THE COVID-19 pandemic has meant Oli Hudson has missed more than a dozen minor or major surfing competitions in the last four months.
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The 13-year-old Port Macquarie goofy-footer will join another 11 of the best junior surfers from Newcastle and the Hastings at a three-day training camp this weekend.
The youngsters will receive some handy last-minute tips ahead of the upcoming NSW Junior Surfing Titles at Coffs Harbour and Sydney.
And despite the pause in the surfing schedule for the first half of the season, Hudson has set the bar high.
"My goal obviously is to win it like every other surfer, but we'll see what happens on the day," he said.
"It could be six foot and perfect barrels or it could be one foot with onshore closeouts, you never know because that's the challenge of surfing."
Up to 14 major and minor competitions have been cancelled or postponed since March, ensuring Hudson has had plenty of time to free surf.
But competition surfing is a different challenge to free surfing so father, Wayne, will operate the training camp where the focus will be on strategies and tactics.
"The kids have missed out on a lot of preparation and learning over the last couple of months," he said.
"So hopefully over the days we have them we'll work on their techniques and skill sets and put them through a couple of mock drills.
"I remember doing that a couple of times as a youngster at state camps; it's great fun and gives them the confidence when they go up against the best in the state."
Hudson will join Newcastle Surf School operator Dan Frodsham in providing key tips to help the upcoming surf stars ahead of their competitive heats.
"We're both regional directors and wanted to fast-track the kids rather than spending three months where they have to get their skills back," he said.
"We'll be putting them under pressure and providing time constraints which is where kids generally falter.
"They don't handle catching two amazing waves in 20 minutes too well because they're used to free surfing where they've had three hours to catch two waves."
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