Kira Llewellyn - Australian Pro Bodyboarder and this year's Ladies Pipeline Champion. Winning the 13th Turtle Bay Resort's World Championship of Women's Bodyboarding in clean 6-8 foot Hawaiian size surf, Kira proved beyond a doubt that the Brazilian dominance of the sport was over.

It was a dramatic event, as she injured her back while warming up on the morning of the first day of competition (she was seeded into the second day) and most of her competitions figured she was out of contention. After all she was carted a way in an ambulance. But, to everyone's surprise she recovered quickly and won the event, with strong barrel rides and excellent wave selection. And some say a great coach.

A blondi with classic girl next door looks, 18 year old Kira has set her place good in the record books as the youngest person ever to win at the Pipeline. She hails from Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast of Australia and has been bodyboarding for only 7 years.

How did you start bodyboarding? MY ELDER BROTHERS - LLOYD AND LENNY - BOTH GOT ME INTO BODYBOARDING.

Can you remember your first day? THE FIRST DAY I TRIED IT WAS ON A FOAM BOOGIE BOARD WITH FINS, I TRIED ALMOST THE WHOLE DAY TO PADDLE OUT THE BACK (WITH NO FINS) JUST BECAUSE MY BROTHERS WERE OUT THERE.

Who has influenced you most in bodyboarding (female and male)? DEFINATELY MY BROTHERS, BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE SOMEONE TO GO SURFING WITH, BUT ALSO WATCHING VIDEO'S WITH GUYS LIKE MIKE STEWART, RYAN HARDY AND GIRLS LIKE NEYMARA AND SORAIA BUSTING SICK MOVES AND KARLA SURFING WITH GREAT style AND THE BRAZILIAN OZZIES LIKE STEPH PETTERSON & LEILA ALLI

Contest record?
3 X AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHAMPION
3 X AUSTRALASIAN PRO TOUR CHAMPION
2ND OVERALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2001
1ST IN THE LAST 3 WORLD TITLE EVENTS
WINNER PIPELINE PRO 2002

What is your secret to success? I HAVE MANY....BUT I AM A VERY DETERMINED PERSON, IF I WANT SOMETHING IT'S VERY HARD TO STOP ME FROM HAVING IT. I TRY VERY HARD AT WHAT I LOVE, AND I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPROVE.

The worst experience you ever had in bodyboarding?
THE WORST-DEFINATLEY INJURIES, AND THE WORST IS BACK INJURIES! I'VE HAD 2 ALREADY AT THE AGE OF 18 AND THEY WERE BOTH DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACK INJURY AND BOTH REALLY SHOOK UP MY MIND. I FOUND IT REALLY TOUGH TO GET THROUGH.

And the best?
THE BEST- WAS WINNING PIPELINE. IT WAS MY LIFE LONG DREAM AND A GOAL WHICH I AIMED FOR, AND TO SUCCEED AND LIVE MY DREAM IS SUCH AN EXPERIENCE THAT I AM YET TO FIND WORDS FOR.

Which girl do you think is the most interesting right now?
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY SORAIA ROCHA IS PEAKING IN PERFORMANCE AND COMPETITION BUT MY EYES WERE OPENED WATCHING NATASHA FROM PEURTO RICO - WHO IS ONLY 15 - CHARGE IN HAWAII THIS YEAR!! I WAS 15 ON MY FIRST SEASON AT HAWAII AND SO WAS SHE- SO A WIN AT PIPE ISN'T OUT OF REACH FOR HER

Which sponsors do you have at the moment?
MANTA, BILLABONG, HUMAN SHOES, JULBO, BEACH BEAT SURF SHOP, SUNCOAST FITNESS

What waves do you love the most in the world?
REEF BREAKS, WHICH ARE PERFECT AND BARRELLING...LIKE IN AUSTRALIA,HAWAII, REUNION ISLAND AND INDONESIA

What’s your favorite trick?
PROBABLY GETTING IN THE AIR, INVERTS AND ARS'S

What’s bodyboarding for you?
THE MOST SPECIAL THING IN THE WORLD AND I AM PROUD TO SAY I AM A PART OF IT AND THAT I WILL BE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE

·What do you think about women bodyboarding scene right now?
IT'S GROWING, GRADUALLY, BUT DEFINATELY GROWING. I DO FREE BODYBOARD COACHING FOR WOMEN ON THE SUNSHINE COAST WHEN I'M AT HOME, AND I'M LOOKING AT EXPANDING TO OTHER PLACES IN AUSTRALIA AND MAYBE IN THE WORLD. THE WORLD TOUR LOOKS GOOD THIS YEAR AND ALL THE GIRLS ARE REALLY KEEN.

Your biggest dreams are? In and out of bodyboarding?
IN BODYBOARDING - IS TO MAKE THE SPORT GROW BIGGER AND BIGGER! AND TO HAVE AS MUCH FUN WITH IT AS I CAN.

OUT OF BODYBOARDING- WELL LIKE EVERYONE I WANT TO LEAD A HEALTHY AND HAPPY LIFESTYLE

Anything you want to say about your last experience at Turtle Bay World Championship of Women's Bodyboarding?
I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY POSSIBLE, SO I TRAINED REALLY HARD, SURFED HARD AND TURNED NEGATIVES TO POSITIVES....I'VE WORKED A LOT RECENTLY WITH MIND CONTROL - AND IF YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED JUST HOW MUCH YOUR MIND HAS TO DO WITH IT!

What would you say to all the girls out there who want to turn pro?
TO KEEP SURFING HARD AND ALWAYS TRY YOUR BEST. TRY TO STAY CALM AND FOCUSED IN CONTESTS AND YOU'LL DO WELL