Photo: @tommywilliams.photography

Harry De Roth: In from the (Victorian) Cold

St Ives-raised Harry De Roth is back on the GB Surfing Team for the first time in more than a decade. Now living on Phillip Island in Victoria, he heads to the ISA World Championships in Peru, the first qualifying event for LA 2028.

Interview: Joel Gray

Harry De Roth has just been named as part of the GB Surfing Team for the upcoming ISA World Championships in Peru, more than a decade since last representing his country. The event kicks off November the 6th and it represents the first opportunity for athletes to qualify for the LA 2028 Olympics. Harry grew up in St Ives and as a junior was a standout amongst a very strong peer group and rose to the top of British surfing. Now settled in Phillip Island in Australia with his wife and own mini-grom, Harry’s maintained his competitive involvement through various Australian QS and Boardrider events and he’s a popular and exciting addition to the GB Team. We caught up with him just before setting off for Peru.

Well done on making the GB Team for the ISAs in Peru. How did that all come about?

Harry: Thank you! Wouldn’t have happened without people like yourself backing my case. It’s definitely something I’ve been trying to do for a while I just couldn’t get the results on the aus QS to meet their criteria and I did even try and come back last October to do the English at Fistral but it was cancelled. But luckily this time thanks to Lukas having his eyes firmly on challenger series qualification (absolutely fair enough) there was a gap in the team and I was keen to fill it!

When did you last represent GB / England?

Harry: The last time I would have represented England would have been in the Azores and the Euros in 2014 in the u16s where I managed to go main rounds the whole way to the final (even donning the red rashie for the final!) and then didn’t catch a wave so came 4th haha.

Photo: @tommywilliams.photography

What are your goals for this ISA and the whole Olympic qualification route?

Harry: I mean it’s always to win but I’m also just stoked to be back in the mix and if it can start some sort of campaign forward LA28 I’d be stoked.

You grew up in St Ives and were part of an extremely strong peer group. Who were the Brit surfers you were competing and bouncing around with in that era?

Harry: Yeah I was super lucky there was an epic group of surfers to look up to then who took me under their wing. Jayce, Lowey, Billy norways, Jack Whitfield, Tom Owens. And so many more.

How long have you been in Australia and how did that whole move come about?

Harry: We’ve been in Australia since the end of 2018 now. We’ve found a little slice of paradise with lots of waves, good work opportunities and some great people down here in Phillip Island, Victoria.

Photo: @tommywilliams.photography

Settled into Australian life, is there anything you miss about Cornwall?

Harry: You can’t beat hanging out at meor (Porthmeor) with the crew, I’ll always miss that. And family of course!

What are the main differences in the surf scene in Australia and the UK do you reckon?

Harry: I think it’s just more people seem to surf at a higher level. There’s always waves, it’s a bit warmer so even if it’s not great it’s more inviting. I just think it’s more like the average person who lives a normal life with family and work can go out and just fully rip, there’s so many underground shredders it’s crazy.