Claire Van Kampen

Surf Ironwoman / Occupational Therapist

Claire Van Kampen

born

2001

Nationality

Australian

Disciplines

Surf Ski, Board Paddling, Ironwoman, Swimming

Strengths

Swimming

SKILLS & INTERESTS

Spending time in the ocean, cooking, helping others.

Surf Club

Surfers Paradise SLSC

testimonial

I have known Reece and the team at BOS for several years through my brother and dad only ever using BOS skis. Reece and the team have always been supportive of my family and I, even when I wasn’t paddling competitively. When I was looking for a new ski, Reece was more than helpful to me and provided me with a great amount of help and support to ensure I got a ski quickly and it was the right fit for me. I have been on my BOS ski since 2022 and have loved every single minute of it. It is the best ski I have ever paddled, and it has helped me to improve my confidence with ski paddling and overall helped me to become a better athlete.

Achievements

Completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Open swim final Aussies 2024
9th in overall swim rankings Summer of Surf 23/24
Top 10 in Open and U19 swim finals at the past three Aussies
Open Finals in Swim, Ski, and Run Swim Run at Summer of Surf events
7th Elite Females Coolangatta Gold Long Course 2022
3rd Open Belt Race at Aussies 2022
3rd U19 Surf Race QLD championships 2021
2021 National Finalist for 100 and 200 backstroke
3rd U19 Coolangatta Gold Short Course 2021

Personal Profile

I grew up in Manning Point, a small town on the NSW coast. I started nippers at our closest club at age 8 and immediately fell in love with the sport. At the time I was also beginning competitive swimming, and dancing. I continued to run around between the three sports, but at the age of 15 I ultimately decided to focus mainly on competitive swimming. I continued to do surf lifesaving on the side, but around all the swim sessions, it ultimately was pushed to the side, to the point where I had stopped ski paddling, and nearly stopped the sport in general.

At the age of 18, I moved away from home, and made the long trip up to my new home on the Gold Coast, to focus on university and competitive swimming. It was a massive step going from such a small town to a much bigger place. Thankfully I had my brother up on the GC who supported me the whole way and continues too. At this time, I joined Bond swimming and Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club which I’m lucky enough to call my second family. After giving competitive swimming a good chance from 2020 onwards, in February 2022 I decided it was time to hang up the goggles and go back to my first love of surf lifesaving.

Fast forward to currently and I am so grateful that I made that decision, as switching to surf lifesaving has changed my life for the better. Being a part of such an incredible club of Surfers Paradise really made the decision easier, and to this day I feel incredibly lucky to call that group my family.

Outside of the surf, I have recently begun work as an Occupational Therapist within a pediatric clinic. I absolutely love the space I am working with and am extremely grateful to be able to compete in surf sports as well as being able to maintain work in my passion as an Occupational Therapist.