Femail sit down with Australian pro surfer siblings

Women’s tennis and the Williams sisters go together like salt and caramel. When you think of one, it’s quite hard for your mind to avoid wandering to the other.

Mikaela, 23, and Eliza Greene, 20, want to become to women’s surfing what the Williams sisters are to tennis – superstars. 

As both are currently ranked among the top 100 female surfers in the world (at 32nd and 83rd respectively), this shouldn’t be too distant of a goal for the Western Australian girls.

FEMAIL sat down with Mikaela and Eliza to talk about all things surfing – including their day-to-day training in Manly, Sydney – where they currently live – their goals for the next few years and their passion for the ocean.

 

Mikaela (right), 23, and Eliza Greene (left), 20, want to become to women’s surfing what the Williams sisters are to tennis – superstars – they are both professional surfers inside the women’s top 100 in the world

FEMAIL sat down with Mikaela and Eliza to talk about all things surfing - including their day-to-day training in Manly, Sydney - where they currently live - their goals for the next few years and their passion for the ocean (pictured: Mikaela in France)

FEMAIL sat down with Mikaela and Eliza to talk about all things surfing – including their day-to-day training in Manly, Sydney – where they currently live – their goals for the next few years and their passion for the ocean (pictured: Mikaela in France)

While Mikaela (left) and Eliza (right) are both obviously incredibly talented surfers now, it would seem a love of the water was in their blood - they said they were both water babies

While Mikaela (left) and Eliza (right) are both obviously incredibly talented surfers now, it would seem a love of the water was in their blood – they said they were both water babies

Mikaela (pictured) said that while she always loved surfing, it wasn't until she turned 11 and did a national event and came third that she thought she might start taking it seriously

Mikaela (pictured) said that while she always loved surfing, it wasn’t until she turned 11 and did a national event and came third that she thought she might start taking it seriously

Eliza (pictured right) said she initially 'hated' surfing, but when she won an underwater watch at a competition grew to love it - she hasn't looked back since

Eliza (pictured right) said she initially ‘hated’ surfing, but when she won an underwater watch at a competition grew to love it – she hasn’t looked back since

The girls now surf together every day and say that they are 'best friends' - they re-located from Western Australia to Sydney in order to pursue their passion (pictured together)

The girls now surf together every day and say that they are 'best friends' - they re-located from Western Australia to Sydney in order to pursue their passion (pictured together)

The girls now surf together every day and say that they are ‘best friends’ – they re-located from Western Australia to Sydney in order to pursue their passion (pictured together)

While Mikaela and Eliza are both obviously incredibly talented surfers now, it would seem a love of the water has always been in their blood:

‘Eliza and I were both water babies,’ Mikaela, 23, told FEMAIL. ‘We come from a really ocean-orientated family.

‘Our grandmother was a professional swimmer, and when we were both born it was a natural progression to become surfers.

‘We didn’t take it too seriously until I turned 11 and did a national event and came third, though,’ Mikaela added. 

While Mikaela said she took to surfing naturally, Eliza, 20, confessed she ‘hated surfing’ until she entered her first Ripcurl competition at age 8 and won an underwater watch – something she’d been lusting after for weeks beforehand:

‘My love grew from there,’ she explained. ‘I love the butterflies you get before a competition and the feeling of the waves. There’s no other feeling in the world that compares to being in the ocean, with the waves and an incredible sunset.

‘Plus, being so up close and personal with wildlife is incredible – we have had humpback whales swim up really close to us.’

These days, the girls (pictured) have a mutual desire to be the first two sisters ever to qualify for the World Championship Tour, which they explain is the top tier surfing for women's elite short boarding - this is a very realistic goal

These days, the girls (pictured) have a mutual desire to be the first two sisters ever to qualify for the World Championship Tour, which they explain is the top tier surfing for women's elite short boarding - this is a very realistic goal

These days, the girls (pictured) have a mutual desire to be the first two sisters ever to qualify for the World Championship Tour, which they explain is the top tier surfing for women’s elite short boarding – this is a very realistic goal

The girls (pictured together surfing) said that they will go out twice a day surfing together - and try to adopt a balanced attitude towards their diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables

The girls (pictured together surfing) said that they will go out twice a day surfing together – and try to adopt a balanced attitude towards their diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables

It wasn’t until their teenage years, however, that the girls started taking their surfing hobby a bit more seriously.

‘I won an under 19 title at age 15,’ Mikaela said. ‘We were all about increasing our portfolios at competitions.’ 

While the girls both still attended school – which their parents were adamant they did – when Eliza had finished her last school exam, they decided to relocate to Sydney to be on the east coast, where most of the big competitions were taking place.

‘We rented a tiny room in Manly, which we shared and made it work – just about!,’ Eliza said.

These days, the girls have a mutual desire to be the first two sisters ever to qualify for the World Championship Tour, which they explain is the top tier surfing for women’s elite short boarding.

Mikaela hopes to qualify next year (2018), while Eliza has her sights set on the year after (2019).

‘We are really focusing on our surfing and inspiring young women to get into sport,’ Eliza said.

‘It really is our goal to be the Williams sisters of surfing. It’s great that we’re best friends and we’re in this together.’

They also share their surfing journey on social media – both on Facebook and Instagram. 

Eliza (pictured at the Australian Open) said she would love to qualify for the World Championship Tour by 2019 - she is three years younger than Mikaela

Eliza (pictured at the Australian Open) said she would love to qualify for the World Championship Tour by 2019 – she is three years younger than Mikaela

The pair have competed in countless competitions - including Morocco (pictured), where Mikaela took home first place - they have also recently been in the Philippines

The pair have competed in countless competitions – including Morocco (pictured), where Mikaela took home first place – they have also recently been in the Philippines

The girls said if they are craving something, they will allow themselves to have it - as they do so much training

The girls said if they are craving something, they will allow themselves to have it – as they do so much training

With the surfing comes plenty of international travel - the girls have been on around 60 flights this year (pictured)

They swear by lemon water and juices to get them through long-haul travel

With the surfing comes plenty of international travel – the girls have been on around 60 flights this year (left) and swear by lemon water and juices to get them through long-haul travel

The girls also shared their typical routine, from training to diet – and unsurprisingly, they have to work pretty hard.

‘Our diet is very fruit and veg based, but while I can eat anything and everything and tend to eat all the carbs, Eliza likes a more protein-led diet,’ Mikaela said.

‘We often pretty much eat the same, but switch up the base a bit. We try to keep our diets pretty balanced, but won’t deny ourselves a chocolate bar or chocolate-y smoothie if we’re craving it. We do a lot of exercise, so it outweighs it.

‘Plus we’ll make sure we drink plenty of lemon water and juices when we’re travelling to stay hydrated.’ 

When it comes to training, the girls are similarly disciplined. 

‘We try to get out six times a week twice a day for an hours or two,’ Mikaela explained. ‘We’ll make sure we have rest days if we’re tired – I slept for 13 hours yesterday and at the end of the season it’s hard, but we’re very fortunate because we have a good team around us.’

Lastly, the Greene sisters shared their tips for young women who might want to get into a sport, such as surfing - they said it pays to have someone with the same hobby as you, because it helps with motivation

Lastly, the Greene sisters shared their tips for young women who might want to get into a sport, such as surfing – they said it pays to have someone with the same hobby as you, because it helps with motivation

The girls also added that you get a huge confidence with any sport, and that can't be rivalled - 'Get out there and believe you can do it, and you will,' they concluded 

The girls also added that you get a huge confidence with any sport, and that can’t be rivalled – ‘Get out there and believe you can do it, and you will,’ they concluded 

With the surfing comes a lot of international travel. 

The girls estimated they’ve been on some 60 flights this year, travelling to more than 15 countries, recently returning from an event in the Philippines where Eliza placed fourth and Mikaela second in the world.

‘The Philippines had some of the best surfing we’ve seen,’ Eliza said.

‘Crystal clear water, great waves – it was amazing.’ The girls also love Barbados for ideal surfing conditions.

Lastly, the Greene sisters shared their tips for young women who might want to get into a sport, such as surfing.

‘Stick with it, make sure you’re enjoying it and try and find some friends who are into the same thing as you,’ Mikaela said.

‘It’s so much better to get out there together – we surf together every single day and never get sick of it.’

The girls also added that you get a huge confidence with any sport, and that can’t be rivalled.

‘Get out there and believe you can do it, and you will,’ they concluded.

To follow the Greene sisters on Instagram, please click here. You can also follow them on Facebook here

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