Thirteen years after winning her first US Open of Surfing, Sally Fitzgibbons returned to California’s iconic Huntington Beach and did it again. “For the final, I closed my eyes and pictured an empty beach in Gerroa. It brought me calm,” she says.

Three good things

Super excited over her incredible win on 11 August, Fitzgibbons has just landed on Australian soil after what she describes as “a wild week.” 

Because not only did she win the US Open of Surfing title, she was also voted on the Australian Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission (on the exact same day) and later, inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame.

“It’s a unique sport in that you train so hard and you put it all into every performance. You don’t know how willing the waves are to come your way, and you have to be accepting of that,” Fitzgibbons says.

She goes on to explain that when the waves don’t hold the power, it becomes technically much harder because you have to produce everything yourself. 

But boy, did the 33-year-old Gerroa surfer deliver the goods in the US Open of Surfing final, beating 17-year-old Bella Kenworthy of San Clemente, 12.06 - 11.96.

“At this point in my career, I’m really appreciative. My mum and dad were there. The anchor to all of my performance has always been coming home,” she says.

Sally Fitzgibbons inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame. Courtesy: World Surf League (WSL).

Almost feels like yesterday

Fitzgibbons’ first US Open title came in 2011 at the age of 20.

“It’s interesting,” she reflects. “You don’t realise how quickly time passes. You feel like you’ve done it for a minute.

“I still felt like the 14-year-old paddling out.”

It was at that very age that Fitzgibbons won the ASP Pro Junior Open, emerging as one of Australia’s best female surfers. 

Since 2009, she has been on the World Surf League’s (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), finishing 12 times in the world’s top eight, which includes three No. 2 finishes and three No. 3 finishes. 

A new generation of female surfers

Anyone who has been following the local surfing scene, knows that the South Coast is brimming with young, talented female surfers.

It's vastly different from when Fitzgibbons grew up, she’d go and surf with a friend here and there but mostly she hung and surfed with the boys.

“Now, it’s so cool. Hundreds of girls picking up their boards and heading out surfing with their friends. Feeling so welcomed,” she says.

Many of them are dreaming of following in Fitzgibbons’ footsteps.

Her advice to them? 

“Always come back to the joy of surfing, even in competition. See the ocean as your best friend and remember that love of surfing,” she says.

Ripping it up. Courtesy: World Surf League (WSL).

The spot for Olympic surfing

Huntington Beach is being floated as the potential site for competitions, when surfing’s back on the Olympic program for the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Fitzgibbons calls it “the ultimate arena for surfing.”

“It has this long pier. You would have a stadium on the pier and on the beach, so you would be surrounded by the crowd,” she says.

“Huntington Beach is Surf City USA, it can’t get it more iconic. I can’t wait and see what happens. I think Australia would do well, we have such depth. See if I can throw my hat in there as well.”

Home sweet Gerroa

But for now, she’s going back home to Gerroa, which she says has provided the anchor to all of her performances.

“It’s why I still base myself here. I fly back as often as I can. One day back in Gerroa and I reset myself. I’m more comfortable here where all you can hear is the ocean. It’s the heart of everything that I do.” 

Fitzgibbons wants to extend a big thank you to “our Gerroa community.” She says that the energy towards her has never wavered. Whether it’s been a good or bad day, she’s always felt supported, “It has allowed me to do what I really love."