On wheels or water, Ruby Trew was destined for gold
The 16-year-old Olympic skateboarder has set her sights on surfing, too, at the LA Games. Her surfing prowess began riding the “beginner” waves at Yamba’s Spooky Beach.
Every Christmas my family would pack the car with surfboards, skateboards and way too many snacks, ready for the seven-hour drive north from Sydney to Yamba.
It always felt like the start of something magical: school was finished, summer had begun, and everything slowed down as soon as we saw the ocean.
We always stayed at the Angourie rainforest resort, tucked away in the trees. Our cabin was small but perfect. My sisters and I shared a room, where we’d stay up late having dress-up parties and midnight snacks and laughing until we fell asleep.
During the day we’d spend hours at the huge resort pool, seeing who could hold their breath underwater the longest.
Most mornings we’d head to Spooky Beach. Down the southern corner there’s this perfect little beginner wave – kind of like the “Play in the Bay” at URBNSURF now.
Ruby Trew with her first skateboard. She competed in her first open-age competition when she was six.Credit:
Dad would stand in chest-deep water and push us into these tiny peeling waves that rolled all the way to shore, where Mum would be waiting to catch us and turn us around for another go. We’d do it over and over, all morning, never getting tired of it.
As my surfing got better we started exploring more of Angourie back beach and the back beach at Yamba near the campground. The water was always so warm and clear, and there were waves everywhere. Each spot had its own vibe – some calm and glassy, others powerful and wild. That’s where I really learned that surfing isn’t about chasing the perfect wave, it’s about enjoying whatever the ocean gives you.
After surfing all day we’d squeeze in a quick session at the skate park before dinner. Then we’d cross the road to the bowling club for chicken schnitzel and chips, and head back to the resort sunburnt, salty and happy, already excited to do it all again the next day.
Loading
Yamba still feels like home. It reminds me why I love surfing and what it’s really about: the laughter, the freedom, the people and that feeling of being exactly where you’re meant to be.
“Life’s a beach” isn’t just a saying – it’s those moments that stay with you long after the waves fade.
Ruby Trew, a student at Narrabeen Sports High School, competed aged 15 at the 2024 Paris Olympics in skateboarding and is attempting to qualify for surfing as well in the 2028 LA Olympic Games.