Welsh warrior Josie Hawke battled through sickness last weekend to step onto the podium twice at the CroydeProJunior 2026 sponsored by The Thatch.

The multiple Welsh Nationals winner and last year’s Rip Curl GromSearch UK champ showed her mettle against some of the nation's best junior surfers to place second in the U16 and third in the U18 girls division at pumping Croyde.

We caught up with the Pembrokeshire shredder to see how things unfolded in North Devon.

How did the competition go for you?

I spent International Women’s Day the Croyde Pro Junior surf competition. On the first day the surf was amazing I managed to win all my heats and get the highest single-wave score out of all the girls on the Saturday. I had one stacked heat with the English and Boardmasters champion in midtide Croyde producing a steep left with multiple sections.

Take us through your mindset as you prepared for your heats

I was talking to GB Surfing coach Luke Dillion before the heat, and decided to take his advice and sit on the peak. Just seeing those waves rolling in as I paddled out got me so psyched, I forgot I was in a heat and I just wanted to score nearly empty clean and sunny Croyde.

I got the opportunity when a set came and all the others were on the inside, and managed to score an 8 to get me through to the semi-final. That was a heat I’ll never forget.

How did second day go?

On Sunday, I woke up feeling ill and threw up which then meant I was unable to eat for the rest of the day. I thought about going straight home but instead, decided to do the heats. After feeling so great the day before, mentally and physically, I didn’t want to give up. I managed to battle through four heats in four hours. Three of which were in a row. The surf was four foot, absolutely pumping and also heavy with boards snapping all around.

I felt awful for the rest of my heats, my only energy coming from adrenaline. I came out with a close second in the U16 girls and third in the U18 – the only girl to reach both finals. It was a great experience and although the results weren’t quite what I wanted, I am proud of how I pushed through to get a place among the best surfers in the UK, especially while feeling terrible.

What else did you take away from the contest?

Results are always great but I think the story behind them tells a more interesting and worthy narrative. It was also great to see friends from England too, and to watch the incredibly high standard of surfing from both the men’s and women’s event. Thanks so much to my mum for taking me and looking after me. Huge thanks to Croyde Surf Club too, the comp was so well run!!

What stickers are on your board?

Thanks so much to all my sponsors, I had the pleasure of joining team Dawn Patrol App and Surf Ears at the start of the year. Also want to say thanks to Mystic Boarding who always provide me with the best seasonal kit and also to Luke Hart at Fourth Surfboards who is always so supportive even if he misses my waves on camera!? Lastly shout out to Steve at BCRS business loans who is also supporting me again this year!

How is your 2026 looking in terms of goals and what you want to achieve?

Goals wise, I honestly just want to improve my surfing and start hitting bigger and more critical sections (probably abroad in better waves). I also am aiming to do some bigger comps this year like the Euros and junior QS events.