AIS performance manager to lead surfing’s charge to Tokyo Olympics

Former Hockeyroo and Australian Institute of Sport Performance Manager Kim Crane has been appointed to the newly created position of National High Performance Director of Surfing Australia.

Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Kate Palmer said Crane’s experience, which also included a stint as Manager High Performance Sport and Excellence at the News South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) would be a tremendous asset for surfing.

Palmer stated “in a short period of time, Kim made a tremendous contribution to the AIS in her role as Performance Manager.

“Her background as an elite athlete and time with NSWIS and the AIS has strengthened the overall high-performance network. We are confident that Kim will provide strong high-performance leadership to support surfing as it head into its first Olympic campaign in Tokyo.”

At the AIS, Crane was responsible for leading the work with key partners to develop high quality, effective high-performance plans and strategies aimed at achieving and sustaining performance targets.

Commenting on her new role, Crane advised “I'm both humbled and genuinely thrilled to accept this new position. Having been blessed to grow up at Bells Beach, Torquay, I truly respect surfing's grass roots and the cultural significance the sport holds within Australia. Surfing has an enormous history of success, and this is such an exciting time for the sport.”

Surfing Australia Chief Executive Andrew Stark added “we were extremely fortunate to have an international field of outstanding applicants for this newly created role. Kim was a standout given her understanding and affinity with surfing coupled with her Olympic experience and knowledge and network of the Australian sporting system.”

Crane will start in the role on 11th September based at the Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre at Casuarina Beach in northern NSW (pictured above). 

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