Next time your kid complains about a short trek to the surf, pulling on a wet wetsuit or waking up for an early, you will be able to silence their whinging with a single name – Teal Haigh.
Teal lives on a 50 acre property near Bowraville on the north coast of NSW. Her mum runs a flower farm, which requires attention soon after sun-up while her dad starts work at 6:am. Getting a surf in before school means Teal has to wake up at 5:am so her mum can drive her twenty minutes to a Macksville bus, which drops her off at Nambucca Heads. From there it’s a two km run to the beach. Between 6:50 and 8:20 Teal strives to catch as many good waves as she can, before completing the final leg of her morning triathlon – a 5km back-road dash to school with a board and dripping wetsuit. “I do my best to get there on time,” she points out.
The local community is now familiar with Teal’s morning routine and sometimes pass her on the road, but she dismisses their offers of a ride because she sees the running as part of her training.
Formerly a state-level distance runner, Teal has now turned her full attention to surfing. She recently competed in her first major event, The Rip Curl Grom Search at Newcastle where she made the quarterfinals. Despite being disappointed she didn’t go further in the contest, Teal knows it’s a result she can build on and is determined to continue improving her contest act.
North coast surfer and local identity, Barney Miller, was one of those impressed by Teal’s attitude and felt compelled to step into a mentoring role with the young wave zealot. Barney understands a thing or two about true grit. He was an aspiring pro surfer when a car accident left him a quadriplegic. Despite the debilitating injuries he suffered, Barney was hell-bent on getting back in the water and immersed himself in physical therapy. With a little help from his friends he still chases waves, and uses his story to inspire others to overcome challenges. He recognised in Teal some of the traits he had to cultivate when fighting to rebuild his own life after the accident.
“She’s got a drive, focus and determination that is rare for someone her age,” insists Barney. “It’s like the focus that Mick (Fanning) or Steph (Gilmore) have. And anyone that is willing to put in the hard work like that I want to do everything I can to help them succeed.”
Through his contacts in the surf industry, Barney has organised sponsorship for Teal through Rip Curl, DHD & Sun Bum. Meanwhile, experienced coach, Samba Mann, has thrown his hand up to help Teal reach her potential as a surfer. While the glossy world of pro surfing may be a distant dream for young Teal, tomorrow morning you’ll find her in full stride on the side of a north coast road, with a board tucked under arm, water pouring from her nose and the fresh memories of a few good waves propelling her on.
