Pittwater Life April 2024 Issue

News
Laura youngest ‘Woman of Year’
World women’s professional
surfing legend Laura Enever
has become the youngest
recipient of the Pittwater Woman of
the Year.
Laura was honoured in recognition
of her significant contribution to the
local and international surfing community,
and for inspiring and showing
young women that the sky is their
limit.
At the annual International Women’s
Day Breakfast hosted by the Zonta Club
of the Northern Beaches at the Royal
Prince Alfred Yacht Club last month,
Pittwater MP Rory Amon singled out
HONOURED: Laura with
Laura’s passion and the positive impact
Pittwater MP Rory Amon;
she has made locally and abroad.
and surfing a big wave.
“This is a well-deserved honour –
Laura’s dedication to surfing and success in breaking the
world record for the largest wave ever surfed into by a woman,
has made our community so proud.”
In December, Laura, 32 – who grew up at North Narrabeen –
was awarded the Guinness Book of Records’ world record for
the largest wave ever “paddled in” by a female.
She debuted on the Women’s surf Tour in 2008 and spent
more than a decade finishing in the top 10 in events before
turning her focus to big wave surfing.
“Laura is an inspiration to many young surfers and aspiring
pro athletes, particularly women, in Pittwater and beyond,”
said Mr Amon.
Accepting the award, Ms Enever praised her mother,
Sarah Enever, who she described as her “… hero, always
being there for me so I could pursue my passion”.
She also thanked her former teachers from Narrabeen
Sports High School, who encouraged her to pursue her
dream.
“It’s been an honour to
represent my community
through my whole career,
through all of the different
stages and phases of
my life,” said Laura.
“It is a community that
has really supported and
moulded me into the person
I am today, as well as
the athlete and surfer.
“My career as a surfer
has taken me all around
the world. There’s truly
nothing better than landing
back in Sydney and heading north over the Narrabeen
Bridge.
“Home truly is a feeling, and a lot of my favorite memories
have happened on the Northern Beaches. From joining the
North Narrabeen Boardriders as a little 10-year-old grommet, I
was one of the only girls.
“I surfed with the boys. Today, there’s over 30 girls in the
club in its women’s division and it’s the most amazing thing
to see the girls some days overtake the amount of guys in the
line-up.”
– NW (with NB Advocate)
22 APRIL 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991