Chelsea

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TO BE LABELED AS THE BEST IN THE WORLD IS A PRETTY HEFTY TAG TO WEAR. TO HAVE THE LABEL YET NOT

HAVE THE TROPHY TO MATCH IS EVEN BIGGER. THEY SAY, IN THAT OLD CLICHÉ, GOOD THINGS COME IN

SMALL PACKAGES. WHEN IT COMES TO CHELSEA WILLIAMS AND SURFING, THERE ARE NO WORDS TRUER.

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T H E R E A L

C H E L S E A W I L L I A M SWords by Lucy Small

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After seeing her now and again at different contests, I was interested to find out a little more about the girl

behind the name. So, when asked to write about her, I leapt at the opportunity to get an insight into Chelsea’s take on growing up, the changes in the longboarding world, and what it’s like to come second.

It’s a well-known fact that Chelsea can surf a board over nine feet better than probably every other woman on the planet. It’s difficult to bring to mind anyone else that can surf with such a perfect blend of power and delicacy.

It’s also pretty well known that in all her success and talent, she’s spent a long time second best on the world stage since she arrived nine years ago. Since moving from South Australia to the Gold Coast as a teen, Chelsea’s list of surfing successes is basically endless; an incomparable record of consistency for over ten years, having won more Aussie titles, Noosa Fests and other major longboard events than most

surfers could ever dream of.There is only one tiny detail missing. A world title. Beginning with a berth in the final in the

pre ASP sanctioned 2005 world titles in California, in her first shot at it when just 22, Chelsea’s runner-up record is akin to that of Cheyne Horan, or Joel Parkinson before he finally cracked it.

It’s easy to tell that after her fourth runner-up finish in China last year, Chels has no plans of giving up any time soon. “I still go into every heat with the intent to win. That'll never change. A lot of people would be stoked to make a final but not me, unless I win then I’ll be pretty devastated. Hopefully I’ll have a board or two I feel completely comfortable on and I’ll be standing on the middle of the podium instead of holding flowers and being the bridesmaid,” her frustration all too evident.

Chelsea’s situation however, for all her in-water success, is pretty unique. You won’t see stickers on her board. You

won’t see dreamy video clips strewn about the internet of her hanging toes in exotic locations, or her face in any kind of catalogue. Unlike most of her international counterparts, she has little more than a board sponsor.

This is a disheartening reflection of the surf industry, especially from the perspective of a female surfer; when it is a pleasant surprise to see a surf brand advertisement containing a girl surfer actually surfing; when we are so used to seeing over-exposed female backsides for the brands they represent; when marketability for women emphasises physical attraction, not skills.

It leaves a serious gap as to what someone like Chelsea is supposed to do to fund her life as a travelling competitive surfer. Up until this year, the deli at Coles has been Chelsea’s stomping ground and income source. It’s almost a devastating story, to think that you could be buying your feta off one of the greatest surfers in the world.

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Think of the surfers that are paid to surf. Even with only minimal support, Chelsea’s longboarding career puts most of them in the shade. Maybe it is to do with the supermodel she isn’t. Maybe it’s to do with her uninhibited nature. It’s hard to know. Either way, to me, it doesn’t make sense.

Chelsea mentioned that she also thought it could have something to do with her lack of social confidence. We’ve all seen Kassia Meador articulate on camera with the kind of confidence that any brand could only wish of their teamriders. Chelsea however, is shy. And this about her seems a little unexpected. It’s easy to translate the image of the way she surfs, with such flare and drive, to her on-land manner. But I found this to not necessarily be the case.

On a trip to Western Australia late last year, I got the chance to get to know Chelsea a little better. This was before I knew I’d be writing a story about her, but in classic frothing grommet style I couldn’t help but ask her as many questions as possible. The thing that struck me most, despite a reputation that preceded her, was that she was quiet. Soft spoken. I’d heard stories of her willingness to walk on the wild side, yet she seemed almost timid. In our chats since, she’s admitted to difficulties that come about from her withdrawn nature around people she doesn’t know.

“I feel I'm getting better at not being shy, especially the last couple of years. “I’ve always had body image issues because I don't fit into the 'normal' body shape cookie cutter. That has definitely affected me and my confidence, kept me shy and made me want to hide,” her voice gentle as she speaks. “It’s only taken till I'm 28 but at least I'm getting there.”

I found this pretty interesting. Interesting because of how I expected Chelsea to be, and how she was actually so different. We spent a fair bit of time together on the WA trip, staying in a house with a bunch of girls from the Yallingup contest, on the hill overlooking the main break. I expected her to be loud, maybe a little intimidating. Instead I found her to be a tiny person with a tiny voice and oversized blue eyes that make her almost adorable.

She was also surprisingly patient, and took the time to get to know us, which was refreshing. That was something I didn’t anticipate, for someone so competitive in the water.

This is not to say she doesn’t like to have a good time. Other than being pent up for a full day inside when a southern ocean storm swell sent us scampering for the woods and drinking our frustrations away, I saw hints of the out-there character that Chelsea can become. Presentation night saw her tugging at my arm at midnight, her blurred vision and flushed cheeks not a product of too much sun.

“We’re going to Bali,” she laughed. “Come, come,” she said, her eyes glinting in the dull light of Yallingup’s notorious pub Caves House. She got her passport express posted from the east and flew to Bali two days later. With a girl she hardly knew. On tickets she could hardly remember booking. (I didn’t go. I wish I had. They got waves and partied, then hung out on some tropical left-handers in Nusa Lembongan.)

Despite these antics, I think there’s a fire in her that pushes her to win. A fire that is pretty rare. A fire that is responsible for the intimidating character she is in a heat. No one wants to draw Chelsea Williams. Rightfully so I suppose.

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I naively asked her what would happen if she never won. Never won that world title. Her voice was flat as she bluntly told me that she would keep going until she does. And I could tell that it was true. “I’m not going to lie, I want to win that contest more than anything,” she said. “I want to be the world champ.”

Among all this talk of her bridesmaid act, it’s easy to forget that there’s more to the girl than an absent trophy. We covered a few topics in our recent conversations. Having just completed the Australian Longboard Surfing Open at Kingscliff, we talked about the implementation of the new criteria by the ASP. Jen Smith’s win on a single-fin seemed like a reflection of the traditional flavoured criteria that has recently been adopted.

Chelsea was a little nonchalant about the whole issue, the issue of the “deadly” division that has spent the last few years trying to find its way into the longboarding world.

“I hate the whole single fin versus thruster rivalry,” she said. “To me, turning a longboard the way I do is what I love the most, it feels so good and is an expression of myself. Growing up on the Gold Coast surfing waves like Snapper and Dbah there’s no way you'd ride a single-fin a lot of the time, the waves get hollow and fast and you need a board that can keep up and also be maneuverable.

“You see a lot of guys surfing logs around here who are trying to copy other peoples’ styles . . . you see them just standing on the wave doing nothing, blowing so many sections.”

This opinion is not formed without merit; everyone has seen Chelsea’s eye-catching skills out at the Superbank. And among the terrific spectacle of talent and crowd, this is no small achievement. I recently ran into an old friend from Sydney down in tropical Torquay who told me about her recent trip to the Gold Coast. She talked about the crowd and the pumping waves, and went on and on about a longboarder chick she’d seen in the surf.

“She was incredible,” she said. “She took off so deep and was doing the biggest turns!”

I knew it was Chelsea. I remember time spent on the Gold Coast,

watching enviously from a distance as Chelsea pulled in or noserode through the suckiest sections of Greenmount better than most people out there. Better than any other chick I’d seen on a longboard.

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“It is what makes me unique among the rest and I wouldn't want to change that,” she said. And that’s just it. Chelsea is unique.

Outside of surfing however, her focus has shifted to fitness. After a brief stint on the NSW South Coast, a return to the Goldy has seen Chelsea leave the supermarket behind and begin studying to become a personal trainer.

”I couldn't imagine doing a job where I had to be inside all day not being active,” she said. “I’d hate that.” And to me I find this a reflection of the way in which Chelsea has grown. Grown with a focus to match her drive, her hunger to win. Grown with some perspective of what the future might hold.

I think the old reputation of her tendency towards drunken nights and prankster antics may have become just that: old. I think her desire to step into the wild side may have become a desire to achieve what has eluded her for so many years.

So, fit, determined and hungrier than ever, again Chelsea will make the trek to Asia in 2014. Preparing in Taiwan then travelling to China’s Hainan Island to compete, and hopefully win, a world title. Without stickers on her board, or a team of photographers working to capture her silhouetted figure on a golden beach, Chelsea still remains a favourite to win.

In all this however, maybe winning that world title isn’t really what is most imperative. “I think it is always so important to have something to look forward to, somewhere to go with good friends,” she said.

“And most importantly, good coffee!”

HER WHOLE APPROACH I SUPPOSE IS DIFFERENT TO MOST GIRLS. APPROACHING WAVES LIKE ANYTHING

IS POSSIBLE. LIKE BIG TURNS ARE EASY PARTS OF HER REPERTOIRE. AND WHEN YOU’RE CHELSEA WILLIAMS

THERE’S NOT MUCH THAT ISN’T POSSIBLE. PERSONALLY I’D SAY THIS IS WHAT SETS HER APART. HER

VERSATILITY WHEN IT COMES TO BOARD RIDING. NOT ONLY IN RELATION TO ABILITY ON DIFFERENT TYPES

OF BOARDS, BUT HER IMMENSE REPERTOIRE ON A LONGBOARD.