Riding the Waves of Success: Young local surfer makes his mark on the world stage
Words Abby Wallace
It’s no secret that the Tweed is home to some of the most exquisite and untouched beaches in Australia and with 37 kilometres of coastline, it’s a surfer’s dream.
With surfing a part of the lifestyle in the Tweed, hit up any beach and you’ll see some seriously impressive talent.
Drop into Fingal Head and you may even spot 17-year-old local surfer Dane Henry who has been riding the waves of recent success in the surfing world.
Dane is currently number 17 on the World Surf League (WSL) Australia/Oceania – 2024/2025 Men’s Qualifying Series Rankings. The Qualifying Series determine which up-and-coming surfers qualify for the global Challenger Series.
“I started surfing when I was about three but I really fell in love with it when I was about 10, when I started competing. My goal is to eventually make the Championship Tour and make a career out of surfing, so
hopefully that works out,” said Dane.
As a result of his hard work, Dane recently took home gold in the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Championships in El Salvador.
“I ended up captaining the Australian team, we won the team gold and I got myself an individual gold medal as well. I also won the under 18 world champion title. It was an incredible experience.”
Although he’s surfed all over the globe, Fingal Head is always number one. For those that don’t know, Fingal Head is a hidden gem on the northern end of the Tweed Coast – a narrow peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and the Tweed River.
“Fingal’s one of the best places on the coast. It’s so beautiful with a lot of waves and not too many people,” said Dane. “I’ve grown up surfing there almost every weekend with my dad and those are some really special memories, it’s such a good little spot.”
As a surfer who loves the ocean, it also comes naturally to care about the environment too.
“I always try to leave the beach cleaner than when I got there – it doesn’t take too much effort to pick up some rubbish as you’re leaving the beach.”
“I’ve been to a few foreign countries now and have surfed in some pretty gross water. You have to appreciate the pristine water at home and do your bit to keep it clean.”
Dane credits the surfing community here in the Tweed and the Kingscliff Boardriders Club for being a stepping stone to get into surfing at a higher level. “We have so many boardriders clubs around the Tweed and Kingscliff Boardriders has been such a huge part of my development as a surfer, getting in the competitive mindset and having a fun day.”
Surfing is great for business and tourism in the Tweed, with new research from the Australian National University finding surfing injects almost $3 billion into Australia’s economy each year.
If you’re visiting the Tweed for the first time, surfing is a must-do experience.
“We have so many surf schools so just make the most of the water, hire a board or go out when it’s small. The rock wall at Kingscliff is a great place to learn. It’s such an addictive sport and lifestyle. Once you start, you’ll never be able to stop,” said Dane.
The popularity and growth of surfing is soaring. According to the Australian Sports Commission’s (ASC) latest national AusPlay report, an estimated 196,000 Australians 15+ have taken up surfing since 2019, the majority of these being female.
When Dane isn’t riding the waves, he’s training, completing his Certificate 3 in Fitness at TAFE and enjoying home life in the Tweed.
Dane will surf in the Peel Pro Junior in Western Australia in October, with points counting towards qualifying for the WSL World Junior Championships, taking him closer to his goal of cracking the Championship Tour in the next few years.
Follow Dane on Instagram @dane_henry06
Abby Wallace is a freelance writer, copywriter and content creator based in the Tweed and works with businesses to find the words to tell their story, connect with customers and drive meaningful change. Visit www.abbywallace.com.au.
