Margaret River junior surfer Willow Hardy heading to top event in El Salvador

Young Margaret River gun surfer Willow Hardy says she’s champing at the bit and raring to go test her mettle overseas for the first time later this year.

Hardy, one of the region’s most prominent up-and-coming female surfers, and Denmark native Isi Campbell will head to the 2022 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in El Salvador in May.

The Central American event is considered the world’s highest-ranked junior surf competition, according to Surfing Australia talent pathway coach and 2005 women’s world champion Chelsea Hedges.

“The International Surfing Association Junior event brings a high calibre of competition,” she said.

“It is a big achievement to be selected for this team and an amazing opportunity for Australia’s best junior athletes to get a taste of what their future could be at an Olympic Games.”

Hardy scored automatic entry to the squad due to championship performances in both national under-16 girls’ finals, coming out with the highest ranking for under-16s in the Australian ranking system.

She told the Times she was pumped for the competition.

“I can’t wait to surf overseas for the first time,” she said.

“I have done a training camp with the IAS for preparation these last two weeks and will be competing in events such as the (World Surf League’s) qualifying series these upcoming months for comp practice.”

WSL events in Australia next month, April and May, which included the WSL’s Junior Pro event, would put Hardy on a good footing for the El Salvador event, which runs from May 27 to June 7.