DYLAN Kinkade's run of success in the under 17 beach flags and sprint started at the NSW Country Surf Lifesaving Championships in late January at Warilla.
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Now he might be taking on the world.
"I could be going in the world championships on the Gold Coast in August/September,'' Kinkade said.
"My coach, Beth Lee is looking into that, it'll be great if it comes off. But I'm not sure how the process works, whether I have to qualify or just enter - I'll leave that to Beth.''
Kinkade won the NSW under 17 beach flags and was third in the flags after earlier winning the sprint/flags double at country.
He's now back from the Australian championships held at Maroochydore on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Here he claimed a bronze in the flags and was sixth in the sprint. Kinkade has another year in the under 17s to go.
"I didn't think I'd go that good, especially as it's my first year in the age group,'' he said
He said it was 'pretty nerve-raking' getting down to the last few in the flags.
The final was contested under lights and that added to the drama, as this was a first for him.
"There were heaps of spectators and it was like an arena,'' he said.
He was elevated into the top three following a disqualification, which he said 'threw me off guard a little.'
"There were four disqualifications in my heats, so I didn't really get a practice run either,'' he said.
There were 60 starters in the flags so it was by far the biggest event Kinkade had contested.
I was pretty close to third, but I lost my tempo in the last five metres and slipped out of medal contention.
- Dylan Kinkade
"It was a big step up from country to state and then the Aussies,'' he said.
He thinks nerves may have got the better of him in the sprint.
"The hundreds of people looking down on both sides, it was pretty surreal,'' Kinkade said.
"I could have run better in the final, but that all comes with experience.
"I was pretty close to third, but I lost my tempo in the last five metres and slipped out of medal contention.''
He described the nationals as a 'great learning experience.'
"I know what my benchmark is now to work from and next time hopefully I won't be as nervous, because I have that bit of experience,'' he said.
"I have to build on my power and technique and hopefully go better next year.
He admits he's not sure how much training he'll be doing during winter.
"It'll depend on what happens with the worlds,'' he said.
"If that doesn't come off I'll just concentrate on football (he plays with Mid Coast under 17s in the Northern NSW Premier League).
Kinkade says it's been a hectic few months.
"It's been great, though,'' he added.
