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Profiles And Interviews

10 Questions for 7 Surfers

10 Questions for 7 Surfers

I had the opportunity to interrupt the busy lives of seven of the coolest surfers (who just happened to be women) and ask them the really tough questions that we all want to know.  Who hasn’t wondered if other surfers are secretly watching North Shore and memorizing all the great lines, or is it Blue Crush? Am I the only one that thinks Turtle is one of the all time surfing icons?  And just how popular are Kelly Slater and Jack Johnson?  Apparently they are very popular.  And for a post surf meal, taco’s, burritos, hummus, acai bowls, fries; we love ‘em all

Go ahead; compare your answers to other surfers.  Oh and, yeah, I let Mary and Karina answer extra questions.  Who could stop them?

Rochelle Ballard

Rochelle Shacked - Photo by Dave Bjorn

Competitive surfing, movies, Yoga, recycling, diving and hiking through the lush mountains of Hawaii.  You name it; Rochelle’s covered the surfing world.  As if the record for two perfect 10’s in one heat wasn’t enough, she spent 17 years on the ASP and still found time to make us believe that Kate Bosworth could drop into huge Pipeline.

Best thing about surfing?
Diving into the ocean, paddling out and seeing a good wave peel off, makes me so excited.

Worst thing about surfing?
Crowds, kooks, and male ego

Where do you want to surf that you haven’t been?
Philippines Cloud 9

North Shore or Blue Crush?
Blue Crush of course 🙂

Your favorite cross-training method?
Yogalign power flow, run on the beach, and swim

Donovan Frankenreiter or Jack Johnson?
Jack Johnson

If you got an all-expense paid surf trip to Tavarua and could take three people, who would you take?
My Dad, my brother, and a date

How cold is too cold?
When I can’t feel my feet and I would rather be having a hot cup of tea

Best post-surf meal?
Tacos and a beer

What famous surfer inspires you the most?
Kelly inspires me the most, he has from day one and I love who he is, what he does, and his energy, plus he’s really hot

Meghan Walsh

Meghan Walsh in Montauk

This Brooklyn surfer (I don’t think I’ve ever heard that term before) is a Montauk regular, but loves to travel to surf destinations.  Meghan has surfed in Mexico, Portugal, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Guatemala, El Salvador, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, New York and California.

Best thing about surfing?
Everything about surfing is great: being in the water, looking at the landscape/sunset/sunrise from the water, and of course riding waves.

Worst thing about surfing?

It’s hard to focus on anything else or attend to life’s responsibilities when you’re at the beck and call of the ocean and Mother Nature.

Where do you want to surf that you haven’t been?
Bali

North Shore or Blue Crush
Didn’t see North Shore so am going to go with Blue Crush, but will put Northshore on my Netflix queue.

Your favorite cross-training method?
People say swimming and yoga help but I don’t think anything can get you in shape for surfing except surfing.

Donovan Frankenreiter or Jack Johnson?
Jack Johnson

If you got an all-expense paid surf trip to Tavarua and could take three people, who would you take?
Three of my friends with the best vibe and who are the most fun to travel with.

How cold is too cold?
I don’t like the cold so I’m going to say 50 degrees.

Best post-surf meal?
Fish tacos.

What famous surfer would you like to hang out with?
I would love to hang out with Kelly Slater.

Mary Osborne

Patagonia's Mary Osborne

I can’t think of a surf magazine that hasn’t featured this incredibly talented athlete.  She has made a very nice career surfing, modeling and writing.  Remember MTV’s “Surf Girls”?  Remember Mary winning the longboard division?   I do.

Best thing about surfing?
No wave or ride is ever the exact same

Worst thing about surfing?
Crowds and cold water

Where do you want to surf that you haven’t been?
So many places.. South Africa, Barra, El Salvador

North Shore or Blue Crush?
North Shore

Your favorite cross-training method?
Standing on a medicine ball and doing squats

Donovan Frankenreiter or Jack Johnson?
Hmmmm I prefer something different but I will pick Jack

If you got an all-expense paid surf trip to Tavarua and could take three people, who would you take?
My three older brothers

How cold is too cold?
Snowing, freezing ice water with a bad wetsuit

Best post-surf meal?
Burger, beer and fries

Who would you most like to compete against?
Kelly slater… just kidding… wait OCCY..jk

What famous surfer would you like to hang out with?
Rell Sun, I never got to meet her

Who is your favorite surfing personality of all time?
Wingnut

Taylor Pitz

Taylor Pitz - Photo by Nathaniel Harrington

High School phenom, NSSA Women’s open champ, Laguna Beach local and Billabong team member.  Does the High School girl down the block show up at your favorite reef break and make you look silly?  She does if you live in Laguna……yeah, she rips!

Best thing about surfing?
Having fun in the water with friends.

Worst thing about surfing?
Sunburn.

Where do you want to surf that you haven’t been?

The Gold Coast of Australia

North Shore or Blue Crush?
Blue Crush for sure.

Your favorite cross-training method?
Swimming or hiking.

Donovan Frankenreiter or Jack Johnson?
Love both, but I must say Jack Johnson: he’s my all time favorite.

If you got an all-expense paid surf trip to Tavarua and could take three people, who would you take?
My Dad, Andrew Palmer and Rex Strombotne (Local boys)

How cold is too cold?
Anything too cold for shorts or a bikini.

Best post-surf meal?
Acai bowl.

Who would you most like to compete against?
Stephanie Gilmore: if you’re going to compete against someone, why not the best?

Hayley Gordon

Hayley Gordon in Portugal

A bicoastal surfer originally from Long Island, New York, Hayley runs SurfingHandbook.com.  Always the first one to give positive feedback, she is what surfing is all about.  Pure stoke!

Best thing about surfing?
The fact that I can paddle out and come back refreshed; almost a new person.

Worst thing about surfing?
Frustration that comes with the crowds.

Where do you want to surf that you haven’t been?
Kandui surf resort looks absolutely amazing.

North Shore or Blue Crush ?
North Shore – nobody listens to Turtle

Your favorite cross-training method?
Swimming is great, but longboard skateboarding is also a fun way to improve.

Donovan Frankenreiter or Jack Johnson?
Jack Johnson

If you got an all-expense paid surf trip to Tavarua and could take three people, who would you take?
Ooh, that’s tough.  Probably my friends Val, Meghan, and Suzanne since I’ve had some very fun surf trips with them.

How cold is too cold?
It’s never too cold – I have surfed in New York in January in below freezing temps.

Best post-surf meal?
A burrito from Mozy’s cafe in Leucadia, or a Bruce sandwich from Naturally Good in Montauk.

What famous surfer would you like to hang out with?
Well, this might sound cliche but I’d love to hang out with Kelly Slater and hope he could impart some of his wave wisdom on me.

Karina Petroni

Karina Petroni

Surfer, model and all around cool head….  She grew up in a jungle next to the Panama Canal, perfected her surfing on the East Coast and spends much of her time in the Bahamas .  Did you see her in The Cove?  Karina is definitely living life to the fullest!

Best thing about surfing?
The Ocean, to be surrounded by God’s biggest and greatest creation is phenomenal as well never being handed a rule book when you learn how to surf.

Worst thing about surfing?

Ice Cream headaches in freezing waters.

Where do you want to surf that you haven’t been?

Italy.

North Shore or Blue Crush?
Oh geez, I would say North Shore on the off season (Okay, we’ll accept that)

Your favorite cross-training method?
Yoga, soft sand running and Vegan diet!

Donovan Frankenreiter or Jack Johnson?
I like them both

If you got an all-expense paid surf trip to Tavarua and could take three people, who would you take?
David Mitchell, Paul Petroni and Reidunn Petroni my mom!

How cold is too cold?
Yakatat Alaska was pretty darn cold, but Japanese rubber these days is incredible.

Best post-surf meal?

Hummus, Taboulie, Salad.

Who would you most like to compete against?
Rob Machado

What famous surfer would you like to hang out with?
Tom Carrol

Who’s is your favorite surfing personality of all time?
Rabbit

What famous surfer inspires you the most?
Dave Rastovich

Do you laugh at yourself everyday?
Yes (Karina wrote that question)

Valerie Gee

Valerie Gee, Duckdiving In Hawaii

Hailing from  Encinitas, California, this member of the Mahfia (see mahfia.com)  loves her surfing and loves her music.  When not filling her surfing addiction you’ll find her on the slopes in the winter time looking for fresh powder to shred.

Best thing about surfing?
Mother Nature,  friends, dolphins, dudes and amazing trips!

Worst thing about surfing?

Putting on a wet wetsuit when its cold out.

Where do you want to surf that you haven’t been?
Bali

North Shore or Blue Crush?
North Shore hands down, but I actually helped promote Blue Crush when it came out in 2002.

Your favorite cross-training method?
Running and yoga

Donovan Frankenreiter or Jack Johnson?
Jack Johnson

If you got an all-expense paid surf trip to Tavarua and could take three people, who would you take?
Hayley, Beth and Lori

How cold is too cold?
If I have to wear a 5/3, hood and gloves.

Best post-surf meal?
Erin’s Chicken Plantain burrito from Mozy’s

What famous surfer would you like to hang out with?
Dane Reynolds. Quirky. Cute. Unbelievably talented.

/\/(

Dave Christensen

Dave Christensen is a surfer/musician/artist based out of Laguna Beach, California.

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