Mia
McCarthy

Bio

Mia, the Margaret River maiden whose typical day is getting barrelled at The Box and North Point and who won the Margaret River Classic twice in 2017 and 2021. When asked what her favourite surf spot is, she states “I’m incredibly lucky to live in Margaret River, it’s home to so so many incredible world-class breaks but if I had to pick just one I’d have to say, Margaret River Mainbreak. I love the challenge of surfing Mainbreak, it’s so raw and powerful. I’ve spent so much time out there and now definitely feel I have a special connection with that wave.” 2021 also saw her qualify to surf in the Rottnest Island CT event where she beat world number 2 in her second heat and make Surfing Life’s cover shot in the Feb issue. Not bad for a bonafide surfer girl growing up in the wild southwest.

Starting out as a gymnast from age five, miniature Mia trained 20 hours a week until she was eleven, when her love of the surf took over. It all started when she borrowed her dad’s board after he came in from a surf, paddled out and rode a wave all the way to the shore. From there, there was no turning back. She loved that she could just surf and train whenever she wanted but the strength, flexibility, fitness and balance from gymnastics set her up well for surfing. A less regimented sport, the ocean is where she wants to be every day. Mia is also studying to be a primary school teacher and she started a coaching business where she runs camps over the school holidays for up and coming surfer girls - both bringing her much joy and fulfilment, truly encompassing the best advice she’s ever received ‘Enjoy what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.”