Isi Campbell recognised for outstanding 2022 performances by winning WA Junior Surfer of the Year honour

Outstanding Denmark teenager Isi Campbell has been recognised as a major achiever at the Surfing WA 2022 State Champion presentations and WA Surfers of the Year Awards last weekend. Campbell was announced as the Junior Surfer of the Year, one of four major awards presented. Held at Surfing WA’s new state-of-the-art facility at Trigg Beach, the event honoured the outstanding achievements of all codes and age groups ranging from under-12s through to over-70s. Surfing WA paid tribute to the effort, dedication and talent of more than 50 State champions from junior shortboard, open shortboard, longboard, logger, bodyboard and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) divisions. Hailing from Denmark, Campbell was announced as the Murray Smith Junior Surfer of the Year after claiming the under-18 girls State title and winning a silver medal as part of Team Australia at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in El Salvador. At the worlds Campbell placed 11th in the under-16 girls division. The teen recently competed in the Lady Birds component of Stab High, an aerial surfing event in Indonesia with arguably the best group of 16-and-under female surfers in the world. “Feeling very honoured to have been awarded WA’s Murray Smith Junior Surfer of the Year Award,” Campbell said on social media. “Thank you to everyone who helped me push myself and my surfing this year and even bigger thanks to Surfing WA for choosing to give this award to me.” Surfing WA announced the WA Surfers of the Year based off their performances in 2022. Named after four of WA’s finest surfers — Ian Cairns, Jodie Cooper, Murray Smith and Mike McAuliffe — the WA Surfers of the Year Awards are the annual recognition of outstanding performances by professional and amateur WA surfers over a calendar year. Cooper is an Australian surfing icon who comes from Albany and in 2020 was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the sport with her induction as the 42nd member of the Australia Surfing Hall of Fame. Albany young gun Elijah Medling was recognised for his superb performance at the WA Bodyboard Titles. Medling claimed his maiden State crown when he won the under-18 junior boys division in June. The North Albany Senior High School student fell narrowly short of winning last year’s under-18 title, finishing runner-up. However, the talented 17-year old bounced back this year, finishing with a combined total of 27.81 across two finals to capture the State crown. Other major award winners were Jack Robinson (Ian Cairns Male Surfer of the Year), Bronte Macaulay (Jodie Cooper Female Surfer of the Year) and Max Devery (Mike McAuliffe Performance of the Year). Lizzie Nunn (Yallingup), Bill Gibson (Margaret River) and Mick Marlin (Dunsborough) were also recognised for their contribution to the sport during the event, honoured with life membership from Surfing WA.