Stephanie Gilmore is back after a year off tour to chase a seventh world title

STRUTTING the red carpet might not have helped a knee injury last year but Stephanie Gilmore is back with a new perspective on life and ready to explode onto the 2016 World Tour.

Steph Gilmore down on Bondi beach for pic story. Meet at Bondi Icebergs at 9am then they will take you down to beach/rocks etc for the pix. Pic Chris Pavlich

STRUTTING the red carpet might not have helped her knee injury last year but Stephanie Gilmore is back with a new perspective on life and ready to explode on to the 2016 World Tour.

Now the six-time world champion is eyeing off a record seventh world title after suffering three hairline fractures near her knee following a surfing accident in Western Australia in April last year.

“I’m excited to see if I can come back and win it again,” the 28-year-old said.

Steph Gilmore. Picture: Chris Pavlich

“I’ve started working really hard which is pretty easy to do when you just want to win again.”

As a 1.78m surfer, who is now the oldest woman on tour, she said she had been using power exercises to take her surfing to another level.

“I really want to be more dynamic and explosive with my surfing,” Gilmore said.

Steph Gilmore down on Bondi beach for pic story. Meet at Bondi Icebergs at 9am then they will take you down to beach/rocks etc for the pix. Pic Chris Pavlich

“I’ve been hitting the gym and surfing twice every day, then I’ll get a massage or stretch.

“My build is quite tall for a surfer and I have an upright style. I have been working on getting into a lower position and working on endurance so I can finish the wave the way I start it.”

Steph Gilmore in action on the Coast last month. Photo: Adam Head

In her “year off” Gilmore has worked on photoshoots for Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, visited music festivals and graced the red carpet at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art gala.

While admitting “a few too many big events in high heels” meant her recovery took longer than expected, she said she realised there was a lot more to do outside the sport she has dominated since she was a teen.

Steph Gilmore at the Falls Festival in Byron Bay over New Years Eve. Photo: Luke Marsden

“I just spent a week in Paris which was amazing — I find the city so inspiring,” she said. “It made me realise that there is so much to achieve outside surfing and it doesn't define who I am.”

Locals will be able to catch up with Gilmore at #ROXYfitness event at Rainbow Bay during the Roxy Pro next month.