Molly Picklum has her sights set on world’s heaviest wave before striving for gold in Paris

21-year-old Molly Picklum has one more wave to ride before the Olympics, and says that she will use the fear of her competitors to her advantage as she prepares for the world’s heaviest wave.

21-year-old Molly Picklum is ready to take on one of the heaviest waves in the world before heading to Paris. Picture: Tony Heff/World Surf League

AUSTRALIAN surfer Molly Picklum says she is willing to dance with the devil to win the Tahiti Pro and ultimately a gold medal for Australia at the Paris Olympics.

The devil Picklum refers to is the world famous Teahupo’o surf break, recognised as one of the heaviest waves in the world and one that has claimed the lives of some who have tried to ride it.

But the 21-year-old who won at Sunset Beach and finished runner-up at Pipeline earlier this year believes she has a distinct competitive advantage over her rivals and revealed their fear only makes her more comfortable in the water.

“We have seen that potentially it is one of my strengths that I am willing to give it a go and get over the edge of some of these waves,” Picklum said.

“Hopefully it is a wave of consequence when the Olympics rolls around. In competition there is two things for the women that goes on.

“The competitiveness of just wanting to win but also the fear you can see in a lot of the girls.

“When I see the fear in others it makes me a little more comfortable. I can focus more on what the job at hand is rather than being distracted by fear or being uncomfortable.”

Tyler Wright, Molly Picklum, Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing are Paris bound. Picture: Supplied

Picklum said her understanding of the situation she is putting herself in and the experience she has had in bigger waves enables her to execute on the biggest stage.

“Specifically for this wave I think it’s the openness to wipe out and fail,” Picklum said.

“I know the dangers. I run a checklist every time I paddle out. Yes there is the reef, ambulances flying around and a lot of things unfolding that are possibilities but I have a clear understanding of what I’m entering into when I’m out there.

“I make the conscious decision every time I paddle out that there is potentially consequences.

“But on the other side there is potentially a magical experience that could happen for me and that is the wave of my life.

“I’m willing to dance with the devil to get that magic moment.”

Originally published as Molly Picklum has her sights set on world’s heaviest wave before striving for gold in Paris