Competitive surfing was barely known in Myanmar a few years ago but one local beach town is riding a wave of enthusiasm to the Southeast Asia Games for the first time ever.

Paddling hard and smiling, Thwe Thwe Soe flung herself up on the board just as a wave was breaking, spreading her arms out for balance before getting knocked off.

“I can’t live without surfing,” she said after a day in the blue waters off the small coastal resort town of Ngwe Saung.

“I did not expect to be chosen for the national team but I’m thrilled at the opportunity.”