Most surfers don’t let a day go by where they are not in the water. But Anderson gave herself a two-week break ahead of the 6000-point World Surf League women’s qualifying series contest in California, being staged from July 28 to 30.

“I’ve been home for a month and a half now, which is the longest break all year,” Anderson said.

“I didn’t really surf for two weeks or so because it was just so cold.

“A couple of years ago Kelly Slater didn’t surf for four weeks up to the event and ended up winning and he said because he’s been doing it for so long it’s good to sometimes have time out of the water.”

Anderson is placed 11th in the series but with four top-rated events left “anything can happen”.

Philippa Anderson left on Monday for a hit-and-run mission to the US.

“Everyone has one good result and one average result,” Anderson said. “It’s probably going to come down to the last event I’d say.

“It’s still a long road ahead but I really like going to America. It’s just easy, everyone speaks English and I’m staying at my friend’s house so I just have to hire a car.

“Sometimes you have to get chaperones, especially places like El Salvador, because it was dangerous.

“I’ve always done pretty well in America. I’ve got some new boards and I’ve been training pretty hard so hopefully everything just falls into place.”

Anderson has come painstakingly close to qualifying for the women’s top-tier championship tour three times before and had almost given up hope before finishing second to former world No.2 Silvana Lima at the Sydney International Women’s Pro at Cronulla last November.

After the US trip, Anderson will return home briefly before heading abroad again for the European leg.

“I normally only do the six-star in Spain but there are two France events as well,” she said. “They’re lower rated but it’s just confidence surfing heats.”