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Honestly, I don\u2019t really know what to expect yet. It\u2019s my first time doing it, so everything will be new and probably a little uncomfortable at times. But I feel lucky that the first three stops are all in Australia, which gives me a bit of familiarity. I\u2019ll also have my friends and family around supporting me, and I think that will help a lot going into those events. Hopefully I can start the year well and build from there\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oscar\u2019s surfing approach borrows more than a little from his evolved skateboarding act; he\u2019s competed in high level skateboarding events and that experience should also help him perform in front of CT crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy biggest weapon is my variety. I think I\u2019m well-rounded and can do well in most kinds of waves,\u201d he states confidently. \u201cWhatever is thrown at me, I feel like I can deal with it. I love doing airs, getting tubed and laying down big turns. I love it all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the Championship Tour can be grueling and ruthless, Berry is determined to enjoy competing at the top level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Balancing the seriousness while still having a good time while doing it. Obviously when it\u2019s time to compete you lock in for your heats and take it seriously, but outside of that it\u2019s important to keep things light. You\u2019ve got to soak it all in, because if you put too much pressure on yourself and make everything too serious, it can start to feel like a grind. So, for me it\u2019s about keeping it fun and not taking things too seriously when you don\u2019t have to\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oscar is sponsored by The Mad Hueys, a group of larrikin Australians who surf, fish and know how to have a good time. He’s also formed a core friendship group with the likes of fellow competitors Joel Vaughan, Dakoda Walters and more. It’s the sense of comradery which has served Oscar well so far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That jovial nature was on full display when Oz was eliminated in the Round of 32 in Merewether. Despite finishing last in the heat, it was still enough to qualify for the CT and to celebrate he nailed a shoey on the shoreline with The Hueys and his mates, who were repping special ‘Oscar Berry’ tees made specifically for the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead to next month, starting the CT season at home is always a bonus for Australian athletes. Oscar is looking forward to sharing the experience with his tight-nit crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It’s all about who you surround yourself with. I\u2019ve got a bunch of really good friends and family around me and the way they celebrated with me when I qualified meant more than anything. It\u2019s nice having dinner together, good banter with the lads and once the comp\u2019s done maybe a few beers and just enjoying the moment\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Berry will have a couple of weeks to adjust equipment and strategies until the CT begins at Bells, but he\u2019s understandably eager to experience what happens beyond the Australian leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I\u2019m really excited for the El Salvador event because the waves look amazing. It actually looks really similar to the wave I grew up surfing at Angourie Point. And then, obviously, Fiji, Tahiti and Pipe – those are some of the best waves in the world. I grew up watching people surf those places, so the fact that I\u2019ll get a chance to go there and hopefully get a few waves is pretty special. You never know, I might even get the wave of my life in a heat, which would be pretty sick\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every surfer has a list of rivals they\u2019d love to share the lineup with. For Oscar Berry, that list falls into two categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It would be cool to face Joel Vaughan, he\u2019s one of my best friends, hopefully later in an event. But it\u2019s also going to be insane to face former world champions. I\u2019ll probably come in with a pretty low seed, so there\u2019s a good chance I\u2019ll be up against those guys early. I\u2019m really excited for those opportunities. It\u2019s going to be good fun\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oscar comes in as an underdog against pretty much anyone he faces on the CT, but that\u2019s also where his opportunity lies. The Tour\u2019s established stars should be on notice \u2013 the rookie is hungry for success after a solid Challenger Series campaign that saw him reach two semifinals and deservedly earn his spot on Tour after only his second full CS season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What can we expect from the natural footer who brings a little skate-inspired flair to the tour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12646,"featured_media":125522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,20,332,5547],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-news","category-slider-home","category-slider-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tracksmag.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Oscar-Berry_26NewcastleCS_HAN08963_Hannah-Anderson-1024x683.jpg\")
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