Stephanie Gilmore is the first to admit she failed to find a spark in last year's women's world surfing title defence.
The five-time world champion struggled for motivation and inspiration throughout 2013 as fatigue following a gruelling 2012 took hold.
Gilmore clawed her way back to the top in 2012 to claim her fifth world title, a year after she'd relinquished top spot to Hawaiian surfer Carissa Moore in 2011.
That battle to claim back the No.1 ranking left the 26-year-old flat and she endured one of her poorest world championship campaigns in 2013, ending the year ranked fifth and with no event wins to her name.
A happier, relaxed Gilmore says she's feeling the spark as she again aims to regain top spot from Moore, starting with the Roxy Pro event on the Gold Coast.
"I love competing on tour, that's why I still did the tour ... last year I was just a little uninspired," Gilmore told AAP.
"We didn't have the best conditions around the world, that's probably the main thing.
"I just couldn't find that focus or frame of mind that I needed to crack a finals or win an event. That's something I've been working on this year and hopefully it shines through in my heats."
The Roxy Pro is the first stop of an expanded women's tour, which Gilmore believes will be more professional and more up to the standard she thrives in.
"My most favourite events are, of course when the waves are good, but also when you're treated like a professional athlete," she said.
"It's like you're competing in a stadium and that's what gets me excited. I love paddling out in front of thousands of people and performing."
