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Ned has a big-wave Hart

Jackson Lavell-LeeBusselton Dunsborough Times
Ned Hart shreds a beach break in Hawaii
Camera IconNed Hart shreds a beach break in Hawaii Credit: supplied

The Capes’ latest renowned surfing talent is 13-year-old grom Ned Hart, who is surfing Pipeline in Hawaii with his idols.

Hart is the latest member of the Jon Pyzel surf team alongside John John Florence, Jack Freestone, Brent Dorrington, Koa Rothman, Mark Healey and Nathan Florence.

Competitors at the famous Volcom Pipe Pro on North Shore Oahu have accepted Hart for his gnarly confidence on massive waves and his humble persona.

On Tuesday, Hart said he was surfing a break with Kelly Slater, Jamie O’Brien and Mason Ho.

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“Yeah, it was sick. I went out to the slabby little beach break just having fun and then Kelly, Jamie and Mason started paddling out. I had no idea what was going on. It was crazy,” he said.

“Mason said he thought I was crazy for coming out because it was massive barrels.”

At the shallow and intimidating Pipeline, Hart is aiming to impress legendary shaper Jon Pyzel.

He said he often got a “little bit” scared of the bigger, thicker waves but not as much as his supportive mother, Adele. “We originally came over here after meeting Mason Ho and Nathan Fletcher at Desert Point and (Ho) said I should come over to Hawaii with him and push myself against the groms here because he thought I was capable.”

The talented young surfer is spending a month on North Shore with legendary shaper Jon Pyzel
Camera IconThe talented young surfer is spending a month on North Shore with legendary shaper Jon Pyzel Credit: supplied

“The first time I was out there, it was big 6-8ft. It was scary but I ignored it and still went out and caught a couple.” The prodigy has the support of local big-wave surfers Jarryd Foster, Mick Corbett and Paul “Antman” Paterson.

Hart has spent countless hours training at old Dunsborough boat ramp, swimming and doing body-weight exercises to go with surfing at breaks in Yallingup and Margaret River before travelling to international breaks. He credited recent Cape Naturaliste Pro winner and Yallingup icon Claire Bevilacqua for his junior development including aqua and apnoea training.

“Over here is a lot heavier than I actually thought,” Hart said.

“If you’re going to come over here, definitely train, be respectful and just push yourself. First time, I was at Off the Wall and we paddled out there at 6-8ft and these big sets came through and smashed us and I realised how heavy it was and you need to take it seriously over here.”

Pyzel is shaping Hart a 7ft board to help with his ambition to surf the world’s heaviest wave, Teahupoo, in Tahiti, before his 14th birthday.

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