Lucy Makaea was eight when she was first introduced to surf lifesaving at Auckland’s Muriwai Beach. She joined the Orewa Surf Life Saving Club – a 45 minute drive from their home in Henderson – and immediately started hauling in medals and records, both in the surf and the pool. She stood out in her age groups right through to national level. one of the best young surf lifesavers in NZ – a world youth champion, no less.

For four years in a row, Lucy was the U19 sportswoman of the year in surf lifesaving’s northern region. She was also crowned New Zealand’s U19 Ironwoman, the event that combines the four main disciplines of the sport – swimming, running, surf ski paddling and board paddling. A highlight of Lucy's career was representing NZ in the Junior Black Fins at 2018 world youth surf lifesaving championships in Adelaide. 

Lucy also enjoyed coaching the junior nippers at her Surf Clubs.