Hi, my name is Emily Morcom and I will be commencing the Bachelor of Paramedic Science at USC this year. I compete in Surf boat rowing for Dicky Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. I have been involved with lifesaving for around 10 years now and I absolutely love it. I am also a Patrol Captain and enjoy the challenge of keeping our beaches safe for the general public. I have competed in most areas of surf lifesaving including surf sports, surf rescue (first aid, patrol competition) and surf boats. I am about to finish my second year competing in surf boats with a few major carnivals (States and Aussies) left to round off the season.
We have found success as a team in major carnivals including making the finals of both the Australian Surf Boat Rowers League and also the Queensland State Titles. We were also very well placed to make the finals of the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships (Aussies) earlier last year before being hit with a massive wave in our final heat. One of my favourite things about competing in surf boats is the variety of training sessions that are required to maintain my fitness. My weekly schedule consists of boat sessions, ergo (rowing machine) sessions, gym sessions and circuit training. Ideally, my team trains 3 time in the boat, 2 ergo sessions, 1 gym session and 1 circuit session, plus any extra training we do, like running. I would say that the boat sessions are by far my favourite as they can be quite exciting and we get to catch waves! These sessions allow the team to practice in the ocean where the surf is never predictable, sometimes even ending up with all my team members in the water and the boat upside down!
When it comes to race day surf boat carnivals, it well and truly gets the adrenaline pumping for both competitors and spectators alike, especially when the surf is up. The sport requires an equal amount of fitness, courage, and total trust and reliance on all of your team mates. One of the most common quote on the beach when you have trained for months and then been subject to an unlucky wave is "That's surf boat rowing!" This unpredictability is one of the reasons that staying at the top of this sport is so difficult and winning a coveted medal at Aussies so prised by all rowers.
When it comes to race day surf boat carnivals, it well and truly gets the adrenaline pumping for both competitors and spectators alike, especially when the surf is up. The sport requires an equal amount of fitness, courage, and total trust and reliance on all of your team mates. One of the most common quote on the beach when you have trained for months and then been subject to an unlucky wave is “That’s surf boat rowing!”. This unpredictability is one of the reasons that staying at the top of this sport is so difficult and winning a coveted medal at Aussies so prised by all rowers.
I am excited to bea part of the USC High-Performance Student Athlete Program as I believe it will assist me with pursuing both my sporting and academic goals. A part of my decision to apply to USC to study Paramedics is the flexibility this program affords with my chosen sport. I am looking forward to utilising all of the great facilities available for training and also attending the clinics that HPSA provides.
