to represent Port Kembla on the world stage.”

LANE LOOKING TO DITCH CALCULATOR FOR THE BREAK

The career of an accountant is very different to that of a pro surfer. One consists of crunching numbers in an office, the other travelling the world to compete in the most idyllic locations.

Just ask 21-year-old Gold Coast local Noah Lane who is currently studying accounting but hoping to ‘catch the break of a lifetime.’

Lane has entered Jim Beam’s innovative competition The Break. An online contest that will give one lucky male surfer $50,000 sponsorship in cash and prizes to help in an assault on next year’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) tour.

As an accounting student, Lane knows exactly what a difference $50,000 will make in his pursuit of a professional surfing career.

“That’s a lot of money,” Lane said.

“It’s very expensive to do the WQS, you really need a major sponsor to back you. This opportunity would let me pursue a career at something I love doing.”

After a promising junior career, Lane was left to think about his future.

“Finishing the juniors is kind of like finishing school, you’re kind of left feeling like ‘where to next’.

“I’ve been working and toughing it out as a full time student. There are a lot of talented guys out there who just can’t afford to travel and compete.

“But I’m enjoying my studies, I think it’s important to have a balance between surfing and something else and I’m keen to keep studying part time if I get the chance to compete next year.”

And how will he go against some of the best surfers in the world should he ‘catch the break of a lifetime’?

“Ah you know, I’d back myself. I’ve seen the quality on tour and I think I’m more than capable of matching that. I would love to mix it with the best and really test myself.”

ULLADULLA SURFER WORKING ON THE ‘BREAK OF A LIFETIME’

Rising at 6am each morning, local surfer Sam Wrench, 20, works as a labourer during the day.

Watching the minutes tick by, Wrench waits for that moment when he can clock off and hit the beach for a surf before the sun sets.

Saving to chase a pro surfing career, this isn’t how he planned on doing it. But that could all change for the Ulladulla local who is hoping to ‘catch the break of a lifetime.’

Wrench has entered Jim Beam’s innovative competition The Break. An online contest that will give one lucky male surfer $50,000 sponsorship in cash and prizes to help in an assault on next year’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) tour.

“I was already working and saving to compete on the WQS before I saw this opportunity with Jim Beam,” Wrench said.

“I only just missed out on qualifying for the 2011 Billabong ASP World Junior Championships which was disappointing but to get this opportunity would make up for that.”

“I’ve surfed for most of my life and have competed in all the junior events but saving the money to travel full time to contests has been the hardest thing to chasing a career in this sport.”

Wrench is now back living in Ulladulla after moving to Sydney last year to build his profile.

“The crowds and waves in Sydney made me appreciate how good home is,” Wrench said.

“Ulladulla is a great place for young surfers, we have so much variety here, I’m just stoked to be back.”

And Wrench believes, given the opportunity he can really make an impact on the tour.

“I honestly think I’m better than a lot of the blokes already doing the WQS. The waves are a lot better these days so the surfing is a lot more critical. That’s where I think I have an advantage, I’ve been working on my airs and balancing that with big turns, I’m super keen to prove myself.”

TALENTED STEVIC HOPING FOR THE ‘BREAK OF A LIFETIME’

Every surfer dreams of travelling the world and competing professionally yet few get the chance, even talented young juniors such as the Sunshine Coast’s Naomi Stevic.

The former U/16 and current U/18 Queensland Champion is one of the state’s best young surfers but despite her obvious talent, Stevic is facing the daunting task of taking on next year’s World Qualifying Tour without a major sponsor.

“I’m pretty confident in my ability and would love the chance to compete with the top women in the world,” said Stevic, who competed on the U/21 Australasian Pro Junior Series this year and recently qualified for the 2011 Roxy Pro Trials.

Of course, the opportunity Stevic is referring to is Jim Beam’s innovative competition The Break.

The online contest will let one lucky female surfer ‘catch the break of a lifetime’ which includes $25,000 sponsorship in cash and prizes to help in an assault on next year’s World Qualifying Series tour.

“I’m extremely competitive and I just love surfing, so to compete professionally would be the ultimate dream and this sponsorship can help me achieve that.”

Growing up on Phillip Island in Victoria, Stevic moved to the Sunshine Coast as an 8-year-old and admits she found the water temperature much more inviting.

“I’ve got to thank my parents for that (moving to the Sunshine Coast), they have been so supportive of me and have always encouraged my surfing, in fact it was my dad who suggested I give this competition a go after he saw it advertised online,” Stevic said.

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