Annie Howard: Making Waves

As the sun rose over the Maroochydore coastline, hundreds of competitors prepared to take on the unpredictable conditions of the 2026 National Ocean Ski Championships. For Grade 11 student Annie Howard, the event represented the culmination of years of dedication, early mornings and countless hours spent training in the water. By the end of the championships, Annie had claimed the U18 Female title, a remarkable achievement made even more special by the fact she was competing in a sport she genuinely loves. 

Annie, who is involved with Bridport Surf Life Saving Club (BSLSC), has been part of the surf lifesaving community since she first joined nippers at just six years old. What began as a childhood activity has steadily grown into a passion for surf sports and ocean ski racing, with Annie now training and competing at a national level while balancing the demands of school life.

“I have been involved in surf lifesaving since I started nippers when I was six and I have been competing in surf sports since I was 10,” Annie explained. “I have been surf ski paddling for two seasons and really love it.”

The 2026 season proved to be a milestone year. Earlier in the year, Annie represented Tasmania at the Surf Life Saving Australia Interstate Championships at Maroubra, where she won her first national race competing against some of the country’s best athletes.

“This was a really special achievement because I was racing for Tasmania against the best in the country,” she said. “A lot of work had gone into the result, but I really didn’t expect to get the win!”

That momentum continued into the National Ocean Ski Championships, where Annie competed in her home state against athletes she had long admired.

“Racing against some of my paddling idols was a great way to finish off a great season,” she reflected. “Winning my age category was exciting and it meant that I qualified for selection into the Australian Ocean Ski Racing team.”

Despite the impressive results, Annie remains grounded in the realities of the sport. Ocean ski racing is physically demanding and heavily influenced by changing surf conditions, requiring competitors to constantly adapt and make split-second decisions.

“During all my races I try to only focus on what is right in front of me, rather than getting too ahead of myself,” Annie explained. “Conditions are so unpredictable in surf racing. I have had to learn to read the surf and make decisions quickly.”

Even when races do not unfold as planned, resilience remains central to her mindset.

“I try to stay positive, even if I’m getting smashed by waves,” she laughed.

Balancing elite-level training alongside school commitments requires significant discipline and organisation. During the surf season, Annie trains across multiple disciplines including surf ski, board paddling, swimming, running and iron person sessions.

A typical day often begins before sunrise.

“I wake up at 5:20am, swim for 90 minutes, go to school for the day, then do another training session in the afternoon,” she said. “After dinner, I’m usually finishing homework, before preparing all my food for the next day, then heading to bed.”

While the training schedule is demanding, Annie’s passion for the sport and strong connection to the surf lifesaving community continue to drive her forward.

Through her involvement with BSLSC, Annie has not only developed as an athlete, but also learned valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability and perseverance, qualities that extend well beyond competition.

As Annie looks ahead to future opportunities in ocean ski racing and surf lifesaving, her achievements already stand as an inspiring example of what can be accomplished through commitment, passion and a willingness to embrace every wave that comes.

Mrs Emily Wynn, Marketing Manager