At just 17 years old, Macaela Turfus, of Poolburn, is excited at the challenge of taking on Australia's best under-21 rowers.
Macaela was recently named in the New Zealand girls under-21 team which will travel to Sydney late next month for a transtasman clash.
The Dunstan High School pupil said she had not expected to make the team, but was excited about the experience.
"One of the reserves is also 17, but apart from that most of them are about 19.
"I do feel a little out of my depth. They are pretty experienced.''
Turfus' thirst for the sport began while watching rowers on the water in Twizel during family holidays.
She got in the boat herself as soon as she was able to at age 13.
Apart from making the New Zealand team, the achievements of which she is most proud are her Maadi Cup results.
This year she won silver in the girls under-18 lightweight double skulls with school-mate Sydney Cook, matching last year's effort in the same event.
In 2015, she won gold in the girls under-17 double skulls with partner Lucy Geddes.
"Yeah, that was a surprise. We'd only trained in the boat a couple of times before that.''
Turfus trains at the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club in Clyde five to six days a week, and is usually on the water at 6am.
"I don't mind getting up early. I don't really sleep in.''
The sessions involve drills, workouts, long rows and race practice.
She would usually stop during winter but, after making the New Zealand team, her training will now be year round.
Turfus has not met all her team-mates, including her new double skulls partner, but will be able to at a training session at Lake Karapiro, near Hamilton, next month before leaving for Australia, she said
She plans to pursue the sport after leaving high school and is considering rowing as a career, she said.
"Yeah, if it takes me there.''
She was drawn to rowing because she "likes a challenge'', she said.
"I think what makes a good rower is dedication.
"You've got to keep doing it. You've got to enjoy it and keep showing up.''
Coach Simon Smith said her work ethic was what led to her successes.
"She is so self-motivated. I don't have to push her.
"When she started she was the smallest in the squad by a country mile. From there she's just gone from strength to strength.''
The team will face the Australians in Sydney on June 30 and again in September at Lake Karapiro.
