She's been a fixture on the WSL commentary team for five years now and Rosy Hodge believes she's finally found her calling. Because, while she had mixed success as a competitor, Rosy has flourished in front of the camera.

And despite no longer surfing for a living she's not exactly stickerless - in fact she just picked up a new deal with Rip Curl.

Right now Rosy is over on Maui waiting for the Maui Women’s Pro to run at Honolua Bay. It was a lay day when Mimi LaMontagne gave Rosy a call to pick her brain on the ups and downs of tour life.

So, straight from the commentary box:

Swellnet: Rosy, you were on the World Championship Tour for four years: travelling, surfing and competing. Today, you’re still on Tour, just in a whole new way. What’s it like being a part of the WCT without having the competition side of things?
Rosy Hodge: Well, I think it was always my dream to be on Tour, but once I qualified and started surfing on the CT I realised all of the ups and downs of competitive tour life. It can give you extreme highs and extreme lows.

And now, being a part of the commentary team, I feel really fortunate to have that perspective. It helps me relate to the surfers and understand what they’re going through, but I don’t have to be that close to it – I’m on the outside looking in. As much as I enjoyed the challenge of competing and all of that, I just feel like what I’m doing right now is so much more fun for me. I don’t have the same kinds of pressures, but I still get to travel and do what I love.

It’s a different kind of pressure…
Totally. It’s so funny because none of us really came from backgrounds in commentary – I mean, Joe and Ronnie had made a bit of a profession out of it – but it’s such a challenge.

It’s stressful, dealing with people straight after they compete – and being a former competitor you know the heart and soul that goes into what they are doing, and all the hard work in the lead up. It can be pretty taxing. The early wake-ups, and even just making sure that you’re on point all day. We have fourteen hour days in Europe, and it’s back-to-back-to-back. There’s definitely a challenge in everything that we do, and with that, there are ups and downs.

Does having that perspective of relating to an athlete’s loss or win make it easier or harder when approaching athletes?
I know that emotion...losing. When you win, it’s pure elation, but when you’ve lost, it’s so hard. It’s your feelings and your heart and soul, and it’s all on the line. There definitely are times when the producer says, “OK, go get that surfer,” and they could have just lost their place on Tour, or lost the World Title, and it’s hard. It’s really hard, especially when the last thing they feel like doing is answering questions.

Seeing that on a daily basis, do you almost have a sense of relief that you’re not on Tour anymore?
Yeah, I do! When I was a competitive surfer I enjoyed the travelling and everything, but it was so stressful. Doing what I do now feels amazing – surfing when I want to surf and surfing because I want to surf. It’s not my job now; it’s just what I love to do.

Did you ever think you’d end up where you are today?
No, 100% I never thought this would happen. Even when I first started commentating I didn’t realise – I was so nervous and shy and I needed to learn how to think on my feet. It was a huge challenge for me. I had to come out of my shell, and it’s been good because I definitely have overcome that nervousness.

And, where do you see your career headed?
When the commentary team first got the call up we thought it was for one year. We started doing it and we thought, 'Wow this is epic!' And then we got another year, and another. As time has gone on we’ve really started appreciating what we get to do, and in turn that’s motivated us all to improve and learn from one another.

For me it really is a dream scenario, working for the WSL and being able to ride for Rip Curl. I’m a big fan of trying to make the most of any opportunity that comes your way, and it’s been so incredible for me. Even if something seems scary, there’s no harm in trying – you might end up really digging it.

And, a bit off-topic, but are you allowed to have favourites on Tour?
Ha ha! It’s so funny because I don’t know if we are, and I try to stay impartial, but it’s so hard. There are definitely certain people that you’re drawn to, surfing aside. Like Mick and John and Jordy… when they get out of the water they ask how you’ve been, ask if you’ve been surfing. They’re really interested. It’s refreshing to see people who are so personable and so approachable even when they achieve such epic things.

As a person you’ll always lean towards the people that you like, I guess. I do try to be impartial, but it’s hard! I get so fired up! We’re all a bunch of surf turkeys at the end of the day.