When Molly Picklum carried her first world championship trophy to North Shelly Boardriders on Saturday, September 6, it wasn’t just a homecoming.
It was a moment that tied her greatest achievement back to the beach where it all began.
Fresh from winning the World Surf League title in Fiji, the 22-year-old returned to the Central Coast to celebrate with the people who shaped her journey.
While the roar of the international stage is still fresh, it was the cheers from family, friends, and clubmates at her local boardriders club that mattered most.
“It was my dream to bring the trophy back here, Picklum said.
“To walk it into North Shelly and see the whole club there means the absolute world to me.
“More than the title itself, it’s having something to share with everyone who’s been part of this ride.”
At North Shelly, the atmosphere was electric.
Long-time members toasted their champion, many still in awe that the young girl who grew up in their lineup now sits among surfing’s elite.
Picklum’s campaign to the top was built on resilience.
After a shaky start in the WSL Finals at Cloudbreak, she reset, showcasing her barrel-riding and composure to defeat reigning champion Caroline Marks in a best-of-three showdown.
“The first heat I just wanted to surf, connect with the ocean, but that’s not how you win,” she said.
“You’ve got to be smart, compete well, and I managed to turn it around.”
Her scores included an 8.83 ride that drew gasps, sealed the crown and etched her name into Australian surfing history.
She now joins icons like Layne Beachley, Stephanie Gilmore and Tyler Wright as only the eighth Australian woman to claim a world title.
For Picklum, the milestone is still sinking in.
“Honestly, every time someone says ‘world champion,’ I have to pinch myself,” she said.
“I’m just a kid from the Central Coast who had a dream and went for it.
“And now it’s real.”
Her 2025 season was a test of grit and consistency.
Despite trailing rivals for much of the year, she surged late, winning the Rio Pro, finishing runner-up in South Africa, and cementing her No.1 ranking at the Tahiti Pro before her Fiji triumph.
Looking back, Picklum says those results weren’t just about personal drive, but about everyone who lifted her along the way.
“To be able to bring it all home to North Shelly, that’s what it’s about,” she said.
“It’s not just my win, it’s ours.”
Her success has sparked excitement on the Coast, particularly among young surfers who now see a pathway from their own beaches to the world stage.
At North Shelly, kids lined up for photos and autographs, their eyes wide as they stood beside someone who not long ago was in their shoes.
Picklum hopes to show them that the journey is possible.
“If I can inspire even one kid to believe in themselves, to chase their goals, then it’s worth it,” she said.
“Because I was that kid here once, looking up to the older crew and thinking, ‘maybe one day’.
“It’s so special to bring something back (trophy), let people hold it, feel it, and share in it.
“That’s what makes it real.”
As the sun set on North Shelly, the waves kept rolling in.
For the club, for the Central Coast, and for Picklum herself, everything feels a little bigger now.
Their backyard has produced a world champion and she has brought the world back with her.
Skaie Hull
