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But for this Bay City native (a Bay City Western and Michigan State graduate), her most important goal of the year is to compete in the Can-Am Cup at the Harbor Beach Maritime Festival later this week so her 93-year-old grandfather Lawrence Clemens can see her race for just the second time ever.

"My grandparents always lived very near us, so we spent a lot of time together. We worked together on projects, in the garden and with the animals," Green explained.

"I have always been driven to make my grandpa proud," she added. "With any challenge that I faced as a kid, my mom would encourage me to show him how well I could handle it."

The desire to be a success in her grandpa's eyes and an early exposure to sports (she grew up playing softball and competing in equestrian events), planted the seeds for Green's eventual involvement in jet ski racing.Her first competition was in November 1997, when some of her friends told her about a watercraft race in Lake Elsinore, Calif., that was being held in conjunction with a motocross race. Despite not knowing what it was all about, she decided to try it.

"I had a stock Ô96 Sea Doo XP that my boyfriend outfitted," she said. "We gathered up some of the guys I worked with as a crew and I raced the Beginner and Novice classes."

She added, "I was hooked (right away)."But the journey from novice rider to World Champion was a long one. "There is a lot to learn to really be competitive, particularly with the set up of the equipment," she explained.

"Through what was initially an unfortunate situation, Polaris hooked me up with Jim Pierce and Ross Jordan, out of Loomis, Calif. Jim had been one of the guys I most wanted to beat, because he was so fast and so consistent, it seemed awkward they wanted us to team up," Green said.

In time, Polaris's decision proved to be the right one. "Not only did that make a huge difference for me mechanically, but... we all became the best of friends," she said. "They (Jim, Ross and Ross's brother Mark) are three of the most generous guys you'll ever meet."Not all of her initial experiences in the sport turned out as well. Green remembered one instance, when she learned how expensive watercraft racing can truly be.

"After winning a few races when I was first starting out, I had accumulated $700 in credits at a local performance shop," Green began. "So my boyfriend and I went down to the shop to see about getting my XP modified to a ÔLimited' so I could be more competitive."

She added, "We were just sure that it couldn't take more than the credits I had."

It turned out, they were wrong. "We just about fell over when they told us it would cost $1,500 for everything. Our jaws almost hit the floor," Green said.

"At that time, I could not even imagine spending that kind of money on a watercraft, so we left dejected," she continued. "It's funny to me now, because just one performance part can cost that much today and I don't even blink an eye if it's what we need to win."

That attitude has served her well on her journey to become one of the world's best riders. "I love competition," she said.

"The first few years, I would race any race I could find in Southern California-closed course, long course or endurance. Then, I started go to races farther away to race against what I thought were the best racers on the west coast so that I could get better," she explained. "The last few years, I've been racing across the country and doing the National Tour."

As a seven time National Champion and three time ISJBA Women's World Champion (2004-2006), she is proven she is amongst the best riders in the United States and possibly the world. Yet when looking back at her career to date, her top racing moment did not include any of her championship wins.

"My favorite racing memory was competing in my hometown of Bay City in 2003 with my grandpa there," Green explained. "It was the only race he's been able to see in person."

Having her grandpa watch her compete in Harbor Beach is a dream come true for Green. "My grandpa will tell you he is my number one fan," Green said.

She added, "Being acutely aware that luck does come into play in this sport, he has given me a couple of good luck charms including a four leaf clover necklace and a silver horseshoe. But, he really showed his support by growing a clover plant and sending me the dried four leaf clovers for good luck."

Perhaps Clemens will prove to be the true good luck charm for his granddaughter in her first Can-Am Cup appearance. "I've wanted to run the Can-Am Cup since its inception, but have had scheduling conflicts in prior years."

"This race definitely has national level attention. Jacques Bryant and Patrick Mell are two of the best race organizers in the country and have done a fantastic job of building this event into one of the premiere events of the year," Green continued.

"This has become one of the most highly regarded events in the U.S. and it is right in my home state, so I am really looking forward to participating this year," she added. "This is the race I'm most looking forward to this year, I can't wait."