Lossiemouth surfer Fraser Brown (15) called up to represent Scotland at World Junior Surfing Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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A LOSSIEMOUTH boy has been called up to represent Scotland at the World Junior Surfing Championships in Brazil.
Fraser Brown (15), who goes to Gordonstoun and works in Lossie New Wave Surf School, will be competing on the world's biggest stage for the first ever time.
This is only the second time, after 2016, that Scotland has entered a junior squad into the World Championships, with Fraser set to compete in the boys U16 category at the championships in November.
Fraser is one of nine young surfers (groms) from across Scotland who will be representing their nation.
"It's going to be cool to represent my country, especially doing something that I really like, and to be able to surf in a new place," he said.
"Surfing is really relaxing. Wherever you are the surfing community is always nice."
The prestigious event will take place in Rio de Janeiro from November 24 until December 3, 2023, and will see the Scottish squad pitted against the best junior surfers from every part of the globe.
It is widely considered a direct pathway to the Olympic Games. A total of 33 out of the 40 Olympic surfers at Tokyo in 2020 had previously participated in the World Junior Surfing Championships, 16 of them claiming ISA World Junior medals.
Newly-appointed Scottish Junior Squad head coach Craig Sutherland said: “I’m delighted that the Scottish kids are getting the amazing opportunity to represent their country on the international stage and compete with the best surfers in the world.
"This will be inspirational, not only for our current junior surfers, but it will also encourage other children to get involved with surfing and surf competitions and enjoy the associated physical and mental health benefits.
"I look forward to helping the young surfers achieve their best.”
Competing at the World Championships is the next step for Fraser after he took part in the European Junior Surf Championships last summer, aged 14.
If any local companies are able to support with sponsorship please get in touch via the Scottish Surf Federation Facebook page.
The athletes selected to surf in Rio are: Craig Mclachlan (18) and Olivia MacKay(16) from North Shore Surf Club, Finn Clark (16) from Edinburgh and Borders Surf Club, Charlie Pugh (15) and Ansel Parkin (14) from Belhaven Surf Club, Lola Mitchell (14), Callie Cruickshank (13) and Sebastian Ballantyne (12) from Broch Surf Club and Fraser Brown (15) from Lossiemouth Surf Club.
