King in his castle
KYUSS KING is only 11 and already surfing has taken him all over the world.
But on Friday he will get a rare opportunity to surf in a competition on his home break at The Wreck when Byron Bay hosts the finals of the Volcom Surf Series.
Sixty-four competitors have qualified and will surf in open, junior, grommet and open girls' divisions.
"It's really good because the finals are usually at Manly," Kyuss said. "It (The Wreck) is definitely one of my favourite spots to surf.
"I've surfed it to for so long and it barrels heaps so it's always a lot of fun.
"I've been with Volcom for almost six years and it's for a really good cause this weekend too."
Volcom's Give Jeans A Chance initiative is part of the event where competitors and the community are encouraged to donate jeans to the Fletcher Street Cottage Drop-in Centre at Byron Bay.
"We saw a substantial amount of homeless people and unemployment concerns in the Byron Bay area," Volcom marketing manager Joel Spillane said.
"We're asking people to donate wearable jeans by either dropping them into the Volcom store in Jonson Street this week or in donation bins at the event on Friday and Saturday.
"It's a perfect opportunity to give something back and hopefully we can get the surf to support it."
Win or lose, Kyuss has a big couple of months ahead of him.
He will compete in the 14 years and under division this weekend before heading off to a training camp next Friday with Red Bull, where he is one of only eight kids in Australia selected.
He returns for another two days and will then travel to the United States.
"I've been to places like Bali, Hawaii and Fiji," Kyuss said.
Competition wraps up on Saturday afternoon with a 'give back' snag and dacks barbecue day at the Drop-in Centre on Monday.
