Alyssa Bull never thought she’d hear the day when she actually hoped for placid conditions for a surf lifesaving event.
But even though it runs against everything she has ever trained for, it’s what she wants this week.
20-year-old Bull is doing what she’s been doing since she was six; competing in a surf lifesaving carnival.
What makes this year different is that she is doing so as a member of the Australian Olympic team, after she and fellow Sunshine Coast paddler, Alyce Burnett, upstaged experienced rivals Naomi Flood and Jo Brigden-Jones to snatch the K2 500 berth for Rio.
So while Bull is pretty relaxed about competing at the Surf Championships this week, a few others are a tad nervous.
“Absolutely it was talked about a lot, just because we didn’t know what the surf was like,” Bull said.
“We nominated, and decided we would try and race if it was safe to do so, and it seems pretty good this week so far.
“We don’t have a great workload, we’re not in all the team events, which is a little bit sad. I’m just happy to be able to have a bit of a crack at it.
“It’s a bit of an outlet for me now, more of a fun thing to do.”
The sadness is only fleeting. It lasts for about as long as it takes to remember the reason she hasn’t been in the surf – the Rio Olympics.
“I get the best of both worlds,” she laughs.
“I’m going to the Olympics! It’s something I still can’t really believe, because it’s just the pinnacle of sport.
“It’s what everyone as an athlete strives for, and to be able to do that in kayaking, which is closely related to surf, is amazing.”
He won’t be alone this week. As well as Burnett, fellow Rio-bound Olympians Jacob Clear, Lachlan Tame and Riley Fitzsimons will all be competing – if the conditions remain safe.
Bull and Burnett are training every morning and afternoon this week, and coach Anna Wood has made the journey – partly to coach, and partly to “keep the girls on a leash”, Bull jokes.
In fact, Wood even reminded both Bull and Burnett of the story of Brigden-Jones, the 2012 Olympian who had to put her sprint canoe career on hold after busting a shoulder competing in surf ski events.
OLYMPIC REALITY
It’s a cliché, but the past couple of years have been an absolute whirlwind for Alyssa Bull.
Four years ago she was excited about the Olympics, especially the swimming and the athletics. The sprint canoe? Not so much.
“Floody (Naomi Flood) was the only reason why I was watching the kayaking at the Olympics in 2012,” she said.
“It was on at an obscure hour of the morning. The only reason we set the alarm was to watch Floody race.
“She’s been such a role model in my life, in both the surf and the kayak, so it was such a big moment for us to get the win over them (Flood and Brigden-Jones) and get the Rio spot.”
“I’m so happy we’ve done it, but at the same time I wish we could all go together.”
What makes Bull’s journey to Olympic selection even more remarkable is that she is still such a newcomer to the sport.
“I only transferred to kayaking full-time at end of 2014, and then moved to the Gold Coast at start of 2015,” she said.
“I haven’t been doing this for very long, so I think I’ve surprised myself quite bit.
“I wanted it so bad, but it was always in the back of my mind that probably Tokyo would be the Olympics we would be at.”
Which means for Bull her first love, surf lifesaving, will have to get use to the back seat. It’s not going to be easy, but she’s happy with the arrangement.
As long as the surf stays flat this week!
