Jake Hetherington relaxes at his home beach in Port Fairy.
PORT Fairy teenager Jake Hetherington is building momentum in the Life Saving Victoria summer surf series.
Jake, 16, won the under 17 board class in round three of the series at the weekend.
Competitors had to finish in the top five across three heats to earn a spot in the Anglesea final.
Jake also finished sixth in the under 17 ski section, while Port Fairy Surf Life Saving Club teammate Isaac Martin finished sixth in the under 19 ski class.
The board win followed a mixed start to the summer series for Jake.
"In Torquay I was second in board and in Ocean Grove I didn't do that good," Jake said.
"It was good to finally win one."
Jake said the win gave him the confidence to compete in the under 17 and open board classes at round four at Jan Juc this weekend.
The Emmanuel College student developed through nippers and has a passion for ocean competition.
Jake said he might compete at the state titles in March and was keen to test himself at national level.
He said he wanted to replicate form he showed when he first started nippers.
"I won gold in under eights at the state titles, so I am trying to get back to what I was doing then," he said.
Jake also plays football for Hampden league club Port Fairy but said his summer months were focused on surf lifesaving.
"It is different. I love the sport because it is at the beach," he said.
The state summer surf series has eight rounds, with the final competition in Warrnambool on February 24.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au
