Jane Seman and son Jake Ghiretti (12) are gearing up for this weekend’s Lancelin Ocean Classic Festival.
Camera IconJane Seman and son Jake Ghiretti (12) are gearing up for this weekend’s Lancelin Ocean Classic Festival. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Lancelin Ocean Classic Festival a family affair for wave sail champions

Tyler BrownNorth Coast Times

THIS weekend’s Lancelin Ocean Classic Festival will be a family affair for Jane Seman and son Jake Ghiretti as the pair seeks to rule the waves.

Ghiretti (12) is the new junior wave sailing champion, while the Margaret River mum, once ranked number three in the world, has won the women’s wave sailing event for the past three years at Lancelin.

“I began back in the ’80s when I was 14 and the sport has changed dramatically since then,” Seman said.

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She remembers when actress Nicole Kidman brought the relatively new sport to public attention, appearing in the locally-shot film Windrider in 1986.

“It was an attractive niche sport back then,” she said.

“Kids couldn’t take part but the equipment has changed so much and it now allows children to learn and take up the sport at an early age.”

She said her son was one of those children exposed to the sport early in life.

“It runs in the blood; I love every sport in the ocean,” Ghiretti said.

“I have watched my mum and I have learnt a lot from that.”

The duo will join hundreds taking part in the three-day Lancelin Ocean Classic Festival, starting with the windsurfing wave events from 1pm on Friday.

Saturday will feature wind sailing and kite surfing events, including marathons in both categories, starting at 2pm from Ledge Point to Lancelin.

READ ALSO: Countdown is on to 2019 Lancelin Ocean Classic Festival