April 23, 2023
Hometown hero Huxtable
Jan Juc surfer Xavier Huxtable continues to ride the waves of positivity around town after experiencing a Cinderella story run at this year’s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.
After surfing to success in the Victorian Trials format and winning the local wildcard slot, Huxtable would be pitted against some of his surfing heroes in only his second experience as a Championship Tour competitor in the World Surf League.
With nothing to lose and the locals right behind him, Huxtable shocked the world, overcoming 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in the first round and then doing the same to the world number one Jack Robinson days later in rough and rogue conditions.
Calling it the highlight of his professional careeer, Huxtable said he couldn’t have done it without the local support.
“I was just taking it one step at a time and embracing everything that came with having the privilege of being in the event."
“The support from the community and family and friends was just huge – having them all come down and send me messages certainly gave me a bit of confidence.
“To get through that first round against Kelly was just amazing and then I had the big task of Jack Robinson… I just went out there with nothing to lose and just wanted to go as hard as I could.
“Most people would have thought Jack would have won pretty easily in that second round, but I just wanted to leave nothing out there, luckily those sections were there and I ended up beating him.”
Read full Surf Coast Times story here.
Image: Huxtable said the event was one of the highlights of his young professional career. Photo: BEATRIZ RYDER/ WORLD SURF LEAGUE
