Riding Waves of Opportunity on the Gold Coast

WORDS: John McJannett PHOTOGRAPHY John McJannett - www.twohandsphotography.com.au

From a landlocked Swiss town to surfing world-class waves as part of Palm Beach Currumbin High School’s Sports Excellence Program, 16-year-old Fabiana Klein is living her dream.

It’s a far cry from the landlocked town of Rapperswil, Switzerland—population 27,000—to the sun-drenched beaches of the Gold Coast. For 16-year-old Fabiana Klein, her 2025 exchange year in Queensland is nothing short of a dream come true.

Fabiana is one of a handful of elite international students selected to study at Palm Beach Currumbin High School’s Sports Excellence Program, enrolling in its prestigious Surfing Excellence stream. Despite hailing from a country with no coastline, this talented teenager is no stranger to competition—she’s already a member of the German Surfing Team, representing her chosen nation at the ISA Junior World Surfing Titles.

Her story is one of determination, global opportunity, and a passion for surfing that transcends geography. Raised in Switzerland by her Bolivian mother and German father, Fabiana’s love affair with the ocean began at six, when she first stood on a surfboard during a family holiday in Puerto Rico. From then on, surf trips became a family tradition, with frequent journeys to Portugal, Spain, France, and back to Puerto Rico, while at home she honed her skills in wave pools and on standing waves.

Fabiana’s competitive career started early, representing Switzerland in an ISA event in El Salvador in 2022. By 2023, she’d switched to the German team, seeking advanced coaching, and has since achieved back-to-back titles as German Junior Champion in the Under-18 Girls Division. She also finished in the top 20 at both the ISA World Championships and European Junior Championships in Portugal.

Inspired by her father’s own student exchange experience in the US, Fabiana searched for a program that would nurture both her academic and athletic ambitions. A German team coach recommended Palm Beach Currumbin High School, renowned for producing surfing greats Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson. Accepted into the program for 2025, Fabiana arrived on the Gold Coast in January and quickly embraced the local surf culture, joining Currumbin Alley Boardriders Club and taking on iconic breaks, including a memorable session at Kirra during Cyclone Alfred.

“I was terrified at first because it was the biggest surf I’d ever been in,” she says with a grin. “I only caught one wave, but it was the wave of my life so far!”

The Sports Excellence Program offers students three 70-minute lessons per week, with a mix of surf training, fitness, and theory. Led by respected coaches Ben Falvey and Phil MacNamara, Fabiana has already seen measurable improvement in her technique. The program also introduces students to broader career paths in surfing, including judging, commentary, journalism, and event management.

Established in 1996, PBC’s Sports Excellence Program is a holistic initiative that blends five pillars of athlete development: wellbeing, fitness, skills, competition abilities, and mental resilience. Supported by physiotherapists, strength and conditioning managers, and specialist coaches, it has become a pathway for young talent to reach national and international levels.

Fabiana’s year on the Gold Coast is more than an academic exchange; it’s a transformative experience that reflects the city’s growing role as a global education hub. With international enrolments contributing over $1 billion annually to the local economy, the Gold Coast has become a beacon for students seeking both lifestyle and elite training opportunities, particularly in sport.

As she prepares to return to Europe to compete in another ISA event later this year, Fabiana reflects on her time here with gratitude: “I’m so lucky to have this opportunity. The Gold Coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I’ll take these lessons and friendships with me forever.”

Her story is proof that Palm Beach Currumbin High’s program is shaping the next generation of global athletes—and cementing the Gold Coast’s reputation as a powerhouse for youth development on and off the waves.