Leihani’s latest accolade’s only a step towards becoming the first Aboriginal female surfer on the world tour

Leihani Zoric, age 9, Year 4 student at Lennox Head Public School has won the 2022 NSW Department of Education’s Nanga Mai award for outstanding performance in sport.

Leihani Zoric was put on a surf mat at the beach when she was just days old. The beach is literally her backyard.

At just nine years of age Leihani has already achieved great things in surfing and dreams of becoming the first Aboriginal female surfer on the world tour. 

NITV Radio caught up with Leihani Zoric, her mum Kirsty Zoric and schoolteacher Mrs Alicia Morgan in the sidelines of the awards presentations.

Alicia Morgan (teacher Lennox Head Public School), Kirsty Zoric (mum0, Leihani Zoric and Deb Langfield (Principal LHPS)

Listening to her speak about her performance and goals one gets the impression Leihani is very focused and truly on track to make her dream come true.

Mainly competing against much older competition, Leihani Zoric has won many accolades including Junior Under 18s winner at the Wandiyali Indigenous Surffest Classic, Open Women’s 2nd place; picked for Talent ID Selection Camp 2022 by Surfing Australia; etc.