SARAH Baum feels "very fortunate to have two homes". Login or signup to continue reading One in Newcastle and the other, where she finds herself at the moment, halfway around the world in Durban. She says both places, in and out of the water, have played an integral part on her surfing journey to an Olympic debut in 2024.
Now based on the east coast of Australia and being in close proximity to beaches like Merewether and Redhead has helped push the South African representative. "I am very fortunate to have two homes and to call Newcastle one of them means so much to me," Baum told the Newcastle Herald . "Ever since I made the move over the city has welcomed me with open arms and I can't thank them enough.
"There is such a consistent coast line of waves and the level of surfing in the city is amazing. "It's great to have so many waves at my disposal whether it's barrels, turns or point breaks there is everything there. "So now living there it has definitely pushed my surfing in a good way.
" Baum qualified for her maiden Olympics a little over 12 months ago. Games preparations for the 2022 Surfest runner-up have been largely focused on trying to make next year's world tour via the Challenger Series. Following an emotional win in the lower-tier J-Bay Classic last month, she headed to famed break Teahupo'o.
"We had solid swell the whole week so it was great to be able to see the break when it's at its best and feel the energy firsthand," she said. "I am currently in South Africa .
