Veteran surfer's star return

After an 11-year hiatus from competitive surfing, Adrian Shepherd returned to win his first-ever State title last year, a performance that earned him the crown of 2013 Albany Veteran Sportsperson of the Year Award.

Shepherd defeated a field of eight finalists when he was announced the winner last Friday night at the gala presentations at the Albany Entertainment Centre.

Shepherd won both the over-45 grand masters and over-50 legends divisions at the WA Pro-Am State titles in a clinical performance for the local board-shaper in his return to the competitive side of the sport.

The 51-year-old won two out of the three rounds in both divisions which were run in a State series.

He said the victory came as a total surprise, given the field assembled in the veteran category.

“I was shocked and very surprised I won with the field of sportspeople there,” Shepherd said.

“I was a bit overawed really.”

Shepherd said he decided to make a return to surf competitively because of his role with coaching youngsters in Albany.

“I decided to come back and compete due to me coaching the elite kids,” he said.

“If I’m going to talk the talk I have to walk the walk as well so I better compete again.

“I owe everything to the kids, they have given me this achievement.”

The experienced surfer also finished fourth in the over-50s final at the Australian Surfmasters Titles in Port Macquarie in August last year, with an injured back restricting him in the final.

“I want to go for a national title this year,” he said.

“I hurt my back last year so this year I want to give it a nudge.”

Shepherd said returning to the waves himself had taught him a lot of new techniques and strategies he can now pass on as a coach.

“I guess I wasn’t given this opportunity as a kid to be coached,” he said.

“I just want to give back to the kids.

“I just love the sport.”