THE next women’s world champion surfer may very well be living on Phuket.

Annissa Tita Flynn is already turning heads, as well as good waves, as she impresses everyone with her surfing ability. And all at just eleven years of age.

Annissa, a pupil at Phuket Thai Hua School, is a quiet girl who loves the water. At the weekend she spends every available minute practising her moves on the waves and will often persuade her father, Michael, to take her to the beach, during the week, if she finishes her homework early. It’s this dedication to the sport that has brought her success.

“She was born under water in a spa birthing bath in Sydney Australia and we haven’t been able to keep her out of water ever since,” said Michael.

He used to take Annissa to Kathu to the cable skiing centre where she and her friends would spend all day learning new water skiing skills and having fun. Over a period of a few months the entrance price rose from 200 baht a day to 1500 baht a day, so Anissa turned her hand, or rather her feet, to surfing.

“It just got too expensive to go there every day,” said Michael. “Most of the Thai kids we know stopped going too.”

Michael bought her a learning board, which Annissa ignored. She went straight onto a long board and in a short period of time had taught herself to surf. By watching other surfers and listening to advice from the more experienced she quickly developed into a good surfer and pretty soon wanted to enter competitions.

Annissa’s first competition was at Kalim beach near Patong. She came first in her age group, the Grommets (or Groms), beating well established surfers in the process. She then immediately entered the women’s competition (Wahines) and took everyone by surprise by coming second to a semi-professional surfer from Australia.

As well as prize money she also won a selection of surfing clothing from Roxy.She was invited to compete in the “Quiksilver King of The Groms” surfing competition in Kuta Beach, Bali.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what I can do in Bali,” she said

Following her success on the water Annissa met with the Governor of Phuket, Wichai Praisangob, who presented her with her prizes. After Bali, Annissa returns to Phuket and will no doubt be entering the other local competitions organised throughout the Summer Season.

There is no doubt that she is a talented surfer and has the potential to be world class.