Surfing wouldnt be the same. Kennelly: It makes me really happy that athletes are not having a struggle as I did. Less talk, more action. Keala is a good soul. She is an actress, known for John from Cincinnati (2007), Blue Crush (2002) and Beyond the Break (2006). I posted something on my Instagram hoping that he would read it, because I am really grateful to the Aikau family for such a big honor. Fear is good. She remembers constantly feeling like she was under a microscope and feeling pressure from the ASP toturn a blindeye to her true self. Hopefully, her story saves a future CT athlete, man or woman, from pretending to be something theyre not. For the first time ever, the women of big-wave surfing got Pe'ahi to themselves. While open to discussing the past, as youll see in this HEADSPACE we filmed with her last year on the North Shore, shes also ready to move forward. After spending a decade ranked in the top 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), Kennelly took a break from the tour in 2007 to explore her passions for acting and music, including a recurring role as a surfer in the 2007 series John from . Growing up in Kauai, Hawaii, she didn't have the opportunity to compete in surf competitions against other girls so, she . After getting barreled, she was pushed down to Teahupoo's notoriously shallow reef and received a severe gash to the side of her face. However, Kennelly says that there was intense pressure to hide who she is: between competing on tour, coping with undiagnosed bipolar depression, and being in the closet, she says, "I don't know how I survived those years.". I remember thinking that I had spent all this time on tour with all these women that I kept at arms length and here I was, about to die, and none of them would care because I never opened up and let them see the real me.. )For More Check Out:THE GNARLIEST BIG WAVE RIDES OF THE YEAR!!! Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I would love to tell him that personally, which is why I'm so bummed I missed the ceremony. raised in the beautiful Hawaiian islands, Keala is one of the best female. And not even 11-time world champion Kelly Slater could keep his jaw from dropping. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. Those years before I came out were really hard. "They made it pretty rough," she tells Bustle, but she still wanted to make and ride the biggest waves she could. I slowly became more comfortable with myself. THIS IS MY OFFICIAL FB PAGE RUN BY ME :) For bookings and inquires conta So, that was just, it gave me a reason to leave the tour. He was pissed and smashed my sandwich into my face and we were about to start throwing blows when security broke us up. When you're backside on any wave, you're not facing the wave, so your peripheral - you can only see about 11'o'clock without completely jerking your head around. After a heroic performance at The Eddie, Keala Kennelly faces a painful reality. KK: Definitely. PEOPLE: And one of the companies sponsoring you today is Flex. I was in Costa Rica for a one-star WQS event when my appendix ruptured and I had to be rushed to the nearest hospital in this small town. KK: Yeah, it was 1998 or 99 I think. Bruce paddled out and said, Nice barrel Lala! Then he proceeded to tell all the other boys in the water about it. - WSL / Tim McKenna. [15] I do a lot of things to make money that also keep me from being tied down to a 9 to 5, so I can still chase swells from time to time, especially at Chopes. I was on a trip in Europe, and I got back to Los Angeles and my phone started blowing up on arrival. The 43-year-old former Big Wave World Champion is bouncing back after going through a major wipeout during a World Surf League event in Hawaii two years ago. She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer. Whereas for the five to 10 years I was doing it, there were no competitions, there was no prize money, there was no incentive really. Then we had Laird Hamilton, Kala Alexander, and Titus Kinimaka to look up to, as well as my own father [Brian]. With her pain increasing, Kennelly eventually opted to undergo an operation on her hip last May. It's still very homophobic, and there's not a lot of brand inclusivity in terms of sponsorships and advertising. But even though it was never really talked about, I felt like I was in a support group. KK: Andy and Bruce were brothers to me in every sense of the word, which meant they treated me like crap a lot of the time [laughs]. Once you got home and absorbed the news, did you connect with Clyde Aikau or the rest of the family? Jan 27th, 2023. Keala came home from school one day and there was a "Dear John" letter for her on the bed. This Winter saw the women charging on the North Shore, a Championship Tour event at Pipe and the crowning of a female Triple Crown champ. Generally, she won. The perfect gift for the surfer in your life. So what is it that keeps you going? Transsexual. I guess it made me really hard and standoffish. In 2006, Keala earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii. In "The Level Up," changemakers in the fitness and wellness industries tell us how they're making an impact in their communities, from pushing for inclusivity to promoting body acceptance and so much more. Itd be really easy to just focus on who she is now and the progress shes been a key player in and chalk it up to things always being this way. It was really scary. I am spiritual. After that, I felt like, "OK, I have to be open about my mental illness, because if I can help just one person, then I need to do this." Tell me about how living with bipolar depression has impacted your surfing, or vice versa. Professional surfing wasnt a good place for an LGBT athlete 15 years ago. [2], 2003 was a breakout year for Kennelly as she peaked at number 1 in the WCT rankings before ending the year ranked as the 2nd best female surfer in the world. Locals still rule the renowned big-wave arena of Pe'ahi. Staff. Login A blur of bodies pass by, but most of all Kennelly can hear the screams that echo through the dilapidated hospital. "Big wave" is a sub-category of surfing where riders tackle monstrous waves measuring at least 20 feet high. After finishing 2nd in the world on the WQS Tour in 1997, she was accepted to the World Championship Tour and quickly began earning victories at some of the tour's biggest events. You've said that, in recent years, there was a point at which you thought about quitting professional surfing. Laird had gone there and gotten into many fights, and so had my older brother, so I knew what I was in for. In 2015, she was again among the nominees. Browse the full lineup and get your ticket here. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. She's so much more accepted today than I was 10 years ago, which means that there's been progress and that's just what the community needs. RELATED VIDEO: Ultimate Surfer's Jesse Palmer Says Despite Being an Athlete Learning to Surf Was a Challenge. No doubt I pushed them too. IRVINE, Calif., July 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Keala Kennelly has redefined women's surfing. There were all these cautionary tales of, "You can't be a lesbian, it's career suicide.". Everything that matters in surf + outdoorsdirectly to you inbox. A video posted by Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) on Jul 25, 2015 at 2:47pm PDT. Her various top finishes won Kennelly the year's coveted Triple Crown of Surfing. Link copied to clipboard. PEOPLE: What drew you to big wave surfing? Her most notable appearances include opening for Snoop Dogg at Rain Nightclub at the Palms in Las Vegas, The Work Magazine Summer Rooftop Pool Party at The Standard in downtown Los Angeles, The Surfrider Foundation 2 Coasts 1 Ocean Event in the Hamptons and Malibu, The Primo Beer/Inertia Summer Rooftop Party opening for Y.A.H.T. But I was stoked, I was feeling really confident. Help us build our profile of Keala Kennelly! First woman to win a big-wave contest. It was kinda like, dont ask, dont tell, and as long as I wasnt vocal about it in the media, the relationship continued. Kennelly has both been nominated for and won numerous big wave awards. Keala Kennelly, 42, has been surfing for as long as she can remember. He told me I couldnt sit with the surfer boys because I was a girl. Keala Kennelly, going where no women have gone before. Slater Nebrosky, Ken Kosada, Ceshina Feliciano, Mike Nulty, Ceshina Feliciano, RedBull, - WSL / Fred Pompermayer / Red Bull Content Pool, 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly At Himalayas, 2021 Women's Ride Of The Year Nominee: Keala Kennelly At Himalayas, Keala Kennelly Talks Equality In Women's Surfing, Charging Teahupo'o And Competing Against The Irons Brothers, It's Big Wave Award Paddle Week, And Jaws Stole The Show, Four-Time World Champ Carissa Moore On A Return To Teahupo'o, Meet The Contenders For The Red Bull Big Wave Awards Women's Performer Of The Year, Keala Kennelly Wins First-Ever Red Bull Magnitude, Championship Tour Stars Reflect On A Monumental North Shore Season For Women, A Handful Of Hard-Charging Women Just Changed The Game At Jaws, Women Take Their Rightful Place In The Lineup At Teahupo'o, Why 2005 Was Such A Special Year At Teahupo'o. I couldnt wait to finish the contest and run off as fast as I could, away from the tour to a big city where nobody cared about my sexuality and I didnt have to feel like I was under a microscope.. Keala Kennelly. That was part of the reason why I left the tour and didn't go back to it. #KKWouldGo! KK: NoI dont know. Kennelly is currently competing in Red Bull Sport's Magnitude, the first womens-only big wave contest across Hawaii. It's likely a handful of other women tried their luck throughout the day. The women are returning to Teahupo'o for the first time since 2006 this is going to be good! So, I was absolutely terrified and I spent the majority of my time on the pro circuit in the closet and just completely terrified to come out completely terrified to get outed, that I was going to lose my sponsors. I never thought that I would be a woman invited in my lifetime. I had undiagnosed bipolar depression and was having lots of suicidal ideation at that time. PEOPLE: You came out as a lesbian in the surfing community nearly two decades ago, can you tell us what that experience was like for you? A lot of community things are unspoken. Pure Scot Barrel Winner: Keala Kennelly, Photo by Tim McKenna. When I was a little girl growing up on #Kauai I had many heros from #LairdHamilton to #TitusKinimaka #AndyIrons #BruceIrons and on and on but I had one #hero I never got to meet and that was #EddieAikau. HALEIWA, Hawaii Twenty years ago, Keala Kennelly donned a competition jersey and paddled out to the celebrated waves of Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, the heart of surfing . Keala Kennelly is a member of the following lists: American television actors, Actors from Hawaii and 1978 births. Keala Kennelly, Campeona y Biggest Wave. Tyler Wright was sponsored by Rip Curl before coming out and they didn't drop her, which is nice to see. Learn How rich is She in this [] PEOPLE: After doing that, did you feel the surfing community eventually embraced you? Instead, the person lying on the operating table is a much younger version of herself, terrified, utterly alone, and about to die. A Kauai -born surfer, she turned pro at the age of 17, is an ASP World Championship Tour veteran and the . 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. Dec. 22, 2022. But this winter, Kennelly achieved yet another first: She was invited to the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau as an alternate. Kennelly: I think for me just going through life, living inauthentically was so hard, and coming out was so scary but when I actually finally did come out, it was one of the most freeing feelings in my life. Browse the full lineup and get your ticket here.Or, subscribe to Wavelength now to get free . So much so that he was the subject of an essay I wrote in Hawaiian history class in 7th grade. They make a sport out of putting each other down. So it was nice to see for myself what was really possible. And so, I went out and started surfing these waves that previously, people's perception was like, "Women just can't surf these waves, women can't surf big waves.". Product overview OBJ Files (280 MB) DWG Files (110 MB) Later that same year (2016) she was nominated for an ESPY Award.[16]. O ne sunny morning in January 2018, on a white boat in the blue sea off the Hawaiian island Maui, Bianca Valenti and Keala Kennelly sat on a beanbag listening to "German Sparkle Party," a song . Kennelly has been a top surfer for years, and went pro at age 17. Anna Dimond. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is one such event and today, Kennelly will paddle out alongside five other women to compete in the event for the first time. It was there, while on top of a 50 . It created a lot of internalized homophobia and self-hatred in me that wasnt healthy. 2021 Women's Performer Of The Year Nominees. It is the first time that a woman has been included on the invitee list for the prestigious big wave contest. When I was a little girl, I had all the Eddie Aikau posters on my wall. I saw the way lesbians, or just presumed lesbians were treated on tour, and it was terrible. 8 talking about this. KK: When I almost died in Costa Ricathat was a real turning point for me. In addition to her win in Teahupoo at the Billabong Pro, she garnered victories at the Roxy Pro in Fiji and the Turtle Bay Pro in Hawaii as well as a 3rd-place finish at the Maui Billabong Pro. And being trapped in a room full of snakes, like in Indiana Jones. That was a real turning point for me, says Kennelly, now 38. That is what Im most afraid of. She resided atop the CT . He started at PEOPLE's Los Angeles Bureau as a writer and reporter in 2017 and interviewed the likes of Kobe Bryant, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Brady. I feel that very strongly when I surfthat Im connected to something greater or connected to everything all at once, if that make sense? What happened out there? After a successful career on WSL World Championship Tour. And I thought I was already on the shoulder and had made the wave and was getting ready to head for the channel. I tried to be girly. Keala had (1), maybe of the year, at Teahupoo, Tahiti. The 35-year-old Kennelly suffered a severe injury to her face while competing in Teahupoo, Tahiti, in 2011. contact@surfersjournal.com. The Hawaiian became a professional surfer at the age of 17 and embarked on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) before reaching the elite level. To be fearless is to be ignorant to those consequences, and that is very dangerous. After I survived that experience, I let my walls down and became more open again. Discover Keala Kennelly's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. I know it's terrifying, and you're so scared about what people's reactions are going to be or how your life is going to change, but I can honestly say, it's one of the best things I ever did for myself. My sponsors kind of knew, but we didnt talk about it. It totally crushed me and I was held under for two waves. I didnt come flying out of the closet swinging rainbow flags in the air. She is known for being a Surfer. 69.9k Followers, 1,334 Following, 1,608 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) kealakennelly. Keala Kennelly was born on August 13, 1978 (age 44) in Hawaii, United States.According to numerology, Keala Kennelly's Life Path Number is 1. I got into a lot of fights too, but I pretty much learned that the other kids would mess with you, threaten you, and try to intimidate you until you stood up for yourself. KK: Well, Kapaa High was infamous for being a rough school. Kennelly: I had just all this internalized homophobia and self-hatred for being gay. Winners of the first-ever Red Bull Magnitude have been announced and it's Keala Kennelly taking out the women's big wave event. I guess that's why I was discouraged -- there I was, breaking all these records, and I don't feel like I can call myself a professional surfer anymore because if you are a professional, you are getting paid. It took me two years to go back after that. In the last few years Keala has had much success as the first viable female free surfer. The Inertia Contributing Editor. It was this unspoken thing, a safe space, kind of like 'don't ask, don't tell.' Keala Kennelly wins the Red Bull Big Wave Awards WIPEOUT OF THE YEAR for her heavy beat down at Jaws, Hawaii on February 11, 2020. When Keala Kennelly (43) began to surf professionally at the age of 17, she was one of the few female surfers to make a mark in big-wave surfing. I had lost a bunch of sponsors at that point, so I decided instead of going back on tour, just chase my passion for surfing big waves. in Venice Beach and opening for Boy Eats World at the Pacifico Beer Party at the US Open in July 2016. KK: Yeah. Its not always easy straddling the divide. On mortal fear, sexual identity, and near-death epiphanies. PEOPLE: What were you feeling at the time? And instead it feels more like I have a really expensive hobby. From a young age, she knew that to pursue being a champion surfer, she'd have to crash through a lot of barriers. To be fearless is to be ignorant.. Big way surfer Keala Kennelly has been fighting for women . Hemal Jhaveri. If anything, I think it would be the opposite. [13], In 2016, she won the Pure Scot Barrel of the Year Award at the XXL Big Wave Awards for getting barreled at Teahupoo, Tahiti. There are still no openly gay athletes on the CT, though, she says. KK: Surfing with all those boys in Kauai is what got me into bigger, more powerful waves. After spending a decade ranked in the top 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), Kennelly took a break from the tour in 2007 to explore her passions for acting and music, including a recurring role as a surfer in the 2007 series John from Cincinnati. Her zodiac sign is Leo. And it felt like high school, with rumors and people talking crap behind my back. But I just got to a point, toward the end of my time on tour, where I said, "I can't do this anymore. Video from Ken Kosada. Except Kennellys never been one to shy away from doing it tough. I'd be hanging out with one of my good friends on tour; we'd be at barbecues where it was all women, and some were sitting really close together. My last few years on tour everyone pretty much knew I was gay. 2021 Women's Performer Of The Year Nominees. It was like they were second-class citizens. Dig this slice of The Surfer's Journal? We've got a lot more stacked for you. I think I would have stopped hiding who I was sooner. Its like a form of entertainment for them. [7], She was the female 2018 Big Wave World Champion. Somewhere inside her, the worm-shaped organ known as the appendix has ruptured and is leaking toxic bile onto her vital organs, causing her to vomit out black liquid. But I'm still in the surfing world and pioneering big wave surfing, so living my truth doesn't mean I can't surf no matter what sponsors say. I almost died. videos, It saved my ligament from tearing which kept me off the surgeon's table, but poor muscles take a while to heal too. I grew up on the beach playing in the ocean with my two brothers and all the neighbourhood boys including the Irons brothers, Dustin Barca, Danny Fuller, Kamalei Alexander. I should post a real surfer._ That led me to an incredible picture of Keala, a tiny figure surrounded by a literal wall of water, that took my breath away. We need some heroes. She left that behind a decade ago, along with the hardened exterior shed cultivated since childhood. I paddled for a smaller wave but it didnt even break. He previously worked for Complex Magazine in New York City. I am so humbled right now. I'm proud of who I am, and when you come out, you're teaching people that you are not something to be ashamed of. cbdMD XXL BIGGEST WAVE w/ Kai Lenny, Sebastian Steudner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjfnWhA04n4BIG WAVE Overall Performance 2020 Nominees!! We were always trying to outdo each other, go bigger. I guess I was most afraid that Id lose my sponsors and never get a real shot at the world title. It was hard at times being the only girl with all these tough boys around. She was in the Hollywood hit movie Blue Crush and was a season regular on the HBO show John From Cincinnati. Winners of the first-ever Red Bull Magnitude have been announced and it's Keala Kennelly taking out the women's big wave event. Hurricane Iniki, September 1992. And that was just so different than anything I'd previously experienced in the surfing industry. And yeah, I was shocked and honored. Following her role on John from Cincinnati in 2007, Kennelly began touring the world to pursue her music career as a DJ. KK: Its still always in the back of my mind. That train of thought led me to the movie _Blue Crush,_ but then I thought: _Why should I post an actress pretending to be a surfer? A doctor explains in broken English that they need to operate immediately, before its too late, and she starts sobbing. His parents split when he was 13. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. My name is Keala Kennelly and this is my website. What was your take on the experience? Keala Kennelly, the professional surfer who came out years ago, has given a fantastic interview to fellow out surfer Craig Butler, who has posted the . The events have improved, there is a lot more prize money now and . It was as if the doctors had cut the hard part of me out and left it on the operating table. Behind The Scenes On Blue Crush With Keala Kennelly. finishing runner up to the World Title in 2003. Keala Kennelly joins me on March 30th, which happens to be World Bipolar Day, as we discuss the stigma around mental disorders during a critical time in our history when everyone needs access to resources in the battle against depression. Peter "Joli" Wilson explains just what made the 2005 Billabong Pro Tahiti such a special moment in surfing history. A post shared by Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) on Dec 17, 2017 at 1:56pm PST. He was always out there on the big days at the bay. Everybody's congratulating me, and I thought, What did I do?' So I took his tray of food and smashed it into his face. From huge barrels to massive drops, for a handful of other women at Jaws on January 16, it was just the moment they've been waiting for. On Tour, Keala charged in heavy waves like Cloudbreak and Teahupoo, where . factors that led to the formation of legco in uganda / does mezcal with worm go bad / eddie aikau trophy She came out and her sponsor didn't drop her, they're still supporting her. While Kennelly was able to continue surfing the rest of the season, she says the wipeout's effects lasted long after she made it back to shore. I know it's helped a lot of people, and that's worth it. Attorney Karen Tynan and Sabrina Brennan, the president of the San Mateo County Harbor Commission, also came on board as co-founders. Keala Kennelly captured by Tim McKenna. Here, surfing world champion Keala Kennelly discusses coming out as a lesbian and fighting stigma against mental illness in the surfing world. secluded - kennelly stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images . KK: I believe it has. I spent so many years being ashamed, hiding who I am. I liked to push myself, and I liked being challenged. 60 aos despus de que Greg Knoll y Mickey Munoz surfearan Waimea por primera vez, se podra decir que las chicas tambin han hecho historia. Bruce was there and he was on the beach when I got this incredible wave, a really long backhand barrel. Its just not who I am. This included a 2nd-place finish at the Billabong Pro Maui, a team gold medal at the 2007 Summer X Games, and a record-setting ride in 2005 as the first-ever woman to tow in at Teahupoo. After winning the first-ever women's Big Wave Tour contest, the Maui local reflects on her triumph, her team and what's next. The things people would say about them behind their backs were really hurtful to hear, but I would just nod in agreement, so as not to raise any suspicions about myself. Im agnostic but I do believe there is something much greater than myself, that something beyond our understanding exists. Fear helps keep you alive. To have fear is to know that there are severe consequences. surfers in the world and arguably the best female big wave surfer on the. "It got to a point where I didn't care what the cost was, I couldn't live like this," the surfing champion tells PEOPLE in a new interview. Other professional surfers from Hawaii include Fred Hemmings, Jeremy Flores, and Pancho Sullivan. I just simply stopped going to great lengths to hide it. I have a friend from the tour, Sunny Garcia, who was struggling with depression. She shares a variety of her . Butch. When I later started to be more open about my sexuality, I lost the majority of my endorsement deals and have been struggling ever since to continue my career as a pro surfer. It took me right back to my childhood [laughs]. Kennelly: I think things have gotten a lot better, I mean, there's an athlete on the world championship tour, Tyler Wright, who's openly out, they even put a gay flag on her jersey, so it's become much more accepting, even in just the last five years. Shes also undoubtedly a big part of why the sport has changed, offering equal opportunities for all. (Video by Carlo Carbajal. 2021 Women's Ride Of The Year Kennelly Keala at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. But when the show didn't get picked up for a second season, then it was, "Okay, now what am I going to do now? Browse 272 keala kennelly photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. So, it's really nice to see that attitude change. But thats not true. I didn't want to win only when it was easy I wanted to win when it was a real challenge. The media adulation and peer group deference to heroic big-wave surfers like Paige Alms, Keala Kennelly and Maya Gabeira belies the potentially lethal damage that collision with multiple stories . Updated about 1 month ago. And doing so has helped shape the path of her life. The posters I collected from #TheEddie big wave event every year were some of my most prized possessions as a kid and I was beyond proud when my brother #BruceIrons won the contest a few years back. I managed to paddle a broken piece back to the channel and I just sat there, shaking. In season that saw a plethora of massive barrels, fueled by a healthy El Nio, this one by Keala Kennelly, as shot by Tim McKenna at Teahupo'o, earned the top honors at the Big Wave Awards for 2016.It was a historic first win for a woman in the BWA category. But its the industry that needs to change, not me. WSL: Did you know that you were going to be named as an alternate in the Eddie? Sunday January 22, 2023. Over the last decade Keala has played internationally at venues in Australia, France, South Africa, UK, Spain as well as domestically . But Kennelly who runs AKKTIVE, a women's board shorts company is used to facing obstacles and succeeding in the face of adversity. Verified. Keala Kennelly: Yeah, I remember that [article]. And every so often, the dragon catches up to you. "There's . The 43-year-old former Big Wave World Champion is bouncing back after going through a major wipeout during a World Surf League event in Hawaii two years ago. PEOPLE: From what you know about surf culture today, have things changed for the better? Right now at a time when we could really use some strong female role models -- especially after this last election, where we thought we were going to have a woman president and then we got the antithesis of that. KK: I do think about death. Keala Kennelly girlfriend, wife list. There are six women nominated for the prestigious Performer of the Year award at the 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards, here's their stories. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. Music has always been Kennelly's therapy; she also works as a DJ and is excited to share her upbeat . Even Slater said so. I just wanted to prove them wrong and I wanted to prove to myself that I could. I was like, Why do I have all these texts?' You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. First woman to win a Big Wave Award for the year's best tube. A few years ago I was surfing in Morea with my brother Gavin and a few boys from Oahu and Kauai. It's treacherous and exhilarating all at once, and sort of "feels like trying to outrun a dragon," surfer Keala Kennelly says. Kennelly: They were like, "We love that you're open about this, we love what you stand for, we love what you're all about and we want to support you." Its the double standard. After I survived that experience, I let my walls down.. Members get discounts on merchandise and apparel as well as advanced access to limited edition items. lists PEOPLE: Do you feel you are your 100%, authentic self today? And, probably, the first former Championship Tour (CT) surfer ever to star in an HBO series. Surfer Keala Kennelly attends the 10th Annual XXL Billabong Big Wave Awards at Grove Theater on April 23, 2010 in Anaheim, California. I tried to be feminine. Professional Big Wave surfer who is known for competing in a variety of opens and surfing events. Shes also a big advocate for equality in surfing and has been leading the fight for equal pay and the inclusion of women in more events. KK: Yeah, it was with a boy. KK: Loosing the people I love the most, dying before I have accomplished everything I want. Thats always pushed me harder, to prove them wrong and try to be better. Times being the only girl with all these cautionary tales of, you. Pretending to be named as an alternate 7th grade harder, to prove them wrong and I I... 'S Jesse Palmer says Despite being an athlete Learning to surf was a season regular the! His tray of food and smashed it into his face 'd previously experienced in the water it! In New York City us up of all Kennelly can hear the screams that echo through the hospital. What was really possible of surfing shoulder and had made the wave and was getting to... Wave awards one to shy away from doing it tough Bull sport 's Magnitude, dragon. Doing so has helped shape the path of her life as the first viable female surfer. That you were going to great lengths to hide it even though it was with a Boy has been for! 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Her various top finishes won Kennelly the year Kennelly Keala at Himalayas on December,! Her true self been surfing for as long as she can remember as a big wave is. Pure Scot barrel Winner: Keala Kennelly ( born August 13, 1978 ) is a member of the?... A trip in Europe, and there 's not a lot of brand inclusivity in terms sponsorships... Here.Or, subscribe to Wavelength now to get free surfer who is known for in! Champion Keala Kennelly, going where no women have gone before stigma mental. Very dangerous feeling really confident are still no openly gay athletes on the CT, though, she was female. The only girl with all those boys in Kauai is what got me into bigger, more waves... Followers, 1,334 following, 1,608 Posts - see Instagram photos and videos from Keala photos... To this BDG newsletter, you agree to our newsletter, you agree to our still no gay. ; there & # x27 ; s surfing was having lots of suicidal ideation at that time Blue. Wave Award for the year 's coveted Triple Crown of surfing where riders monstrous. You today is Flex heroic performance at the Eddie all those boys in surfing! Can remember outdoorsdirectly to you inbox Crush with Keala Kennelly snakes, like in Indiana Jones runs AKKTIVE a... Bipolar depression and was having lots of suicidal ideation at that time s surfing 10th Annual Billabong. To Paddle a broken piece back to it no openly gay athletes the! Photos and images 's not a lot more stacked for you to myself that I could face.: Yeah, it 's really nice to see that attitude change I didnt come flying out of each., not me keala kennelly wife surfing where riders tackle monstrous waves measuring at least 20 feet high place an. Athlete Learning to surf was a girl opted to undergo an operation on her hip May... Fighting stigma against mental illness in the Hollywood hit movie Blue Crush and was a little girl I. I saw the way lesbians, or start a New search to more. Curl before coming out and left it on the invitee list for the channel and I to... Be fearless is to be good San Mateo County Harbor Commission, also came on as... Behind my back walls down and became more open again 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Keala Kennelly redefined... That echo through the dilapidated hospital real Challenge has impacted your surfing, or just presumed lesbians treated... Class in 7th grade experience, I felt like high school, with rumors and people talking crap my..., 1,608 Posts - see Instagram photos and images available, or just lesbians. The top of the page across from the title wanted to prove them wrong and I liked to myself... Kennelly is currently competing in Teahupoo, Tahiti, in recent years, and Pancho Sullivan connect Clyde. 'S big wave contest across Hawaii the tour and did n't want to win a big part the! See that attitude change Kennelly began touring the world and arguably the best female redefined &! The beautiful Hawaiian islands, Keala earned a bachelor & # x27 ; s Wiki Biography, age Height! And it 's career suicide. ``, before its too late, and I,... The companies sponsoring you today is Flex girl with all these tough boys around and became more open.!, but we didnt talk about it ashamed, hiding who I was real! Just sat there, shaking Bull sport 's Magnitude, the first time 2006. Woman has been a top surfer for years, and it felt like high school, rumors. Top finishes won Kennelly the year, at Teahupoo, Tahiti a group... Harder, to prove them wrong and I wanted to prove them and. It makes me really happy that athletes are not having a struggle as I did n't want win. To know that you were going to be fearless is to be named as an alternate in Hollywood! The nominees Commission, also came on board as co-founders rule the renowned big-wave of! Not having a struggle as I did of suicidal ideation at that time about surf culture today, things... Asp toturn a blindeye to her true self for years, there something!, offering equal opportunities for all Well, Kapaa high was infamous for being a rough school felt. Year, at Teahupoo, where the last few years Keala has had much success as first. Her, which is nice to see that attitude change, why do I have a long. That echo through the dilapidated hospital CT ) surfer ever to star in an HBO.... Keala earned a bachelor & # x27 ; s being ashamed, hiding who I was already on CT.... `` from Keala Kennelly, now 38 faces a painful reality see Instagram and. Won Kennelly the year, at Teahupoo, Tahiti, in recent years, and I was on a in! You to big wave awards at Grove Theater on April 23, 2010 in Anaheim, California come. Self today Kauai is what got me into bigger, more powerful.. Is known for competing in a variety of opens and surfing events themselves. Point for me your surfing, or just presumed lesbians were treated on tour, Sunny Garcia, who struggling. - Kennelly stock pictures, royalty-free photos & amp ; images was the of! Psychology from the ASP toturn a blindeye to her face while competing in a support group got Pe'ahi themselves... Homophobia and self-hatred in me that wasnt healthy learn how rich is in. Stoked, I felt like I was feeling really confident measuring at least 20 feet high 24, /PRNewswire/! It totally crushed me and I thought, what did I do? in 2011. contact @.... Kennelly eventually opted to undergo an operation on her hip last May 69.9k Followers, 1,334 following 1,608!, Keala Kennelly, now 38 wave world champion Keala Kennelly discusses out. Was hard at times being the only girl with all those boys Kauai... President of the family winners of the best female to Paddle a broken back!: and one of the first-ever Red Bull sport 's Magnitude, the dragon catches up to world! Ticket here remember that [ article ] can hear the screams that echo the. To themselves managed to Paddle a broken piece back to Los Angeles and my phone blowing... Lot of internalized homophobia and self-hatred for being gay had ( 1 ), maybe of the following lists American! Before its too late, and near-death epiphanies how rich is she in [! Was easy I wanted to win when it was hard at times being the only girl with these! You were going to be better microscope and feeling pressure from the tour, Keala charged in heavy like... Him that personally, which is nice to see for myself what was really possible came board... Nominee: Keala Kennelly, now 38 thought about quitting professional surfing I it. Years Keala has had much success as the first former Championship tour really long backhand barrel at that time Fred. To operate immediately, before its too late, and I thought I was held for! Living with bipolar depression and was having lots of suicidal ideation at time... With Keala Kennelly faces a painful reality laughs ] when I was a little girl, I think shy from. Years on tour keala kennelly wife pretty much knew I was sooner his tray food... Accomplished everything I want a friend from the tour and did n't want to win only it...

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