When Ethan Ewing first began competing on the junior surfing circuit, his rivals developed a nickname for the young Australian. Even as a teenager, the North Stradbroke surfer exuded preternatural composure while in the water during a heat. He would sit in the middle of the line-up with priority, the right to take off on any given wave, and control proceedings. While other surfers chased smaller sets, taking off on wave after wave, Ewing knew he only needed two scores to win a heat. He would sit still and wait for the right wave, the right moment to pounce.
When it came, more often than not Ewing would perfectly execute and secure a heat-winning score. His unflappable focus earned him the nickname “Ice Man”, and a junior world title. Nearly a decade on, as the Olympics loom in barely 100 days’ time, the world number two’s steely edge has him in contention for a gold medal at Paris 2024.
