If one is looking for a legendary rail surfer, Ethan Ewing’s name must be taken into account. The young Australian has one of the most precise and wonderful techniques when it comes to rail surfing. Some would say it’s a trait he was born with; that his technique is a reflection of his mother, Helen Ewing.

Almost 40 years after Helen Ewing won the women’s trophy at Bells Beach, her son Ethan Ewing has followed in her footsteps and won the men’s title at the same place for himself. The win is a befitting tribute to his late surfer mother, who had passed away when Ewing was just a small kid. One can only imagine the storm of emotions this win would have brought him.

An emotional win by Ethan Ewing takes the world by surprise

Ethan Ewing lost his mother at the tender age of six, when she lost the battle against cancer at 39. Whatever little time Ewing got to spend with his mother, ignited a fire within him to make her proud. “I’ve been thinking about her since I have been on the tour and it’s been a huge goal of mine. I want to do her proud.”, Ewing said to The Star.

In 1983, Helen Lambert was recognized as a force of nature in the surfing world after she won the women’s title at Bell. She was just 18 years old at that time. Fast forward to 2023, and her son has paid the perfect homage to her by winning the men’s title at Bell almost four decades later. For Ethan Ewing, the entire experience was as surreal as it gets.

He said, “I’ve had her trophy next to my bed pretty much my whole life and looked at that and dreamt of it. Seeing her name on the stairs [on the walk towards Bells Beach] and now having my name there is so, so special.” His mother was not the only inspiration for him in winning this title. He was motivated by some other famous figures as well.

Ewing makes his mother, and Australia, proud

While speaking about his inspiration to get this win, Ewing revealed, “It’s been my biggest goal in my career to win this. All my heroes have won this – Joel [Parkinson], Mick [Fanning], Kelly [Slater], the girls – Steph [Gilmore], Carissa [Moore], and then my mum back in ’83.” Not only was the win emotional for Ewing, but it was extra special because of the untimely death of his mother and the tribute he could pay to her legacy. “It is an honor to compete here. To put my name up there with her – it’s really special,” he said.

First, Ethan Ewing beat Gabriel Medina, who is a Brazilian three-time WSL champion, in the last 16. After that, he defeated Ryan Callinan, to win his second WSL title. Matt Wilkinson, another Australian surfer, won the title in 2016. since then, Ewing is the only Australian male to have won it.

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While the win is a celebration in itself, the pride that Ethan Ewing must be feeling, after paying respects to his late mother in the most unique way possible, has to be unmatched.