MARGARET River’s Billy Hampton was crowned Australia’s best male kiteboarder when he claimed victory at the National Kiteboarding League grand final on the Gold Coast last month.
Hampton came out on top after four days of action against the best from Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking to the Mail this week, Hampton said he got into the sport in 2009 when he was nine years old.
“I watched my Dad learn to kite and through it was great fun,” he said.
“After a lot of nagging he finally got me a beginners kite which I managed to master in a couple of weeks.
“This made him realise I was serious so he bought me a decent kite and I haven’t looked back since.”
Hampton won the right to compete in the Queensland grand final after he claimed victory in the WA state event at Secret Harbour in Mandurah in January.
“The wind in the final was very inconsistent and not what I’m used to coming from WA,” he said.
“The standard of the riding was very high and I had to keep focused.
“Luckily I did have the edge on my competitors and I was absolutely stoked to get the win.”
Hampton, who is studying to finish highschool, said once he graduated he would like to see where the sport takes him including an event in Dakhla, Morocco he has his eye on.