At Phillip Island Chelsea tested herself against the best junior surfers in Australia. Now based at Taree, she still travels to Port Macquarie and the Camden Haven for a surf.

She made it to the second re-qualifying round in Victoria and while disappointed not to go further, mum Sarah said she still took a lot out of it.

“Nerves probably played a part,” she said. “But she now knows what it takes to compete with the girls and boys who are at that next level.”

It was the first time the 17-year-old travelled by herself and since returning from Victoria, her surfing has gone up another level.

“We went for a surf at Wallabi Point the other day and the difference from her surfing before she went away to now has stepped up a notch,” Mrs Green said. “It showed her how hard she has to work to get to where she wants to be.”