BUDE’S Emily Currie wants to use her recent second-placed finish on the UK Pro Surf Tour as a launchpad to maximise her chances of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic GB Surf team.

Emily competes professionally in both local and international surf events, is currently ranked third in Europe on the World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour and is the youngest selected member of Team England for the 2018 World Longboard Surfing Championship next January.

The team will take on the world’s best longboarders in China at the infamous left-hand point break, Riyue Bay in Hainan Island.

Surfing will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2020 and Currie’s strong 2017 campaign in both longboarding and shortboarding events have her hoping to start next year off with a podium finish on a world surfing stage.

Emily added: “Being in the Olympics has always been a dream of mine and now that surfing has the opportunity to become part of it, I will do everything I possibly can to be representing my country as part of our first ever Olympic surf team.

“I’m also very excited to be going to China for the first time. I’ve watched the WSL Longboard Championships there every year and it looks like such an amazing wave. I’m honoured to have the opportunity and to represent my country again!

“The UK tour was a steep learning curve for me this year, I was so close to taking the overall title. Every element is changeable in surfing and knowing how to make the most of the conditions is a constant learning process.

“I couldn’t find the waves to maximise my scoring potential during the UKPST finals, but that’s the way it goes sometimes in surfing. It’s the nature of competition and I can’t wait for what is to come next!”