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 name is Keala Kennelly and I have a story that no man wants to hear. The doctors were very concerned that I had cracked my skull, cheekbone or that I had injured my neck, so I was pretty stressed until the CT Scan results came back all good. [14] This award made her the first woman to win at the Big Wave Awards in any open-gender category. PEOPLE: Considering your experiences, do you have advice or any words of encouragement for anyone who might be nervous about coming out? She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer. 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SURFERs Newsletter to receive stories like this straight to your inbox. Why is it important to get back up and keep charging? 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. Keala Kennelly (b. The 2023 Eddie Aikau Big-wave invitational marked the end of Kennelly's surfing career. As for Andy he is always with me. Keala Kennelly Puts Her Son On His First Wave.So Cool, 3 Generations Of Surfers In The Water. I am a professional surfer, DJ, and Actor. Period. Out of the 40 surfers set to compete, six are women. Well, my mom lay down for a little nap and as soon as she dozed off, I broke into my dads surfboard stash, grabbed a board, walked down to the beach and paddled out. Moller paddled into a breaking swell during the first set to become the. A Norfolk Pine karate-chopped the house. In a very real sense, this could have been, quite literally, The End of the Road, had the incident at Teahupoo played out differently. Welcome to Unofficial Networks's European Union Experience. She has played internationally at venues in Australia, France, South Africa, England, and Spain as well as domestically in Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and San Diego. Kennelly, 43, who's been called "the best female surfer on Earth," has long been known for her fearless approach to waves that few (if any) other women would attempt to catch. When my dad looked up and saw me coming around the corner smiling his eyes got big like saucers. Over and over he told me I couldnt go that day because it was too big for me. Do you keep this in mind when taking on such challenges? Did you feel that Andy was present with you that trip? In an industry where a strong sense of self and a unique self-expression can be a detriment, she is proving that the opposite can also be true. JAMM AQUINO /. Or does this just make you want to charge harder after surviving it? The fact that womens surfing gets to benefit from me trying to feed my passion is a really nice bonus and I am more than happy to help. When it was over though, I felt good and triumphant and my dad and I paddled back to the beach high-fiving and laughing. Rewatch "Riss", "Pentacoastal" and more of this year's s On the road with one of the most stylish surfers on this generation, These talented women offer unique perspectives on lineups around the world, Just dont come complaining to us if you plane a finger off, Not another Instagram carousel, this is the crme de la crme from our year in print. On 25th January 2023, Keala Kennelly shared the news of her retirement from the professional surfing world. They set the standard and I was just trying to keep up. Thank God for Andy and Bruce Irons. Her first fight was with a boy. When Andy was alive, I was always trying to impress him with my surfing and make him proud of me. Keala Kennelly, winner of the inaugural Red Bull Magnitude Women's Big-Wave Contest, took off at a North Shore outer reef during this winter's competition. With the barrier-breaking success of Keala and the other . Everything Keala does is personal. I thought I was coming out, but the lip just clipped me in the head and threw me straight into the reef before I even realized what happened. Maui County hospital workers on strike enter week 2, negotiations set for Monday, Hawaii News Now - Meteorologist Jen Robbins, Couple killed in house fire remembered as high school sweethearts enjoying their golden years, Lawmakers debate funding demands for safety net hospitals as one facility issues stark warning, Mayor throws his weight behind big tax break for company proposing film studio on Oahu, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. Because I am a woman in the world of professional surfing. One such surfer is Keala Kennelly, who marked the end of her professional surfing career with this tournament. Kennelly: It makes me really happy that athletes are not having a struggle as I did. Was This One of the Best Days Ever Seen at a California Beach Break? 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. Fear Factor. Sat Mar 04 2023 at 08:00 pm to 11:30 pm, The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd, # 30,Honolulu,HI,United States, Honolulu, United States Keala Kennelly was born on August 13, 1978 in Kauai, Hawaii, USA. I had to make some adjustments and then saw that the next section was going to throw, so I bottom-turned and parked it in the barrel. Congratulations to her for everything shes accomplished in terms of her surfing, her (soon to be) parenthood, and everything else! It's worse than Parko's foot. Justine Dupont, left, and Keala Kennelly rode a large wave during Sunday's Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. Paige Alms, left, and Keala Kennelly. PEOPLE: Do you feel you are your 100%, authentic self today? It was there, while on top of a 50-foot. She is 5'6'' tall. Even though she only scored a 3 on the wave that won her the title, it was an incredible feat that she survived at all. How do you stoke this feeling if/when it subsides? I dont care if I am the woman that rides the biggest wave of the year, I dont allow myself to feel pressured to go out on a big day just because another woman paddled out. How to do a Frontside Cutback With Josh Kerr, 10 Things You Should Take on Your Next Surf Road Trip, 6 Female-Founded Surfwear Brands We Tested This Summer, Jon Wayne Freeman "Charges" The Wedge, Seeks Sponsorship Deal. I had to make some adjustments and then saw that the next section was going to throw, so I bottom-turned and parked it in the barrel. She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer. Do you feel as though you were being watched out for during the tribute heat for Andy that day? Kennelly is a professional surfer who has appeared as herself in several films, including Blue Crush and Side Slip. She wore surf trunks and t-shirts and stayed a boy and stayed on the honor roll at school, enduring the hell that was Kapaa High School on the East Side. Thank you for signing up. [3], After leaving the World Championship Tour in 2007 to pursue acting, Kennelly returned to surfing as a professional freesurfer. Its no surprise that Keala is also a DJ, a mixologist of sound, finding the right beats to marry for dancing crowds. As tempted as I might be to honor Andy by including his name when I name my son I feel like that name belongs to Andys son and Andys son alone. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. It's not the Keala Kennelly who appeared fearless to the world and aloof to her fellow competitors. I needed to dream bigger because when I was 25, I was hiding in the closet, soaked in shame, living in fear, and I hated myself because I did not think you could be World Champion and gay at the same time. The event witnessed one of the most unexpected plot twists when a lifeguard swooped into the tournament during his break and won the prize, along with millions of fans, with his exceptional skills. Global community for gay and lesbian surfers. One of those geodesic domes that her hippie mom designed. Go-to place to discover events for more than 20M people globally. 27 years after first exploring Alaska's coast, Josh Mulcoy returns to find a Watch the fourth and final episode of Torren Martyn's "Lost Track: Atla Recapping a historic day of competitive surfing, The epic biopic about the 2019 World Champ and Olympic gold medalist is finally here, Nic von Rupp and Nate Behl score all-time Ments, These 14 contestants are vying for $100K and a spot on the 2022 WSL Championship Tour, Egg Guru Devon Howard provides guidance on ordering a 7-foot-plus surfcraft, Money cant buy happiness, but it can buy cool shit. KK: Its personal. Time 2021 Women's Performer Of The Year Nominees. There's a buzz going on around Teahupo'o at the moment that the contest could kick off tomorrow with the Women's heats. Stream DjKK music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud Limited Time Offer: Get 50% off the first year of our best annual plan for artists with unlimited uploads, releases, and insights. View Gallery. In an industry where a strong sense of self and a unique self-expression can be a detriment, she is proving that the opposite can also be true. She is now pursuing careers as a DJ and actress while . Two lives lost in Makiki fire, a Vietnam War Veteran and an entertainer who raised a family together. 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. Almost drowned a few times. This year's event marked the first time women competed in The Eddie's 39-year history, catching monster waves that exceeded 50-foot at Waimea Bay. Has it crossed your mind, at any time during this experience, that taking these risks is not worth it? Keala Kennelly. The Hawaiian big wave surfer, 40, fulfilled her longtime dream and won the first world surfing title of her career She doesnt remember much from that note, except that it was pretty short. ACHIEVEMENTS: 2016 Keala Kennelly made history once again by becoming the first female ever invited to the prestigious Eddie Aikua Big Wave Event. A Norfolk Pine karate-chopped the house. Her various top finishes won Kennelly the year's coveted Triple Crown of Surfing. In a spaceship. Australia's Laura Enever was named as one . As unlucky as I was to collide with the reef face first, all things considered I am pretty lucky. Moore is going to put on a show in the water at Tokyo. Kennelly, the first openly gay surfer to win a world surfing title, speaks with PEOPLE about that time in her life and if she believes things have changed in the years since. She is known for being a Surfer. I took off and it had a bit of bump that kept me from pulling into the barrel straight away. share. Talking about her final event in the caption, the 44-year-old wrote, Being able to participate in the @theeddieaikau invitational was a once in a lifetime opportunity. He has a B.A. Video from Ken Kosada. The best universities in the U.S. for scoring waves while getting your degree. Am I going to go back?" Probably more. So, it's really nice to see that attitude change. And on November 4, 2010, just days after losing one of her best friends and heroes, Andy Irons . During the 2005 May Dayz swell I can remember Keala Kennelly hanging on one of the boats with the Billabong crew. It was around 2005 when Kennelly conquered her fears by coming out as gay to her surfing peers. DJ Keala Kennedy performs at the GBK Pre-ESPY Event at Luxe On Rodeo Drive on July 11, 2017 in Beverly Hills. Later that year, Kennelly had a tow-in at Puerto Escondido that is considered to be arguably the best barrel by a female to date. Announced as the winner of the barrel of the year award, the 37-year-old surfer Keala Kennelly whipped her arms around actor girlfriend Nikki DiSanto and drank her kisses with gusto. Kennelly: I had just all this internalized homophobia and self-hatred for being gay. Over and over he told me I couldnt go that day because it was too big for me. He's worked at PEOPLE's Los Angeles Bureau as a writer and reporter since 2017 and has interviewed the likes of Kobe Bryant, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Brady. KK: I think it came from growing up in Kauai as a girl surrounded by nothing but strong male influences. And if you don't have any sponsors, basically you won't have a career. I dont ever want to be in over my head. The wipeout award. The doctors were very concerned that I had cracked my skull, cheekbone or that I had injured my neck, so I was pretty stressed until the CT Scan results came back all good. You must be logged in to enter the Gay Surfers social network. I'm just a really honest person, I'm a really genuine, authentic person. And then there's Keala Kennelly. Home Culture Chasing the Swell: An Interview with Surfer Keala Kennelly Culture Chasing the Swell: An Interview with Surfer Keala Kennelly A Kauai-born surfer, she turned pro at the age of 17, is an ASP World Championship Tour veteran. Especially herself. Keala Kennelly is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. 2021 Women's Ride Of The Year Nominee: Keala Kennelly At Himalayas 16 seconds Keala Kennelly Talks Equality In Women's Surfing, Charging Teahupo'o And Competing Against The Irons Brothers 86 minutes It's Big Wave Award Paddle Week, And Jaws Stole The Show 2 minutes Four-Time World Champ Carissa Moore On A Return To Teahupo'o 3 minutes See full bio Born: August 13, 1978 in Kauai, Hawaii, USA More at IMDbPro Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro Photos 2 photos | 1 video Known For COURTESY RED BULL. Hurricane Iniki, September 1992. The deep, pulsating beat beneath the melody that keeps the tempo; the feeling of a heart beat pushing through a cacophony of noise. As the weeks went by, Kennelly says she developed pain in her labrum (hip) caused by the board yanking the leash attached to her leg during the wipeout. The 2023 Eddie Aikau Big-wave invitational marked the end of Kennellys surfing career. Recently, Kennelly shared a post on her social media handles to share the news with her fans. Keala skated over death on the largest day, but Teahupoo exacted its payment nevertheless, branding the right side of her face with its teeth during the tribute heat for Andy Irons, before the Teahupoo Pro 2011 final. On Keala Kennelly's birthday. send. an editor/writer with Asiana Times for the better part of a year. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. He was gonna have to start over, so Keala's mom, free spirit that she called herself, up and split. If it looks dangerous to me and I am not feeling it I dont go. Born and raised in the beautiful Hawaiian islands, Keala is one of the best female surfers in the world and arguably the best female big wave surfer on the planet. A sea change rippled through the industry. Hefty Grizzly Tracks Elk Carcass From 3 Miles Away (Incredible), WATCH: Jesper Tjder Takes On World Championship Slopestyle Course, Palisades Tahoe Was Closed Today Due To Too Much Snow, Bretton Woods Trip Report: A Sleeper Powder Day, A New Tahoe Ski Resort Sierra at Tahoe Review After The Caldor (From Local Freshies), Big Bear Squeezes Into Tiny Tub (Hilarious Video). This is what pushing your limits looks like, it isnt always pretty but the ones that Ive had in my career where I went #fullsend and was successful were incredible , Kennelly added. I thought I was coming out, but the lip just clipped me in the head and threw me straight into the reef before I even realized what happened. If womens shortboarding were a song, Keala Kennelly would be the baseline. It's no surprise that Keala is also a DJ, a mixologist of sound, finding the right beats to marry for dancing crowds. This one seemed like a very typical wipeout, and I was completely shocked when I saw the amount of damage that was done. WSL is best experienced with Javascript! My name is Keala Kennelly and this is my website. Keala hasnt been the subject of any controversies or rumors concerning her love life, since she has been away from the limelight. Photo: "I thought I was coming out but the lip just clipped me in the head." CS: I think this scar may officially be your greatest Badge of Courage. The wave pounded me and just ripped my leg so hard I thought it was gonna get pulled out of my hip joint. Do you feel as though you were being watched out for during the tribute heat for Andy that day? Keala Kennelly air dropped to the bottom of a 40-foot bomb, losing her feet halfway down and disappearing into the abyss. It was a scary one because it was a head injury, so close to my eye and so deep (to the bone). Photo: had the incident at Teahupoo played out differently. 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