The 16-year-old Logan Park High School pupil recently won a gold medal in the national under 17 women's foil at the New Zealand championships in Wellington.
And although she is thrilled to have reached the top of her age group for New Zealand, the battle is far from over.
The win has qualified her to compete at the Australian under 15 and cadet championships, in Sydney, later this year - the pinnacle of her fencing career to date.
While the competition was expected to be comparatively aggressive, she hoped to also leave her mark on some Australian fencers.
Pippi has been fencing for nearly four years, and found that while the sport was physically challenging, it was also a game of tactics and intellect.
''It's very, very mental.
''The person with the stronger mental ability is more likely to win. That's what I like about it - it's not all physical.
''It really builds your confidence ... and it gives you a chance to do things that are not at school.''
Do not be fooled by her love of extracurricular activities. Pippi is very passionate about school.
She is one of Logan Park High School's top academic pupils, having achieved NCEA Level 1 endorsed with excellence last year.
She is also a talented writer who has won competitions and had work published, she is a talented artist, she is a member of the team which recently won the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare regional competition, and she is off to the national Shakespeare final in Wellington next month.
Somewhere among that, she will find time this term to launch a new fencing club for fellow pupils at the school.
What is her secret to success?
''Just keep going. Don't let losing make you stop.''
Pippi said she had lost many matches, but perseverance had served her well.
Last year, she won silver in the New Zealand Secondary Schools fencing competition and bronze in the New Zealand under 20 competition.
Pippi is now squarely focused on the Australian Cadet Championships in July.
But after that? Who knows.
''The Commonwealth Games is a possibility,'' she said.
Whatever her fencing future holds, she will need to develop a thick skin.
Being constantly hit with a foil during training, three times a week, is quite painful, she said.
''You tend to get lots of whippy bruises.''
John McGlashan College pupil Louis Jennings (14) also competed in the New Zealand championships, winning silver in the under 15 epee and bronze in the under 15 foil.
