Meet 14-year-old Natasha Gouldsbury — one of those who had a dream and made it happen by way of her self-belief and discipline, growing up in the most unlikely place for a champion surfer to come out of, yet now ready to take herself to the next level living amongst the core scene of surfing in Taranaki.
You grew up in Levin, not exactly a thriving surf town. How did your first surfing experience come about? When and who with?
When I was about nine, my Dad bought a soft-top from the Warehouse and we took it down to Waitarere Beach, just north of Levin, and gave it a go. I had so much fun. For a while, my Dad pushed me into the waves until I could catch them myself, which didn’t take long.
You mostly surfed on your own when you started. How did you have any idea how to progress and what to do?
My dad surfed when he was younger and to start with he gave me some pointers. When I did get the opportunity to surf with others I’d also look at what they were doing and I also watched WSL surfers on TV and the internet and tried some of the things I saw them doing. After a couple of years, we started travelling up to New Plymouth regularly. Local surf coach and photographer Daisy Day was so cool with all the help and encouragement she gave this little kid from Levin. After a while, I also started to get some coaching from Jarred Hancox, which really helped me progress. Now I also get to surf with guys that rip almost every day.
Your family, realising your talent and your educational needs, made the move northward to Taranaki. How was that move for your family life and your surfing?
This story is from the Issue 185 edition of NZ SURFING MAGAZINE.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 185 edition of NZ SURFING MAGAZINE.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Trigger Finger
Ask any top surf coach and the two elements they will concentrate on and recommend are a solid bottom turn and being able to develop speed - as they say, speed is your friend, and many of the best surfers on the planet also happen to be the fastest surfers.
THESHAPESHIFTER ROGER HALL
Ladies and Gentleman Choose Your Weapons: How to decide on your next surfboard.
The Olympians
Over 50 years ago surfing’s greatest ambassador of all time, the legendary Duke Kahanamoku, had a vision that one day surfing would become an Olympic sport.
The Gladiator Pit
Born from the era of the Roman Empire, armed combatants known as gladiators would enter the arena also known as the Gladiator Pit to face up against other gladiators, animals and criminals in fierce battle in what was seen as entertainment often ending in death to one or the other.
Rising Grom Asia Braithwaite
There are those young athletes that get into sport who possess natural talent, even the X-factor, yet as the road is usually a far-too-easy passage, they either take it for granted or don’t push beyond their capabilities.
Licence To Score
The adventures behind the wheel of Mount Grom Luke Griffin.
Land Of The Long Lefts
It was the year 1966 and the sport of surfing was sweeping the world.
Theshapeshifter - Roger Hall
Ever heard of a Mini Simmons?
The Road Less Travelled
Take a look at a map of our coastline and you will see thousands of kilometres of coastline, 15,000 to be almost exact, making it the 9th longest in the world.
Then & Now
It was the early 80s and the world of sport was evolving rapidly.
