Jennifer

Jennifer
Age
29 Years Old
Location
Honolulu, HI
Main Sport
Surf > Shortboard

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Q&A - Personal

What has been your most embarrassing moment?

Probably at Makaha when I fell doing the cockroach and my board flew at the head of the slightly imposing Makaha Auntie that dropped in behind me on the inside. When I am pushing my limits and fall I usually come up laughing. So I came up laughing and she didn't take it all that well, of course I had no idea my very large heavy board almost creamed her. Once she told me in not the happiest of manners, I wanted to make myself momentarily invisible. But oh well she wasn't hurt and it makes for a funny story. I didn't drop in on her, it was my wave and we all know the risk of getting near other surfers, so no worries.

Why do you like this sport?

On a good day it is like flying on glass, it is just incredible, every single thing about it. I also love how once you enter the water, you are just you. We try to have all of these standards and pecking order and everything else, but really out there we are just us becoming one with the waves. Besides surfing is SO good for everyone, even just riding a tiny wave on your belly is an incredible experience. How could I not love it.

Do you train? What does your schedule look like?

Yes definitely. I wake up and work out which involves mostly strength training. I then go to work which involves paddling out, paddling all around and then paddling back in at least 3 times a day and up to 5 or 6 times on a busy day. Then I go surf for 2-3 hours. On my days off I usually either stretch and rest or surf all day depending on how my body feels.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Someone who does what they love and shares it with others. Also someone who makes a difference and improves other people's lives through what the do.

Do you like to travel? What's your best (clean) road trip story?

I don't want to make you read a story that long. But it involves going for a weekend trip to the Great Wall with a Chinese motorcycle "group". If I ever talk to you in person I will tell you the story, and it is a true story, I even have pictures to prove it.

Q&A - Self Interview

Why do you think you are a good candidate for sponsorship?

First I will be the first to admit that I am new to surfing competition. However, I am no stranger to elite competition. Right now in surfing I am moving ahead at very rapid speed so it is a really exciting time. Also between competition, work, surfing at various breaks, and my social network; I come into contact with dozens if not even more potential customers every week and summer isn't even here yet.

What kinds of companies do you seek sponsorship from?

I look for a product that I like, would use and purchase anyway. I also look for a company I am compatible with who is going to really like having me represent them. This is really important since when I teach and do photography I oftentimes interact with many different people who are experiencing surf culture for the first time. I also work on the beach and many people see me out surfing and they ask about my equipment because I am ALWAYS on the beach or out in the water. So it is really important to me that the companies I am sponsored by and their products are a good match. It is really important to me to be able to be genuinely enthusiastic.

What are your goals outside of competition?

First and foremost to share my love of all creatures and the ocean with others through all things surf. I would like to keep teaching surfing and improve methods for helping beginners become solid intermediate and advanced recreational surfers. In addition I plan to start up two non-profit programs in the next couple of years, one which would involve surf lessons for children whose parent(s) is/are in prison and the second swim/surf lessons for victims of violence.

What do you hope to gain in life from competing now, and what to do want to communicate to others through competition?

I just love to compete. I also really like the fact that competing is pushing my surfing to many new levels and the better I surf the more fun I have. I love the fact that I can go out there, get in the zone and just surf for 20 minutes. I love how even in competition I can express myself through surfing, usually sports are more constraining than that, but in surfing you have the opportunity to really treat the wave like it is your own personal canvas. I also want to show others that no matter how old you are or what category people think you belong in, you can do anything if you put your heart into it. Also no matter what happens on land something magic happens when people enter the water, and no matter what your style is, determined, fun loving, timid, agressive, self concious, etc; surfing is good for you and when human and wave dance no matter what one's style, the result is beautiful. Finally I just want to share my stoke :-)

What are your favorite things? Food, waves, music, work, places, pets, sports, hobbies, etc.?

Food: Ahi Poke, mango, papaya, pancakes, dungeness crab, avocado, and tortilla chips. Waves: Anything with a steep drop and a long wall. I also like mellow peeling south shore surf breaks when they get fairly big, like outside castles when the south shore is going off. I really like surfing a variety of spots. Music: Lately I have been into Bob Marley, I like good local underground reggae, I have always liked happy alternative, to get in the mood to compete I like to listen to Guns and Roses and Metallica, and secretly when I am the only one in the car I absolutely love listening to country. Work: I love teaching surfing, doing surf film/photography, and lifeguarding. Pets and Animals: I love everything living pretty much. I love the wildlife out in the ocean, I love the local birdies and critters here in Hawaii. I have a kitty that I brought in who was living homeless on the beach, she is absolutely awesome (I still have to get her surfing, I think she might be cool with it). My roommate has two kitties and, I have to say Hawaiian kitties RULE! They are different from mainland kitties and they are AWESOME. We would probably have a dog too if we lived in a bigger place, i LOVE bigger doggies. If I could have any pets in the world, I would have the ones I already own as well as a Rottweiler doggie, a couple of horses, a few dolphins, a giant pool with turtles (honu) and a pet Zebra. Sports: I love all kinds of surfing, I enjoy paddleboarding when it is small and I love to kayak, swim, and hope to someday learn to steer a canoe. Hobbies: Other than watching waves break while working on the beach and finding the best uncrowded surf spots and surfing there; trying to get the coolest pictures I can (see my photo gallery of pictures I have taken). Filming my friends charging country when it is too big for me to paddle out. I also want to start sketching again so I can put some cool art on my surfboards. I also really like reading good inspiring autobiographies and watching movies that are based on true stories. I am also a sucker for good action movies, and am into watching MMA.

Q&A - Competition

How did you get started?

I used to compete in other sports and I missed the intensity of training that competition brought and I really missed being in the zone. In my retirement from those other sports I started surfing and absolutely fell in love with it, so much that I started teaching surfing and doing surf photography as a career. I had been a lifeguard for years so it wasn't too much of a stretch. One day the allure of surfing some of the breaks on the schedule with only a few other people out overrode any fear I had of embarrassing myself. After the first contest I just fell in love with competing, the intensity was awesome, I get to challenge myself in all different conditions, and I feel like I am out there with my friends so the rest is history.

List your competitive highlights:

Third in longboard at HSA Sandy Beach Third at HSA Sunset Beach (moved to Sandy Beach) Fourth in longboard at the HSA Makaha Fourth at the HSA Kakaako 2009 qualified for HSA States 14th at Buffalo Big Board Classic in a very competitive field, finished just behind Ha'a Keaulana in points. Was stoked to have finished first of all non-local women, especially since it was my first time surfing Makaha. Tenth at the China Uemura Wahine Contest Girls Amateur Longboard Division 5th in my heat after sustaining a black eye and a concussion during the paddle out at the China Uemura Longboard Classic

What are you planning for next season?

I plan to compete in at least 3 ASP longboard qualifying series events and qualify for longboard world championships. I also plan to win a number of amateur contests that I enter. I am really focusing on making my surfing more technically sound. I can pull quite a few moves but right now I am working on consistency, focus and style in addition to replicating this in very small waves.

What has been your biggest accomplishment?

I am not sure what to put here, for anything I accomplish it has much more to do with God than with me and all the glory goes to him. I am incredibly stoked that I got my surf instructor certification a couple of months ago, out here many people fail the test many times in fact I am one of only 3 women working the beach that have it, so I am incredibly happy about that.

Q&A - Favorites

Favorite Car: Anything fun, cool looking, fast and isn't finished after 60,000 miles... But honestly car or no car, all I really need is the ocean, a couple of waves and a surfboard.
Favorite Magazine: Free Surf and Heavywater
Favorite Movie: Cool Runnings, favorite surf movie: Surfs Up
Favorite Trick: Whatever I am working on at the moment, at present: off the tops and noseriding.
Favorite Event: I like the HSA events a whole lot, the other women are really nice, it feels like I am out there surfing with very competitive friends and that is a really nice feeling
Favorite Rider: My favorite of all, my grandfather who used to tell me stories about surfing on their army issue mattresses in the Phillipines during WW2. Other than that,first and foremost my coaches; beyond that many of the old time beach boys in Waikiki as well as Joey Carroll, Gerry Lopez, and Keoni Downing. I love how humble they are and how relaxed and amazing their surf styles are. I dream of having as much aloha and humility as the aforementioned surfers :-)

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	Brian Tobey says: 11/23/2009 8:10 PM
	heeey =D 5 stars for you!
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	Rick Guerin says: 11/23/2009 8:05 PM
	Thanks for add. 5*s for you. Mahalo :-)
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	AreYouPro says: 11/9/2009 11:05 PM
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