186 - Namu Drops In...on Freya Prumm

I remember, like, it was this NAS, yeah, right. And the first session I had, I got three tubes. And one of them was just the most picture I've seen you've ever seen. It was like really early in the morning. So the sun was just coming out. It was the most deepest orange in the most perfect barrel. I didn't even get touched by the lip. Yeah, Fledgens. Welcome back to Barrel's Surf Podcast on this week's show. We are back in at 2026. And Namo drops in on East Coast Power Server, Friar Prum. She's been on the radar at Barrel's Surf Podcast for a little while. Super, super interesting, human. Friar is a qualified pharmacist. She's been working in that role for a few years now, as well as competing on the WSL World Tour. Last few years has been the qualifying series as well as a stint on the challenger. So it's a real juggling act for Friar. Friar is all about mindset, getting the job done with her body and her mind. It's a really, really interesting take on the life of a professional server. So I hope you enjoy this one. Barrel's Surf Podcast. Yee-haw! Welcome back to Barrel's Surf Podcast. I'm here with you in the Shed Quarters. Very special treat for you today. We have got an incredible power, a server from the East Coast. Her name is Friar Prum. Welcome to the show, Friar. Thanks, Namo. So you've a day off today. Yeah. A little since. Yep. In all the spot, there's locations. But one of the most viewed cams in the country, probably, but we don't, we don't, we don't. 100%. I don't know. It's a place around here. And how are the waves? Yeah, pretty small, actually. I've got a bit of like north wind, so everywhere, it's sort of blowing into the face, a little bit. It's kind of neat to waste height. Yeah, the water's actually warmed up a lot, so it's been hot, just good to get out there. Yeah, nice. Small days like that. Have you got a particular sort of board that you ride? Um, I'm actually been changing up shapers, just trying different boards, so, um, like a five eight is probably like my every day kind of board for small waves, but yeah, sometimes when it's really small, I just take the fins out and just like do circles because I find that extremely challenging, um, so yeah, it's either a five eight or no fins. Five eight or no fins, yeah, okay. There you go. Um, let's want it back to Friar. So tell me a little bit about you right now, you're currently competing on the QS, you've been on the challenger before, but you're also a full time pharmacist, that's right, isn't it? How do you struggle all of that? Yeah, it's pretty, uh, difficult. So yeah, I've been competing on the world, certainly, since I finished high school. So I finished in 2009, so in 2010, I started doing the QSs and I'd never actually done a progenial either. Um, so it was pretty kind of big jump from, you know, doing a couple of rip co-grum searches when I was 16 and then vulcum had a mini series for juniors as well. So, um, going straight to that to the QS, uh, yeah, it was pretty ambitious. So yeah, I've literally been doing it ever since then. So yeah, it's been a bit of a journey and, uh, in 2013, I moved to the Gold Coast to start uni. That is a pharmacist here in a pharmacy in Pambia. So I did Bachelor of Pharmacy, um, and, uh, yeah, it's, uh, you know, I had a lot of support from my family to help me and with travel and everything, but once I got registered and everything, you know, I've been finding myself, yeah, I guess I just, why have I been doing it? So long as probably the reason, you know, the thing that everyone wants to know, and yeah, I just feel like I haven't, like, there's so much more to come and I haven't reached my potential and maybe if I could find a way to earn more money so I didn't have to work so much, um, it could just see me get more time in the water. Yeah, sure. And, you know, it could produce better results, um, because I feel I have just been on the edge of, like, the next level, kind of, a couple of times, and this year I haven't really had any big results, unfortunately, but I feel like I'm surfing my best, and I just intend to only get better. And so, you know, I'm as keen as I've ever been, I'm surfing as well as I ever have. So, you know, why would I stop, especially when it's so exciting when there's young kids, you know, they're really good people as well as being amazing surfers and, yeah, it's, it's pretty exciting for me. And it's just a giant puzzle, like, how can I get enough money? How can I get better at surfing? Like, I feel like there's answers to all these problems. And yeah, I, I guess I'm just as hooked as finding solutions to get better. So yeah, I guess that's what keeps me going. Yeah, no, so we know that, I think I know the answer to this, so we ever done any sort of crowdfunding to finance trips or anything like that. No, no, no, I haven't. So, when I, I did qualify for the challenge a full time, I'd have been in 2021. It was like the COVID challenge, so we only had four events, and you needed permission to leave the country. So, in order to do it, I had to leave Australia for, it was probably like five months. So I did kind of semi-reach out to a few kind of friends on Instagram, basically, saying, you know, I kind of need help to fund this. And yeah, I did receive a few kind of community handouts there, but I've never done a big, like, go fund me sort of thing. Yeah, I just haven't really felt comfortable doing that. Yeah, that's kind of what I was getting at. I don't, obviously, we've never met in person, but I've sort of followed a little, little way, and kind of seems to me that that's not really what would be, you know, a priority for you, rather, sort of make your own way doing that sort of thing. Yeah, and like, part of the reason is, like, you know, my father, there's a period of time where I was fully funded by my father and my parents. And, you know, my dad, you know, he has money, I could ask him for money, so I just don't feel like it's something I want to do. People, you know, need that money for themselves, and I really could actually just ask someone, but, you know, it's part of the challenge to yourself and stand on your own two feet. And yeah, you know, I don't want to be, you know, you know, I'll always be my father's daughter, but you know, there's a time where you want to be independent. Yeah, of course. Have you got other siblings? Yeah, I have an older brother, yeah, he doesn't serve, however. Done serve? No. He's kind of like an IT guy, pretty clueless, but, yeah, he was into tennis in a few other sports when we were young, but, yeah, he'd never got into serving. So what sort of joy did he just say at the beginning? I mean, look, it's a funny question. I mean, it's just the way I got into it is atypical, I think. So, you know, I have like this fear of the water. My earliest memory was like swimming lessons and having to get the earning off the bottom of the pool. I didn't realize that you couldn't breathe underwater. So, I copied all this water up my nose when I was like two or three years old. And so, you know, that kind of harshness of a sinus wall of water, you know, I just believe that being underwater was scary, right? I mean, you know, I was actually riddled with X-Men when I was a kid and I grew up in a town called Merimula. It's quite cold. So, all these factors made me not really, I didn't like the ocean, I was scared of it. I didn't want to put my head underwater, I never learned to swim because of that. And it's done like hell when I went in the ocean. So, nothing really was that great, but there was one thing, you know, I host a skateboard when I was younger. And so, I kind of could see how fun surfing would be if I just could be comfortable in the ocean. So, you know, I'm pretty lucky, both my parents surf and like the not-cooks either. Like they're both quite good. My mom, you know, she learned during like the puberty blues kind of era in Kronala, like in the '80s. And my dad, as a junior, was like sponsored and possibly could have had a career if he didn't pursue pharmacy. So, yeah, I've, you know, I really kind of respected and admired my parents. And yes, they were doing it. And my uncles, my cousins, also. So, I could see how much fun actually being on a surfboard, being on that way looked. And then, so I ended up actually learning and greeing out up here on the Gold Coast where, you know, I was in shallow water. It was warm. My ex my head kind of healed up, but that says about eight years old. And yeah, my mom would kind of push me on, I felt safe. And then, so after that sort of family holiday up here, I returned home kind of like keen to surf. My parents bought me a steamer. And, yeah, so it was probably about eight, maybe I was eight or nine years old when I actually was like, oh, you know, I could, this is fun. And it's not that scary. My rambula is on the South Coast, New South Wales, yeah. That's correct. They're fast out there. They call it. It's probably an hour north of the border. It's pretty cold. Yeah. Like the water temperature gets to about 13 in winter. Okay. That's pretty cold. It's cold enough. It's sort of like four three territory. Yeah. Yeah. So it gets like that down here as well. Yeah. But the South, you know, obviously the colder it gets. Yeah. So, started surfing down there. When did you sort of, I guess, get the feeling that hang on a minute. I'm actually pretty good at this. I mean, I don't know if I ever felt like that to be honest. I won maybe like, there's not many girls surfers from home at that time. So say, you know, I started high school in like 2000 and four. So yeah, I was barely, I was pretty much the only girl doing it. So I had no idea who was out there. I think I went to a Rikkelgrom search at Newcastle or Merubra when I was 15 or something. And I think I made the semis and I was hell nervous. I didn't really enjoy it. But I felt like I was actually better than the other girls. And I was quite competitive. Like I was very into soccer and I really just wanted to be strong and fast. And that's all that I really cared about was being fit or just being strong really. So I didn't really like losing and on the soccer field I was pretty ferocious. So I could, I was kind of, it's just that I was kind of fearful of the ocean. Like if the conditions was bigger than like, say, headhios, freaking out. So I felt like I had the potential to be okay. But then there was all these challenges that the ocean presented to me that were really, like really kill these heels for me, not being able to swim. And yeah, not really enjoying being underwater. So yeah, to be honest, I wear about 20 minutes from a town called Tathra. And so Tathra is where ex pro Clion, he's from there. And so I would cross paths with his father. And it was Clion's father that really actually said, you know, you've got a chance at this if, if you want, you know, you seem to have a reasonable head on your shoulders. You know, Clion thinks you're okay. Yeah, I guess that was the probably just having that sort of credibility from Clion, his father to suggest that maybe it's worth having a crack. Yeah, because I hadn't really seen that many girls surface when I was young. So yeah, basically went from seeing not many chicks surface at all to just stepping on to the QS. Right. Having no idea, like truly. Well, so it's a bit of a jump, so Coyote, Coyote, and then his dad, what's Coyote? I don't know how to say it, so he's chippy, isn't he? Something like that. Yeah, he's doing a trade of some kind, but I think he's got a pretty good gig, coaching. He does a lot of the challenge, you guys, maybe some of the, I think in like the Northern Beachers, they have like a, some funding allocated to supporting them on the QS and on the Challenger Series. So I think he's part of that funding and they pay for him to coach those guys. So I think, yeah, he lives in Tathor and maybe you want to be a chippy work and also still traveling. Yeah, awesome. Awesome. Yeah. Good gig. Once your sort of competitive surfing life is over, do you say Coyote, you'd like to get into it? Yeah, I would. I would. I'll do. You know, the problem is, I can't, I don't think I get it actually credited, which is I can't swim that well. I can't. You actually have to swim like 800 meters in a certain time or something like that to be like a surf coach with the accreditation, but look, I would love to. I just love like the kids are doing the QS now, like they're sort of late teens in the early 20s and, you know, I can only remember when I was that young and what sort of a person I was like, and these kids are just so advanced compared to what I was. So I would really love it if I could share anything to those guys and girls. So yeah, it is definitely something I would like to do. So even live for QS coaching, it's reasonably high level, you've got to be able to swim. I don't know, probably our surfing Australia. I mean, look, you could just do some under the table cash, of course, but to actually market yourself as a surf coach and not get sued by someone. Yeah, I think you do actually have to need some kind of certificate, but I mean, if I wanted to go on, if I wanted to really pursue it, like I'd have to try and get my swimming technique up to speed. If you can do that, if you can surf at level you surf, I'm sure you can swim together. And do you find that even now, you're sort of mentoring some of the younger crew around the events? Like, in truth, I just try and support them because I know how hard it is. I try not to give them too much advice because I don't want to say the wrong thing as well. But you know, you just want to lift them up, cheer them up. You know, when they have a loss, you know, give them a hug and like, you know, say all, but that one will seek and just focus on the positives with them and really show them that, you know, it's not the end of the world. And if you can survive the losses, that's really the hardest part about the whole thing. If you want to have longevity in the sport, just, yeah, they get you down, of course. But, you know, if you just have a system of review and you can learn from it, then, you know, and you come out stronger, then you're always winning in my opinion, even if you don't get the result. Yeah, sure. I mean, I can certainly give people some lessons on leasing. I'm even yelling outboard out of time, tend to lose all the time. So, you're on some tips on how to get through that. But what's your sort of review, you mentioned, or every review process? How do you sort of download after it or hate? Yeah, for sure. So, something I've been doing quite regularly is, I just write out all the scores, I just write the conditions of the heat, and then I give like a real quick summary of what happened in the heat. And I might add in some key points of things that happen before the heat that might have been significant, for example, you know, phone call from such and such, who said this, or Surf Coach Richo said, the bank's good straight out here, so I just add in anything that may affect the way I perform. Then I just write out all the positives, you know, what was good, like I had a good start, like I started with a 5.0. And then maybe, you know, I'll finish with some things that, yeah, I could improve on. And then I have this final section that's called Huey's Take Away, so it's kind of like, if the gods were trying to teach you something through this heat, like, like, what would it be? You know, it might be, look, I just have to back myself for it. It's just like, you know, don't be patient and wait when you don't know where the hell you're sitting. Just little bits and pieces like that, so that's kind of how I do it. Yeah, but also I'm very fortunate, I've been working with this mindset coach. So working with her has really enhanced that kind of process of, like, review and get better and improve. And it, you know, just doing these iterations instead of kind of feeling like, you know, it actually learning. So yeah, her name is Claudine Chi. And yeah, so for the last two years, we have, like, a serious debrief of what happened and it's more like she's not a technical coach, but mentally, I download on her and her insights have just been, like, mind blowing, like, I wouldn't probably still be doing it. If I didn't kind of fall upon her because, yeah, I just enjoy it so much more because I feel like I'm learning and like, in truth, while being with her, like, I've had the lowest losses that feel like the end of the world and it's because I've put so much into it, more into it than I ever have, but then once you get through that, it's like you could just get this extra boost, like, then you feel better than you ever have, like, and it all feels more possible than it ever did. So yeah, it's been a really interesting journey, but having someone who's skilled that you trust is like paramount, like, just a coach or like a mentor, best investment I've ever made, essentially. Claudine Chi, is that? That's correct, yeah. Yeah, amazing. Just to look her up, she got a website of personal stuff. Yeah, she does. Yeah, she does. Yeah. Do you take any, um, I guess, inspiration from other sports? I mean, the reason I asked her was, I was just thinking of, um, that guy Ben Cove, do you know Ben Cove? Absolutely. Yeah. So, yeah, Ben Cove, like, I actually actively wanted to learn more about, like, you know, people say it's all about mindset and who's confident. So Ben Cove was someone, you know, I'd really stumbled upon before I started working with Claudine, but some of Claudine's other athletes I started to follow. And so those are mainly ultra runners and boxes. Okay. So, yeah, I really follow them two sports now just because I kind of, I guess I, you know, I've met some of these other clients and what ultra runners do is just, it's crazy. Like, for example, you know, they run a loop, like a six K loop every hour for like three days without sleep, and it's like, so for me, it's like, you know, I'm not the best paddle of all time, but it's like, Freya, you can paddle as hard as you can for 25 minutes because someone's out there running for three days. And like, I really, like, have drawn from stuff like that and it really has given me strength to look at these other sports. Yeah, we were, yeah, boxing is something I've actually partaken in recently because I wanted to be tough. And those go has no one trains like boxes and they are just the amount of focus and skill they have to initiate, like under fatigue, like if you've ever boxed, it's like your max heart rate, the whole time, right? So just keep composure, make good decisions with that level of fatigue. I think it's kind of similar to a heat, you know, you're trying to paddle back out, you need a score, you're getting smashed in a whitewash, you know, you've got to spit on one when you can't even breathe and then you might get another hold down. So yeah, I think there are some parallels there, but unfortunately the training, the physical training just kind of tightened me up and made my posture kind of more slumpy, made my arms bigger, which all the things that I don't want. So there will be a time when I will have a go at having a real fight, I think. Yeah, that's right. I just think, you know, the fatigue they endure, but the composure they need to have in order to make the shots and have good form, I think, can be likened to, you know, what we have to do on the surf. And they're so tough, like they're punching the head all the time. I can appreciate that, which, you know, we get smashed to, and I kind of like the rotational aspect of like the biomechanics of the whole thing, but for me, it just made me quite tight in the pecs and made my arms bigger. So yeah, it's not the time for me to become a boxer. Mate, I'm just looking on the shark eyes global dot com website. And I've seen a very attractive man modeling a wetsuit with no arms. It's the Gen 3 SEO hybrid 2 mil short arm steamer. It's none other than our favorite local surfer, Pete Arnie Arnold. Mate, he absolutely rips. He's a good looking model and T-bone. I believe that is your wetsuit of choice, Judeo hairy forearms. You do not need a sunscreen on your forearms and you love a short arm steamer in summer. Is that right? I certainly do. I love, I love having my arms free in the ocean during summer. So short arm long leg is my suit of choice this summer. Something that wind west through your whiskery forearms. Very good. Yeah, guys global dot com. Check it out. They've got a whole new range of wetsuits. They're top of the wiser. Yes, archives. Do they now me tell us about the latest limited release from cheeky monkey? I'll tell you what T-bone, it is the noisy tropical hazy pale and it is an absolute delight. The can says juicy tropical pale that will keep you coming back for more balanced, highly crushable bursting with citrus pineapple and mango, a tropical fiesta if you will, yeah cheeky monkey. Holy hell, I'll be coming back for more. Yeah, you love a bit of noisy stale. Yeah. That's been saying about self podcast, it is a good time to get yourself a glass or a bottle or a case of first or state wines at them. Oh man, I've been loving the lifestyle, Shiraz 23 vintage. It's won about 74 gold medals. It's hardly, you can't even say label anymore, it's still gold medals and mate, it's very reasonably priced, especially if you go on their website, chuck in the coupon borrowed for 25% off and mate, you are drinking $100 bottle of wine for about 20 bucks. It's killer. Manuel and you're listening to Barrel surf podcast. So I know that you are pretty, pretty tough China, what sort of training do you want to daily basis? Yeah, like physical training. Yeah. Yeah. So the most valuable training that I've done was with a guy called Nam Bulbun. So Nam is a breath enhancement coach. So he really got me from not being able to, like having so much fear of being underwater to actually be able to complete these tasks underwater, confidently and calmly. So I did that twice a week for seven years, pretty much, all through uni to get me to a point where I'm actually standing in a decent sized tube now and I never thought I could ever even get smashed by a waste fire barrel. So that did so much for me and I think it would actually do so much for everyone because that level of being able to stay relaxed under that pressure or just fear will cross over to any area of life in terms of physical training when I was. So right before I started competing, I broke my jaw on a jet ski. And so I didn't really know what to do, then I knew I wanted to be strong, but I kind of was just a wiery kid and small, but wiery. And I started doing all this stuff at the gym, I didn't know I was doing, and then I met a woman called Jan Carton. Jan, I guess, is probably known in the surfing world for her work with me at Fanning and how she helped him rehabilitate a snap tam string. So she basically introduced the Czech modality into the surfing world. This is going back a good 10, 15 years. So yeah, I got wind of her and she was incredible. She taught me all about posture and why I was doing everything wrong. And yeah, but the Czech modality, the one that Jan kind of teaches is more holistic. So it's not just like physical movements, it's like your breath, your diet, your thoughts, which I think as an 18 or 19-year-old really set me up well to learn about health and have a good sort of foundation. Yeah. That's correct. Yes. So that one, sir. Yeah. Check. Paul check. Have you had a Paul check? He's like the founder. He's an American guy. Yeah. So I don't really do check stuff, but they kind of sparked my interest in training. At the moment, I'm training with a guy named Jared Da Thierry. He's got like a 40 background. He's trained with Keegan Smith, who's like a high level coach. Who's trained with like Charles Polkoun and people like that. He's over to those guy. He unearthed him. So yeah, I guess I really enjoyed Jared's training. He's a really nice guy. He feels like, you know, a brother to everyone and he just has a really nice community. You know, it's like he's not pushy. You know, we do so specific stuff. You know, it's fun to have a laugh with the girls and the girls. And it's always amazing people coming through, like you get some CT guys from through, you get some of like Olympians coming through. And yeah, we just have an awesome time. I don't really actually take it that seriously. People think I do, but I guess I'm naturally strong anyway. And it's something that I really enjoy. So yeah, I really just enjoy doing my breath enhancement training as well as doing Jared's training. It's, I always dabble in the gym with my own stuff as well. I'm not very mobile. So for me, it's all about how can I increase my range, range of motion? See some positions, like particularly on the forehand that people get into is like that Cossack squat that's really kind of harsh on everyone who doesn't have world class mobility. You're quite tall. Yeah. What's that, Terry? You're quite tall. How tall, Lee? Super tall. 171 centimetres. I think that's 5.7. But yeah, I'm kind of like short legged and long torso, which is unusual for a female. So yeah, I just love it. I'm interested in it being, you know, after studying pharmacy, we do like a whole anatomy physiology, like a year of it. So I'm just really into all of that and then the body makes sense to me. So it's just, yeah, some people hate it that I care, but for me, I just love it all. Give me all the details. Yeah, amazing. Going back to the breath, where I've done a course with some of the guys over here. Shark eyes. Breath. Where do you go to when you're, where's your happy players when you're having a big bath out? I don't have a happy place, actually. I don't know. Yeah, I don't have a happy place, really. I just, yeah, I just try and just go dead in the body, you know, that's my tactic. But to be honest, there's only one time I feel like my training has truly been challenged and that was it in the ass. I feel like that was the closest I've come to drowning, which is actually the heat in the ass. But other than that, I feel like I haven't fully, fully been in trouble and been like challenged. Where I actually have to go, right, if you don't relax now, like you're in trouble. Yeah, well, let's hear about the near swipe out. Yeah, sure. So it was two years ago, and it was cooking. It was like the best in the ass. It was like six to eight, right? And one of the day, they ran all men because it was just cooking and like, it was a wise move by the other cell to do that because there's not many women who would take good advantage of these conditions. So I was on like one of the first or second heats the next morning, so it was still quite big. So we had like a five wave set, I think, and I was very scared. I was scared the whole time. And so I promised myself that I would just go, you know, what's the worst that can happen? And so yeah, I did that. It was a road set right at the start of the heat. I was pretty deep, I let the first one go. I looked around, and now the other text really wanted to borrow it. And so I just went and yeah, I made the drop like we felt just and got tubebed. And I remember like being in the tube thinking, oh yeah, I'm coming out here. And all of a sudden, I was underwater. Like I don't remember the transition of come, like thinking, yeah, I'm coming out here. And then all of a sudden I'm underwater, but I remember thinking, I just wanted to be cool and like stand tall and like, you know, live that dream. But then my brain was like, no, like there's so much energy, like you've got a brace, you know, if you copper lip on the head or something. And then yeah, so I managed to think all that, but then suddenly I was underwater. And so I remember if you get sort of deepish into a breath hold, you'll feel a diaphragm contraction. And so I was doing that already and I was like, oh, this isn't good. So I come up from the first one and I felt like I was under for a while, but I wasn't stressed or anything, but I could feel that like physiologically, you know, I was strained, but mentally I was okay. And then I look back at my board snap and, you know, I can't swim right. And so I've got the board snap just above the tail pad. So I've got the flim years bit of foam and it's like three meters away from me because the leg is just fully stretched out and the board's miles away. And then yeah, I've just copped the next sort of four, like six footers kind of on the head, just in the worst spot you can be at now. Sort of the end section. It actually kind of converges and there's a lot of energy there. And so I think by the time I copped all of them, probably the last white wash, I'd didn't actually have the energy to swim back up. Like if I had copped another one, I don't think I could have got back up. And like I only had this flimsy bit of board by then. So I could barely like, I only got to it, you know, after four or five waves. And I remember when my caddy got to me finally, I couldn't lift my arms. Like I did, it was just so spent. I didn't have the energy to paddle. Like I've never been through that intensity during training. And you know, we could be training and be underwater for quite a bit, you know, at least two minutes, sometimes, not actively, but passively. And then, you know, actively, probably one minute at least. So yeah, just to be in a position where I'm, you know, probably can't swim to the top. And I can't lift my arms to paddle, like, yeah, that was pretty much the spent as I could ever be. But it is my own fault because I can't really swim. So I'm confident with the board, but without a board and it's just me, like I'm not that good. I don't swim well enough out of the impact zone. So I don't know, getting back out, getting out of the wave, but I only get in twos and threes because I wasn't deep enough. I lost the heat, actually, but the problem was, like, if my board didn't snap, I would have just been feeling like a hero, like, cooled into the biggest room, my life straight back out, straight into another one, probably wouldn't have made it. But yeah, because it's now, then, yeah, I went from, like, yeah, just need, like, could have been, you know, her worries to, like, you know, need dead kind of thing. Yeah. So, yeah, lost first round. This is a real shame. Yeah. So they keep the broadcast videos for the QS events. I might have a look it up. I'm not sure. I'd be happy to send it to you. It's on my Instagram, like, the wave I would have pulled into somewhere. Oh, check it. So, yeah. I mean, it's funny. It's from the side. It looks solid. But looking into the tube, it doesn't look that big, but looking from, like, straight on. Yeah. It's reasonable. So, when you're at NAS, it sort of does that almost double up thing, doesn't it, when the bigger sense comes? Yeah. Yeah. The thing about NAS, like, the bigger it is, the heavier it is, like, it doesn't just break out and feather, like, you know, some big waves, like, they'll just, you know, feather out the back somewhere. It just turns more slabby. So it's like, yeah, you don't really want it to be like, it's like, are you able to say in that classic footage where the boat kind of gets in the way on that huge excels well, like, that's just a mega slab, you know. So it wasn't that big, obviously, but it demonstrates it gets heavier as the swell gets to be gone. Yeah, for sure. We actually spayed some Matt Bronley, the South African safer, about his wave that he got on that day and he said, yeah, it was as heavy as anything he's ever said. Yeah. It's wild. There's so much. It feels like a tsunami. Like, there's just so much ocean in it. It's hard to describe because it's in a bay, right? So it almost feels like the whole bay is coming out in. It's funny because it's actually such an amazing learning wave when it's small and then just like the bigger it gets, the more gnarly it gets, it's quite funny. But it can actually suit any surfer that wave from a big wave guy when it's 10 foot to like, you know, a beginner when it's one to two foot. So yeah, it's an interesting wave. And yeah, it's created by the earthquake, really, because the wave was a lot of difference prior to an earthquake that they had back in the early 2000s. Yeah, yeah, the 2004 tsunami, which really, yeah, that's right. That's right. The whole area. So it produced the wave, the wave's and made near. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So the thing is, right before it was sort of four foot, before, really? Yeah. I heard it was mella and longer and more rippable kind of thing, whereas this is more, now it's more kind of slaby and short. Yeah. Yeah. So you've been back to near a couple of times since then? Yeah. Only for the comp. Yeah. What's that story? The drama in the next two years? Yeah. Actually, yeah. Trauma from heat losses, to be honest. I remember, like, like, it was this NAS, yeah, right. I was like, really early in the morning. And I got three beautiful little tubes. And it's very hard to get waves at NAS during the contest, right? So that was my first session. And I was like, I'm on here. Like, I've always dreamed of winning this wave. I got third once, and then I nearly died. Like, this is my year. And then, so the morning of my heat, it was just cooking. Like, and the tide was dropping, I think. The tide was doing something favorable. And then, so I was just, right, I'm getting tubeed here. Everyone's getting tubeed on morning. And then for my heat, it just didn't tube. No wave tube in my heat. So I waited for tubes. And like, the chicks on their back end, they really do square up and they kill it. So I couldn't quite do the job on just four hand turns. I was really hoping to get bowed. And then, so I lost my heat. And then you just watch every other chick get tubeed in the next heat. And then also into the mains. And then, yeah, just on the wrong side of it, hey, I was bummed out. - So that was your seat? - That was your seat, yeah. - The next grand picture from, looks like it's 2024, where you're in a big old keg, in a blue rashy. - Right. - Is it a bid, yeah, that was the one that nearly killed me, I'd say, yeah. - That was the one. - Wow, okay. - And there might be a movie if you, if you have a look around those tiles on Instagram, there'd be probably a movie of me probably pulling in and not making it. - Yeah, okay, I'll check that out. But yeah, the only, you say it doesn't look big from the side, it looks like a pretty big barrel to me. That's. - And full tall. - Thank you, appreciate that. Yeah, it's big enough, but yeah. If I didn't break my board like I was so on, you know, I would have had all the conference in the world. - You know, when you get a sick tube and you don't make it, and you're a bit scared, but then you got over the fear, and you got the reward of getting chewed, and you supplied the wipe out. So that combination is like, right, I'm super woman. And I would have been like that first wave of my heat, but instead, I nearly died. So. - And so I did see, I sort of was watching a little bit of the Philippines event this year, and you got a pretty bloody sick one in that one, too. - Yeah, thank you. Yeah, that was a bit similar, actually. Or not similar, but you know, when you're on, and you're like, yeah, it's my event, like, you know, 'cause I was quite ill in that heat, actually, that first heat. And then, yeah, second heat, I felt good, and then, yeah, couldn't buy a wave in the third heat, which is, it's really, it's a harsh round to lose in the round of 16, because, you know, if you get into the quarters and say you lose in the quarters, you've got a fifth, right? And so that's a key part, technically, am I right? But then if you just lose in that round before, you know, you surf and good, but you don't actually, you're not actually coming out with anything, like a result. So there was a tough, I'll throw the toughest loss of face, 'cause I just, 'cause after last year, so the year prior, I lost to young Charlie, Haley, she had a blender on her backside, and, you know, I was struggling a little bit, but then I got a nine-five. So I got this nine-five mid-heat, and then it stopped breaking. So I felt like I never got my chance to, to get my back up from the nine-five. So then this next event, this year, I had that firmly in my brain, like, oh, great. You know, I've had a nine-five out here before. I've got unfinished business. So it was looking like, yes, this is on, but unfortunately, I lost in that round of 16. Yeah, that sucks, I mean. So, you know it's up to that. What do you hear me take away from there? That's a good question. Well, to be honest, I think it was about adaptability. So that morning, it was really fun and tubing. I was expecting to get tubes, but it wasn't, and I just didn't adapt to the conditions. So it's like, I can come in with all the intent in the world to get bowed to win, to do this. But at the end of the day, I've got to match what Julie's giving me, and it wasn't tubes. And, yeah, as much as I want to get tube, it wasn't happening. So, you know, two-sixes would have got it done, but that's still quite an ask two-sixes. You know, I think I lost needing a 4.3 or something like that. So I should have adapted to what was going on. Hit the inside and done a big rote. Yeah, yeah. So I've seen you've got your air game. Is that something you're just constantly working on, or is it, and you think, please? No, it's not only seeing it all. Unfortunately, I have a bit of a. I'm not going to say it's skating background, but that I skated before I surfed. So not, I'm familiar with, you know, doing little ears and all these and things like that. So, when I was 13, I did my first chop-off, and it was the best at my life. I just thought I was going to be an aerialist, and I love the feeling of. When the fins are free and you've kind of got no traction, and being in the air, and spinning. And unfortunately, I just haven't really progressed that much from 13-year-old Freya. And, yeah, it kind of breaks my heart a little bit for myself in a strange way. But, yeah, I do enjoy spinning the aloe direction. It comes natural to me, but the aerobus direction, very difficult. I've only ever done, say, like, five to seven aerobuses in my life, starting from age 21, I learned my first one. So, yeah, I would just love to focus on ears. Like, that'll be so much fun. Have you done magic yourself? I don't know, not really. I mean, I have been to Waco, but I've never surfed in a wave pool on air setting, which, you know, it's about 10 grand an hour or something. Yeah, so, like, you've got to book out the whole pool so you can just, or you and your mates can do it. And I think it's a bit cheaper, you know, Australia than, say, Waco in America. But, yeah, that would be sick. Like, that would be my dream come true. Like, I just, like, I remember one time was skating at the HPC into their phone pit, like, just launching off the end. Or, no, sorry, onto big mats of air. And that was the second best air in my life. Like, that was so much fun. Like, I just love all that. Is there any plans for Waco's round where you are? You know, I do hear of things. I do hear of it. Like, you hear of Orky doing something up north of the hear of Nick and Parker jumping in on things. But maybe, so there's a cello called Parkwood, which is kind of Southport. I thought that I think you were doing something up there. But, yeah, I'm not really in the loop with those kind of things. Yeah, yeah. I've sort of, we've talked to a few people in the Waco world and they're supposed to be running, one coming to Perth. Oh, I see. Yeah, so they're talking the end of 2026. I can't really see that happening. But down here, we're like, yeah, bring it on. So that I feel like I'm from Perth down to this area. Sort of stay at the way full. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I don't know if you realize it's getting more and more crowded by the day down this way. So it's really, oh man. I haven't been to WA since 2018. But yeah, I just can't wait to the day I get back. It's so good over there. Yeah, it's pretty good. It's, yeah, no complaints from here. Let's talk about 2026 for you, Frey. What are your sort of plans and goals for next year? Yeah, so unfortunately for me, I can't call five for the Challenger series. We've got two events left. Like say, I won every event to come. Yeah, it wouldn't be enough. So yeah, I'm really just going for the win regardless. There's sort of like a pressure-free kind of thing. And so yeah, just I really want to, what's that? Sorry. Where are the next two events? So I think this is speculative. Oh, there's definitely one at Berli. It's been announced in February. And I have a suspicion the next one, the finishing event will be in Phillip Island. Okay. So there's supposed to be US 4,000s. And yeah, that'll wrap it up. So yeah, just keen to go for the win for those. And I'm pretty keen to continue next into another QS season. I'm not sure what it'll bring. Maybe I'll only do the ones I want to do. We did Korea this year at the Wave Pool. I could probably drop that. That was a bit. It wasn't my favorite event. It was a good, great pool. It was just sort of in an industrial area when it was bad. I didn't have the best time there. But anyway, it's a lot of money as well. So maybe I could just pick and choose my events a bit more. I'm not sure. Yeah, so I'm not too sure how I'll play it. But I'm keen. I feel like I'm surfing as well as I have. Yeah, it's just like the finish, the thing is tricky. But you know, work, I don't mind work. Like, I really enjoy working at the hospital when I do. That's been a really positive thing for me in terms of just my own learning. But yeah, working in community is a bit more of a drag. But yeah, it just actually allows me to scrape it together. So I can do what I do. So yeah, if I got a bit of help, then yeah, it'd be 100%. Yes. You know, if I had my time again, I'd probably try and do some trips instead of just putting all the eggs into the competing basket and just to improve myself, I think sort of thing before hitting it so intensely. But yeah, I'm definitely keen and expect me back on the QE in 2026. Yeah, no, so the way that it works is here. How many of the qualifying series moved to the challenger and the Australian Asian region? My understanding is that in the women's, it's four. And then they have a wild card as the fifth. Wow, that's-- and how many of-- because there's six or seven events, how many scores are actually going to your event title? I think it's your best four events, actually. Might be five, but I have a feeling it's only four. Well, I'm looking at the ratings now. And I reckon if you win 2/4,000, you're in the Big Show. Well, the second mention. I don't think so. Well, if you add 8,000 points and then say minus my two lowest points, because they will get replaced. And then I think it only brings me up to about fifth or sixth. And that's assuming no other-- no other in that top four do anything at all. I mean, look, you're welcome to challenge my math, because perhaps I don't do it so really enough. No way, can you mean? Hey, I can do my basic calculations that I need at work. But there's no calculus going on, that's for sure. So yeah, I mean, it is what it is. Like, it's funny how I just feel like I'm in such a better place mentally and physically and performance-wise, but then I haven't gotten the results this year. Because yeah, it feels so much further ahead. You know, that's life and results. Improvement is nonlinear. Just because the results aren't there, it doesn't mean you've progressed massively. And you might be having the worst day ever, and that's when you actually get the win. So who knows? Namo, it's just a pretty fun journey at the moment. Yeah, and I guess the other thing is, you know, win, lose, draw, hey, handle it, and what sort of a person you are, it's going to farm more important in a lot of the times. It's hard to say that when you don't get through a hey, but-- No, no, that's 100%. Yeah, I definitely agree with you. You know, it is for me being the vehicle of personal development above all else. It took me a while to realize that. And that's kind of what kept me in the game, because I think it's for me, like I choose to take on hard things, because I see the value in that. And then I think when hard things occur without me choosing, then I'm more equipped to deal with them, if that makes sense. So it is kind of that. And financially, it makes zero sense. But yeah, like, it's basically an investment in the self. So I mean, what better thing than to spend money on your own development? It is a lot of money, but yes, it's a good journey. And I don't regret it. And-- Do you have any support from sponsors to travel? And that's what I think, or is it just 100% off for you? Yeah, nothing financial at the moment. Definitely looking for partners, actually. So I do have a bit of a crew helping me out with that. So yeah, that would really make a whole lot of difference, I think, because I do spend, like, I work full time when I'm home, like I'd probably regularly clock 40 hour weeks. So, you know, there's so much light, you know. I can surf before work and after work. It's just the after work, surfs, they're just-- I'm just psychologically spent, and then physically quite tight as well, just from standing up, you know, all day. So I can see how my training would improve a lot. If I just didn't have to be in a pharmacy, you know, for eight or 10 hours of the day. And how much fresher I could be in training. But-- and just the freedom of actually-- I can only surf d-bar before work, because that's all I have time for. Whereas, you know, I could go to Ballona, and it would be big-out, right? So just having that time to search for better waves, I think, would be valuable also. So yeah, I don't receive any-- like I get discounts and things like that, which is awesome. I appreciate that. And you know, I've had, you know, a travel from on a mission. He's like helping me out for 10 years or something, you know. Yeah, you know, I get sort of services and things, you know, like free accommodation with surface days that they all are nice for me. Yeah, I do get some awesome perks, don't get me wrong. But yeah, yeah, money is-- You're not scared. It makes it a bit different. Get you to even just do part-time in the pharmacy while you're home. Yeah. Yeah, that'd be cool. That's funny. So yeah, let's get that over now. Any sponsors that want to give Freya some backing? Getting contacts. Hey, how can we get in contact with you in terms of your socials, and that's with you? Yeah, I have Instagram. It's just my name, which is Freya Prom. I definitely are very active on that. I love hearing from everyone. I really try and engage with anyone that comments or sends me a message. I really just actually value authentic, real communication. I've had some people respond to me with AI just in emails and text message. And it really-- yeah, really annoyed me. So I'm all about having conversation. And if anyone wants to ask me anything, like I really enjoy sharing what I'm doing or if I know what it's like, tips or just share experience, yeah, I really enjoy actually interacting with people that I don't know on Instagram. It's just one of the perks of doing what I'm doing, actually. So yeah, that'll be sure. So be sure. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, I was so happy to see you comment there. And yeah, then I'll listen to a couple of your bodies. And yeah, so good. You've won yourself with new fans. Amazing, I love it. I love it. Who are some of the girls that are on the QS right now that you think are really going to sort of make a big dent in the future? I reckon Young Ziggy, Loha McKenzie. So I think she may have grown up, or spent a lot of time in Bali. She's doing schooling on the Gold Coast now. Or she may have recently graduated. I'm not sure. She won Philippines. And she's just got this beautiful, like, forehand towel. It's just so fast and sharp, really nice, too. Awesome. Yeah, I just feel like she's got the package. Yeah, amazing little game and young Isla Harpett. Like the moment I saw her, she's already technically very good. And her strengths is kind of what the judge is really like. And that you can just hit the lip really well and really fast. So she'll definitely do well. Young Milo. I'm not sure. Was it Milo Toker? Brown. What's her son in? Yeah, Milo Toker Brown. Yeah. I like this girl. She's good character. Real good character, like, yeah. And yeah, she's quite fun to surf with. She's got the, she's amazing skater. I feel like seeing a video is such a good skater. And she's fearless, very technically good in the lip. Like got the air revs and staff charges. Like if she wanted to compete full time, I really feel like she could do that if that's what she chooses. I think she's maybe taking another route at the moment. But yeah, if she wanted to, I feel like she's up there. Yeah, so I mean, those three girls are quite young. They'd be left 18, 19, 17, 16, half the tail. We came across Milo Tolo's this year on an island next to us doing a sun bum trip. So there, who was there? There was, I'm having a Huey Vaughan and Miller and a few sort of young Americans doing a sun bum trip. And we were like, oh my god, here's a bunch of young pros. It's going to be a nightmare. Do you know what, that was so super friendly and respectful on this one's your concept on doing this? I couldn't believe it. I was like, there's no way that would happen in WA, right? Yeah, sure. Yeah, they're good kids actually. Yeah. Yeah, she has been polite to me in the lineup. She definitely goes a lot of ways. But she will, if she's seen that I'm waiting, she will actually ask me if I'm going. And I respect that. And so, yeah, I'll have you do it to share, share a few with her. Yeah, I think she's got a bright future, so sure as to the other two. And look, I'm sure there's many that I haven't mentioned, but there's three come to mind. Yeah, yeah, awesome. And what's, what's your sort of take on women's professional surfing in general over next year or two? Because obviously we've got, you know, we're just coming back and Steph coming back to the tour next year. How do you sort of say that going? Yeah, like I couldn't be more excited for what's to come. Like in 2026 on the CT, like, you know, just having Steph back, like it's like the goats that we know of, like Steph and Carissa versus Katie and Molly, like to me, that's, that's all it is. Like I'm so happy about that. And obviously all the other cheeks are killing it too. But just to see those four together at the best of their game, like I haven't seen much of Steph's surfing. Obviously she's a goat and she roots, but I saw a clip of Carissa at Hallieva. Did you see that? Yeah. And like, were you going away? Because I was, I was like, that's good surfing. And so I just can't wait to see how that unfolds. So I'm really pumped. And yeah, I think, yeah, it could be a special year because do we know the futures of Steph and Carissa, you know, maybe they'll wrap it up soon. I'm not sure. Maybe Carissa not. Maybe Steph. Like, I don't know. I have no idea. I don't have this fall. And like, I'm sorry, I got a throw tire in there too, because she's incredible. And yeah, I'm just super pumped on it, like, yeah, it could be a really special year to have the goats just go on at it on Preston. And what about yourself in terms of the QS next year, potentially get on into the Challenges series? Pops into the Challenges series rotation now. So how do you reckon you go apart? Well, I have, I was actually, when I was on the challenge of that one year in 2021, there was a QS 1,000 at-pipe. So I entered this event and I didn't get in, but Carissa more pulled out. So I got a spot in this part event, right? So I have experienced a part, oddly enough, competitive experience, can you believe it? So look, I mean, you know my background of not being able to swim, being fearful underwater, blah, blah, blah, blah. So, you know, this whole competition, professional surfing, being a vehicle for my personal development, I just think there is no better way to really put that to the test than to be in like a high level event at part, like you're kidding me. That's like that would be like a fairy tale, like, you know, a living embodiment of that. So if that could happen, you know, I'd be so happy. And how I would go, I'd be terrified, but I'm hoping, but, you know, I would prepare thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly, yeah. I haven't been to Hawaii since it's very expensive, unfortunately. And so I use this kind of off season to work a lot. So yeah, I would probably just do whatever I can to make sure I could spend maximum time in Hawaii. So I haven't been training in the pool that much at the moment because the waves are tiny and like, I've got to work so I can't get to the pool when we have our classes. So yeah, I would just really double down on time underwater. And yeah, I don't know, I'd love to have a crack. And if it was right, I think I'd do okay. Backside would be more difficult, but look, you know, if you go, if you're in it and you have a girl and you don't hold back like that, that's a win for me. Anyone who is out there and sending it, you know, that's really commendable in my books. I totally agree with you. And as my son would say, just from the vision of last couple of years, comps in the Philippines and Indonesia and everything, you're absolutely sending it. So I don't think you'd have any issue at part whatsoever. Oh, thanks. We are going to mount their Spray Prone. Yeah, please. Yeah. That would be awesome. Change the challenger from the QS, getting some on actual assistance through your incredible work that you will be doing with your new sponsors. That's going to happen. So I can feel them. Thanks. Now I appreciate that. Let's get that out there. All right. So we're going to wrap this one up, Fra, we'll keep it under on our hour so that people can have a little listen on their commutes and stuff. Yeah. All right. Kissing. You want to leave the audience with? Just get out there. Rain, hail, or shine. I don't know. Surfing's the best thing you can do if you're a surf, or you're the most lucky human on the planet. I was born with two parents who surf. So that makes me the ultimate gift receiver. But yeah, I think it gives us everything if we let it, so don't let bad waves stop you from having a good time out there. Get amongst it, people. I really, really appreciate you coming on Barrel's Surf podcast, Fra, and I reckon let's check in with you sometime next year to just say how things are trucking. Yeah. Awesome. You know, regardless of what you do, where you go and everything else, you're a success in my books. So love having you. Thank you. That means a lot. Thank you so much. Yeah. You're a super interesting cat too. So I want to want to hear more about it next year. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. I'd love to be back. So just you make the call and I'll be there. Nice one. All right. Thanks, Fra. And we will catch you next time on Barrel's Surf podcast. Thanks for listening. Bye. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC]