Margaret River cheers on long road to success for surfing superstar Jack Robinson as Olympics start

Olympic surfer Jack Robinson’s family will be glued to the TV during his upcoming stint in Tahiti, but like she has done throughout his career, the star surfer’s mother Mersina Robinson will be flying out to watch her son take on the waves in person.

These days based in Perth, Mrs Robinson told the Times it was astonishing and yet not completely unexpected to see her 26-year-old Championship Tour athlete son competing on the world stage.

“He started at such a young age, surfing at 2½ and competing at eight,” she said.

“His talent was recognised even earlier than that. We knew early on that this was going to be his career.”

While the jet-setting Robinson was now based on the Gold Coast, his family in Perth and tight-knit childhood friends in Margaret River were all cheering the prodigy on.

“We knew he had a prodigious talent and that was his passion and it’s amazing to see him progress to the (World Surf League’s) Championship Tour and now the Olympics,” Mrs Robinson said.

“It’s been his whole life.”

Mrs Robinson travelled extensively through Jack’s early career, with her son often taking down older competitors across Australia as well as overseas.

Much had already been said about the powerful wave at Tahiti’s Teahupo’o favouring Robinson, who won at the WSL event there last year.

Mrs Robinson was on hand for that victory and was packing her bags now to return.

“He got comfortable surfing big waves quite early on,” she said.

“It’s a pinnacle for him, but you’d hope his career will have a long time to run.

“The Olympics, in his lifetime, he may only be able to compete once or twice. It’s huge.”

She trusted in her son’s rigorous and quiet approach to competition to see him through — as well as his family, wife Julia Muniz and baby son Zen nearby to cheer him on.

Those who had tracked Robinson’s meteoric rise said it was no surprise the Margaret River boy was now enjoying such success.

Surfer and acclaimed photographer Russell Ord said he had perfected his own craft while documenting Robinson doing the same with surfing as a junior.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s great for him. I always thought he would one of the best surfers in the world,” Ord said.

“He’s the one per cent of the one per cent in surfing at that level. I’m sure this will be one of the best things for him. He looks stoked.”

Surfing WA chief executive Mark Lane fondly remembered the “shaggy-haired boy” Robinson surfing at Trigg as a mere six-year-old.

In the years since, Mr Lane said he’d watched Robinson overcome all obstacles with a devoted mindset focused on success.

“You see the hype he creates, but I still see that six-year-old boy,” Mr Lane said.

“Success has not affected him. When I watch Jack surf, I don’t get nervous.

“He has that aura around him. He’s very collected and present.”

Ord, Mr Lane and other close friends reiterated belief Robinson could come out with gold at Tahiti due to his big wave skill and past performances.

He will face a tough challenge though with WSL rivals John John Florence and Gabriel Medina representing the USA and Brazil respectively.