The lure of the world championships coming to Australia has Geraldton surf lifesavers Natasha and Rebecca Browne back in the surf.

A six-month break hasn’t deterred the 17-year-old, non-identical twins from what will be a huge year of competition.

The sisters will compete together in the WA Surf Lifesaving Championships at Scarborough Beach in March, while Natasha will go on to try her hand at national and world glory.

The Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships will be held at Kurrawa Beach, Queensland, in March, with Adelaide to host the World Surf Lifesaving Championships in November.

Coach Joe Knight-Smith said the state and national titles were a stepping stone to the biggest event of the season.

“They are both naturally gifted athletes and Natasha will be very competitive at an international level,” he said.

“They have both won at state and national level before.

“World championships are just the next step up for them.”

Despite having won 44 state gold medals and five national medals, Natasha and Rebecca could not compete at the 2010 World Championships in Egypt.

“It was geographically impossible,” Knight-Smith said.

“We missed out on the world titles two years ago when the girls were at their very peak so we are going to make up for it this year.”

The girls’ training schedule consists of 11 intense training sessions a week, including training with WA surf lifesavers Ruth Highman and Jane Humphrys.

Natasha said after six out of the sport, she could not wait to get back into competition.

“I just love the sport and I couldn’t stay away,” she said.

“I have only been in training for three months but I think I can still do well at state and nationals.”

Natasha said her main goal was to defend the pair’s board rescue title.

Rebecca said she was returning to the sport purely to help her sister.

“I am only going to compete in states so Natasha and I can compete event,” she said.

“I will look to compete in nationals and worlds in the future but at this stage I am happy where I am.”

Knight-Smith had no doubt the duo would come back from the competitions with medals.

“They look like champion athletes and they train like champion athletes,” he said.

“I have been pushing them from the word go. It has been a very demanding program but that’s why they are so good, because they can embrace hard work.”