YOU can tell by the grin on 17-year-old Shell Cove surfer Dylan Rodgers, he just can't wait to take on the next challenge after being selected in the NSW Junior Surfing team for the national titles in Yallingup in Western Australia in November.
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After surfing competitively for only about three years, Rodgers is hoping to use the titles as a stepping-stone to a professional career, but at the moment is just taking it one step at a time.
After winning the Illawarra title in March, he then took on the best in the state at the NSW titles at Port Macquarie recently and, while disappointed to miss the final there by a mere one-tenth of a point, he was thrilled that his fifth place finish qualified him for the nationals.
"When you look back, finishing fifth in NSW is pretty good as there are so many really good surfers in the state - in fact a few of the big names who made the nationals last year have missed out this year," Rodgers said.
"But when it gets down to it it's just a matter of who gets the best waves and makes the most of them that counts when you get to the Aussies and I need to make sure it's me and hopefully I might get through to the world titles next year."
He has been slowly building his competition resume, having competed at the Bell's Junior Pro, Maroubra Junior Pro and Australian Open at Manly and while he hasn't won a major title yet, is putting it all down to experience.
"I've done OK at each one and just need to keep working hard and I still have a few years left in the juniors, so there is no need to get too far ahead of myself."
