State winner sets his sights on nationals title

It’s been quite a fortnight for Geraldton’s Patrick Smyth. The multi-talented youngster, who has also competed in stand-up paddle surfing, won the Kiteboarding WA junior State titles at Wedge Island last weekend and will be hoping to add a national title to his collection this weekend in Victoria. Competing at nationals has meant a trip to Victoria by himself for the 16-year-old, who is used to braving the wind and waves off his hometown. Showing the challenges faced by youngsters in the growing sport, which is set to debut as an Olympic sport at Paris in 2024 and is a focus for development groups in the Mid West due to world-class wind and wave conditions, Patrick received the news about the COVID-19 lockdown in Perth, Peel and the South West halfway through the competition on Sunday, according to mother Conny Duerrenmatt. That meant an extra night in Lancelin to no avail, as presentations were cancelled, with competitors from the lockdown-affected areas needing to return home — and then a lightning-quick decision and turnaround to attend this weekend’s competition at all. “Monday morning I couldn’t stop thinking how unfair it was for the WA State champion not to go to the nationals in Torquay,” Ms Duerrenmatt said. She said she was able to get the go-ahead from the State and national COVID health information services for Patrick to fly out of Perth and secure a travel permit for Victoria. With a few more phone calls, she was able to secure accommodation in the backyard at current world No. 1 wave kitesurfer James Carew’s family home in Victoria, in a 10-man tent with other nationals competitors, and a lift from the airport. “Quite an experience for a 16-year-old,” she said. Patrick previously won an open freestyle kite title at the Carnarvon Windfest, taking out the men’s division last year. Kiteboarding was originally created in the 1970s and developed further by big-wave surfers in Hawaii in the 1990s, becoming a recognised extreme sport around the turn of the millennium. Competitors can ride and carve waves, and perform massive jumps using the powerful kites and various types of boards and harnesses.