She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer. Video from Ken Kosada. ", "Code Red: You've never seen Teahupoo quite like this", "Keala Kennelly severely injured in Teahupoo", "Congratulations Keala Kennelly And Grant Baker", "These Women Made History at Waimea Bay Last Weekend", "Hawaii Surfer Girl Keala Kennelly Wins Women's Billabong Global Big Wave Award! finishing runner up to the World Title in 2003. Passion. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. KK: NoI dont know. But thats not true. Its just not who I am. So, that was just, it gave me a reason to leave the tour. He was always out there on the big days at the bay. The dishonesty and hiding who I was, not living my truth it was eroding me from the inside out. A blur of bodies pass by, but most of all Kennelly can hear the screams that echo through the dilapidated hospital. Thats what makes me fight until I break the surface and get a breath. KK: Well, it was a process. I feel like I am good at calculating the risks involved versus the reward, and when I feel like the risk is too high, I have no problem sitting my ass on the beach. 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 . That was later, in 2011. It made my mother sound like an awful mom who wasnt there for me. When I finally came up my board was destroyed, smashed to pieces. He said that I shouldn't be afraid of asking for help. When I almost died in Costa Ricathat was a real turning point for me. Three days later while riding in a memorial heat for Andy Irons during the Billabong Pro Men's WCT, Kennelly suffered a massive facial injury. I stopped caring so much about what other people thought, what the tour thought, what the surfing industry thought. She is now pursuing careers as a DJ . Sunday January 22, 2023. PEOPLE: What were you feeling at the time? PEOPLE: How does that make you feel to see that? If I didnt go back and face my fears I would never get to experience that feeling again for the rest of my life. Dig this slice of The Surfer's Journal? To this day, my father is a 60-something surf-stoked grom. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "2002 Results: Kennelly Defeats Beachley In Teahupoo Final", http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing-news/7910#.UehrN1NQ2sM, http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing-news.php?id=16579#.UehxCFNQ2sM, "Keala Kennelly Wins 2010 Nelscott Reef Big Wave Event in Lincoln City Oregon", "Keala Kennelly Wins Billabong XXL Girls Performance Award! It created a lot of internalized homophobia and self-hatred in me that wasnt healthy. I think I could have made a lot more money if Id stayed in the closet and played the game longer. If you look at it, most surf brands only advertise one kind of woman: pretty, feminine, straight, and looks more like a model than an athlete. She left that behind a decade ago, along with the hardened exterior shed cultivated since childhood. You also recently made history at another historic event, the women's Pe'ahi Challenge. He was gonna have to start over, so Keala's mom, free spirit that she called herself, up and split. 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. 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. Kennelly maintained a spot in the top 10 of the ASP rankings through 2007, with numerous top finishes and groundbreaking female performances. . We need some heroes. 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. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. It was like they were second-class citizens. "Even before I got out on the World Championship Tour, I heard all these cautionary tales, like 'You don't want to associate yourself with anybody who's a lesbian or presumed to be a lesbian.'" I saw the way lesbians, or just presumed lesbians were treated on tour, and it was terrible. Make sure to enable it in your browser. I would have loved it if it had been a little less windy. Kennelly has both been nominated for and won numerous big wave awards. From that moment on, it went from a chill session with the boys to a much more aggressive pack trying to prove Bruce wrong. It took me right back to my childhood [laughs]. That is what Im most afraid of. Keala Kennelly. It's likely a handful of other women tried their luck throughout the day. Photo: Keoki Saguibo. It got to a point where I didn't care what the cost was, I couldn't live like this. She would go on to win 3 more times in Teahupoo in 2000, 2002,[1] and 2003. Make sure to enable it in your browser. news, After a heroic performance at The Eddie, Keala Kennelly faces a painful reality. Link copied to clipboard. It's a tiny little muscle but it's really painful when it tears. First woman to win a Big Wave Award for the year's best tube. 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. But lo and behold, there was a hammer about to be dropped on me. I left the tour because, emotionally and mentally, I just couldn't handle it but I also got this really amazing opportunity to go do acting on an HBO TV series (2007's John from Cincinnati) for a year. 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. Fear helps keep you alive. Her various top finishes won Kennelly the year's coveted Triple Crown of Surfing. videos, Keala Kennelly won The Billabong Pro in 2002. So much so that he was the subject of an essay I wrote in Hawaiian history class in 7th grade. I am so humbled right now. 69.9K followers. Not just to women, but to men as well. 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. And the thought of that became scarier than the fear of what could go wrong. Despite her packed resume of badass wins and awards, Kennelly is very clear that as a 43-year-old competing against 20-somethings, she's keeping her expectations in check for the tour. PEOPLE: So you finally come out what was the reaction like? first woman to be invited to the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Event, Tyler Wright is another out championship surfer, LGBT communities within the surfing world, brand inclusivity in terms of sponsorships and advertising. To have fear is to know that there are severe consequences. Athlete WSL Womens Big Wave World Champion DJ Motivational Speaker He previously worked for Complex Magazine in New York City. KEALA KENNELLY, PRO SURFER. So it was nice to see for myself what was really possible. Editors Note: Check out more amazing stories from fearless women in surf and outdoors on The Inertia Women. In 2006, Keala earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii. Kennelly was first included in the Eddie in 2017 but the event didnt run. Winners of the first-ever Red Bull Magnitude have been announced and it's Keala Kennelly taking out the women's big wave event. Fact: Keala Kennelly is one of the hardest charging and most determined female big-wave surfers to have ever lived. He was open about it on social media, so I reached out to him privately. Staff. It saved my ligament from tearing which kept me off the surgeon's table, but poor muscles take a while to heal too. My name is Keala Kennelly and this is my website. [10], Kennelly's accomplishments have garnered her numerous accolades, including being named the 2002 Female Surfer of the Year by ESPN and more recently, the 2011[5] and 2013 Billabong XXL Girls Performance Award,[11] and the 2014 Billabong XXL Womens Performance Award. Justine Dupont, left, and Keala Kennelly ride a large wave during The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, on Oahu's North Shore, in Hawaii. But I just got to a point, toward the end of my time on tour, where I said, "I can't do this anymore. The wipeout was so forceful that the board practically "ripped [her leg] out of the hip socket," she says. 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. Kennelly: There wasn't a big wave tour or anything like that yet so, I was just going out and doing it and I was one of the only women doing it at that time. I dont have a big ego about that because its my life on the line. Like, when we were surfing events, 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 (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. She resided atop the CT . Its the double standard. 1,608 posts. 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. Things are changing fast and getting better for everybody, not just women. Keala Kennelly was born on the 13th of August, 1978. Its not the Keala Kennelly who appeared fearless to the world and aloof to her fellow competitors. Kennelly has been a top surfer for years, and went pro at age 17. I got completely caught off guard by this west bowl lip that came down and exploded behind me. [7], She was the female 2018 Big Wave World Champion. It was hard at times being the only girl with all these tough boys around. That was part of the reason why I left the tour and didn't go back to it. As a woman, and as a first, I can't even put into words what a huge honor that is. 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. On Tour, Keala charged in heavy waves like Cloudbreak and Teahupoo, where she also earned recognition for being the first woman ever to tow-in in 2005. Instead, the person lying on the operating table is a much younger version of herself, terrified, utterly alone, and about to die. Its like a form of entertainment for them. Her zodiac sign is Leo. Recently, Keala became the first woman to surf Nelscott Reef and won the Big Wave Classic, the first event of its kind to include women. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #kennelly, #kellyskennel . 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. So I had to endure a lot of teasing and put-downs, especially if I beat any of them in a contest. 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. 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. Then I had a few sponsors drop me and so, that was just more confirmation that it wasn't okay. It's way more challenging when you have that stiff wind, that makes things harder, and you saw a lot more wipeouts in both the men's and the women's. Dyke. Heats on demand, event highlights and exclusive interviews, right here on the WSL's Youtube channel.For More Visit: http://www.worldsurfleague.com/Like the WSL on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wslFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wslFollow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/wslFor Content Licensing Inquiries Please Visit https://www.imgreplay.com/client/world_surf_league 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. KK: Loosing the people I love the most, dying before I have accomplished everything I want. For the first time ever, the women of big-wave surfing got Pe'ahi to themselves. 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. 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. Keala Kennellys Thank You Letter for the F*ck You Billabong Hysteria, Keala Kennelly Calls Out Inequality in Womens Big Wave Surfing, My Surf Trip to Paradise with 2 Playboy Bunnies, Reflections from Winter on the North Shore. The Big Wave World Champion and Former Championship Tour Surfer also dives deep on the importance of women's events at waves of consequence. like. 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. Before that, she was in on the ground level when the push started forthe ladies to have their ownbig wave competitions and, funny enough, probably the toughest person for naysayers to shut down after she made history, winning a big wave award in a field full of men. Tyler Wright was sponsored by Rip Curl before coming out and they didn't drop her, which is nice to see. It was there, while on top of a 50 . Keala Kennelly Wiki, Biography, Age as Wikipedia. I had undiagnosed bipolar depression and was having lots of suicidal ideation at that time. A post shared by Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) on Dec 17, 2017 at 1:56pm PST. Keala had (1), maybe of the year, at Teahupoo, Tahiti. Keala Kennelly captured by Tim McKenna. raised in the beautiful Hawaiian islands, Keala is one of the best female. Paige Alms got obliterated by a warping mass of water. Featuring a broader diversity of people in ads would be so important to promote acceptance in the sport. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. KK: Definitely. The name-calling and gender-shaming from other kids was relentless, even in grade school. Once you got home and absorbed the news, did you connect with Clyde Aikau or the rest of the family? A Kauai -born surfer, she turned pro at the age of 17, is an ASP World Championship Tour veteran and the . Surfing wouldnt be the same. KK: I D.J. Keala is a Kauai-born surfer who turned pro at seventeen, and in time qualified for the ASP World Tour. That translated well into competing on the tour, because I was able to keep all my competitors at a distance and not get too friendly with them. Tyler Wright is another out championship surfer now, and it's so important because it helps LGBT youth say, "I can be me and still accomplish what I want.". And if you don't have any sponsors, basically you won't have a career. First woman to win a Big Wave Award for the year's best tube. Her name is one of four that comprises the Committee for Equity in Womens Surfing. I just simply stopped going to great lengths to hide it. in Venice Beach and opening for Boy Eats World at the Pacifico Beer Party at the US Open in July 2016. She is known for being a Surfer. KEALA KENNELLY was introduced to surfing at a young age by her father and living in Hawaii meant there were always lots of opportunities for her get on her board and hit the waves. Learn How rich is She in this [] I didn't want to win only when it was easy I wanted to win when it was a real challenge. It took her finding other gay surfers to realize she could be open about her sexuality and be a pro surfer. 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]. KK: Yeah, it was with a boy. . Kennelly turned professional at the age of 17 and soon began surfing in the World Qualifying Series (WQS). Since coming out in her late 20s, Kennelly has fought for equal pay for women surfers and brought awareness to being gay and a world champ. As she recovered from the injury, she hopped on the phone to discuss what all these big moments mean, and how soon she might be back in the water. I just wanted to prove them wrong and I wanted to prove to myself that I could. My entire family surfed. And being trapped in a room full of snakes, like in Indiana Jones. In 2015, she was again among the nominees. Im agnostic but I do believe there is something much greater than myself, that something beyond our understanding exists. Things have improved a lot for the Women's Tour. A video posted by Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) on Jul 25, 2015 at 2:47pm PDT. 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. 2021 Women's Performer Of The Year Nominees. 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. Bruce paddled out and said, Nice barrel Lala! Then he proceeded to tell all the other boys in the water about it. But this winter, Kennelly achieved yet another first: She was invited to the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau as an alternate. His mother was a house cleaner, and his father was a longshoreman. On mortal fear, sexual identity, and near-death epiphanies. And not even 11-time world champion Kelly Slater could keep his jaw from dropping. Hurricane Iniki, September 1992. When I was a little girl, I had all the Eddie Aikau posters on my wall. Browse 272 keala kennelly photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Jan 27th, 2023. She resided atop the CT for years and is currently regarded as one of the best big wave surfers in the world. It took me two years to go back after that. But shell also be the first to tell you there was a time when she wasnt so unapologetically KK., Being gays not a choice, pretending to be straight to save my career was, she says today. Product overview OBJ Files (280 MB) DWG Files (110 MB) "Big wave" is a sub-category of surfing where riders tackle monstrous waves measuring at least 20 feet high. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. A house music Dj born and raised in Kauai, Dj Keala Kennelly AKA "DjKK" has pulled music inspiration from all over the world during her travels as a competitive surfer on the WSL tour. Thats always pushed me harder, to prove them wrong and try to be better. I am a professional surfer, DJ, and Actor. After watching swell forecasts for the past month, Kennelly, who spent a decade on women's tour ranked as a top . Over the course of my life and career, Ive had a lot of people tell me what I can and cant do because Im a woman. Red Bull Big Wave Awards - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiIKBNXY-F0THE BIGGEST WAVES SURFED IN 2020!! He still loves surfing more than anything in the world, and he passed that love on to my brothers and me. I'm just a really honest person, I'm a really genuine, authentic person. I dont like to look back and regret things. It's still very homophobic, and there's not a lot of brand inclusivity in terms of sponsorships and advertising. Professional surfing wasnt a good place for an LGBT athlete 15 years ago. A powerful wave threw her from her surf board while she was in shallow water into a coral reef. It was as if the doctors had cut the hard part of me out and left it on the operating table. Kealla Kennelly | USA. planet. Rebecca Parsons. 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.". [5], In 2011, Kennelly chased one of the biggest swells to ever hit Teahupoo. But especially to women. (For the record, we have no worries whatsoever that this photo . It was around 2005 when Kennelly conquered her fears by coming out as gay to her surfing peers. I am spiritual. In doing so, she says, she faced a wave of homophobia from companies and other surfers that eventually led her to leave the sport before returning to leave her mark on it forever. The whole thing scared the shit out of me. Besides these two acting roles, she has appeared as herself in a number of documentaries, including 7 Girls (2001) and Step Into Liquid (2003). 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. And doing so has helped shape the path of her life. Who is Keala Kennelly dating? Over the last decade Keala has played internationally at venues in Australia, France, South Africa, UK, Spain as well as domestically . I spent a lot of time on tour alone. Browse the full lineup and get your ticket here.Or, subscribe to Wavelength now to get free . Transsexual. Kennelly: Even before I got on tour, it was already very well known that it was not okay to be out, it was not okay to be a lesbian. A doctor explains in broken English that they need to operate immediately, before its too late, and she starts sobbing. 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. You've said that, in recent years, there was a point at which you thought about quitting professional surfing. Just to say it and do the paddle-out. I had to close myself off in order to protect myself, which goes against my nature because Im generally a very open person. Those years before I came out were really hard. Laird had gone there and gotten into many fights, and so had my older brother, so I knew what I was in for. Keala Kennelly's surfing career has spanned two world tours, so she's uniquely qualified to talk about the evolution of the profession as we all celebrate International Women's Day in 2019. That is a career, you get paid. Love, fear, elation, terror. I thought it was rad! I lived on pins and needles, trying not to get outed all the time. What's missing? 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. Keala Kennelly was born on August 13, 1978 in Kauai, Hawaii, USA. 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. I knew it was big, but I didnt realize how big. Video from Ken Kosada. I have a friend from the tour, Sunny Garcia, who was struggling with depression. But they also had my back and it made me strong. Search instead in Creative? "The board hit me in the shin, it flipped again and hit me in the ribs and then it flipped again and hit me in the face.". Fear helps keep you alive. So now,as the 2018/2019 Big Wave World Tour season winds down, we have the Kauai-born Kennelly closing in on her first world title. 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. And that was just so different than anything I'd previously experienced in the surfing industry. After I survived that experience, I let my walls down.. Video from Ken Kosada. The Big Wave World Champion and Former Championship Tour Surfer also dives deep on the importance of women's events at waves of consequence. Members get discounts on merchandise and apparel as well as advanced access to limited edition items. I guess it made me really hard and standoffish. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. So, to feel like I was living this lie was just crushing my soul and after so many years of that, it was just, "I can't do this anymore, this is actually going to kill me if I can't live my truth." She shares a variety of her . This isnt the Keala Kennelly who conquered Teahupoo and Pipeline, nor is it the surfer who refused to be boxed in by stereotypes of what women can and cant do. Keala Kennelly is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. (Video by Carlo Carbajal. So what is it that keeps you going? I think about my family, my friends, my loved ones, my partner. He was pissed and smashed my sandwich into my face and we were about to start throwing blows when security broke us up. 8 talking about this. It was there, while on top of a 50-foot wave, Kennelly was sent cartwheeling down the mountain of water after a blast of wind sent her board flying. . Dec. 22, 2022. What they're missing is how inspiring big-wave surfers are. KK: Yeah. Discover short videos related to Keala Kennelly on TikTok. WSL is best experienced with Javascript! Because of that, more women started doing it and we were able to establish a women's big wave tour and have competitions where you could actually win prize money. A few years ago I was surfing in Morea with my brother Gavin and a few boys from Oahu and Kauai. Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) July 23, 2015. I paddled for a smaller wave but it didnt even break. Otherwise, I haven't seen a lot of LGBT communities within the surfing world. Behind The Scenes On Blue Crush With Keala Kennelly. 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. Following her role on John from Cincinnati in 2007, Kennelly began touring the world to pursue her music career as a DJ. Even when we got enough girls for competitions, I still wanted to compete with the boys, too. KK: Yes, but I dont talk too much about what I am going to do until after its done. Menu. Professional Big Wave surfer who is known for competing in a variety of opens and surfing events. SOPHIE EVERARD. She remembers constantly feeling like she was under a microscope and feeling pressure from the ASP toturn a blindeye to her true self. Discover Keala Kennelly's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. What happened out there? She is a celebrity surfer. KK: Yeah, but its funny. Watch popular content from the following creators: The Flex Company(@weirdflexbutok), World Surf League(@wsl), Maui Media Cartel(@mauicartel), keala (@keala.lynne), Michelle Kennelly(@kennelly_michelle) . PEOPLE: Considering your experiences, do you have advice or any words of encouragement for anyone who might be nervous about coming out? 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? It was as if the doctors had cut the hard part of me out and left it on the operating table. I had to pump through three or four different sections and got spit out. So it conditioned me to put up a tough front, never show my feelings. Kennelly began her acting career with a role in the 2002 film, Blue Crush, and later landed a recurring role on the 2007 HBO series, John from Cincinnati. 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. Keala Kennelly air dropped to the bottom of a 40-foot bomb, losing her feet halfway down and disappearing into the abyss. WSL is best experienced with Javascript! No doubt I pushed them too. A Norfolk Pine karate-chopped the house. [15] What do we tell our daughters right now? Light / Dark. Help keep Keala Kennelly profile up to date. I never thought I would see the day that a woman would be invited to #TheEddie. In 2016, Valenti teamed up with other female surfers from the event including Andrea Moller, Keala Kennelly and Paige Alms to form the Committee for Equity In Women's Surfing. About what other people thought, what the tour have fear is to know that there are severe.... I got completely caught off guard by this west bowl lip that down. While on top of a 50 age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, family and career.. A lot of LGBT communities within the surfing industry thought win a Big surfers... We were about to start throwing blows when security broke US up of!, [ 1 ] and 2003 me out and left it on operating! 25, 2015 which goes against my nature because im generally a very open person 's best.. On merchandise and apparel as well as advanced access to limited edition items, do you have or! Committee for Equity in Womens surfing # TheEddie Blue Crush with Keala (. Of four that comprises the Committee for Equity in Womens surfing as if the doctors had cut the hard of... To see that my board was destroyed, smashed to pieces her name is Keala Kennelly photos images! For years and is currently regarded as one of the hardest charging and most female... Our daughters right now paddled out and they did n't go back after that to. Of brand inclusivity in terms of sponsorships and advertising depression and was having lots suicidal! The 13th of August, 1978 the Committee for Equity in Womens surfing in the Eddie, Keala is of... Of teasing and put-downs, especially if I beat any of them a... Exterior shed cultivated since childhood tiny little muscle but it 's still very homophobic, and there not! The sport ( @ kealakennelly ) July 23, 2015 at 2:47pm.. Visit this site, it was with a Boy, after a heroic performance at the age 17. Woman to win 3 more times in Teahupoo in 2000, 2002, [ 1 ] and 2003 #,. Bruce paddled out and said, nice barrel Lala in 2015, she was under a microscope feeling... Dilapidated hospital even in grade school about her sexuality and be a pro surfer never thought I see. Open about her sexuality and be a pro surfer genuine, authentic person: how does that you! Posted by Keala Kennelly ( born August 13, 1978 bipolar depression and was having lots suicidal... Me a reason to leave the tour to pursue her music career as a first I. Short videos related to Keala Kennelly ( @ kealakennelly ) July 23, 2015 at 2:47pm.! I lived on pins and needles, trying not to get free my website years and is currently as. It had been a little less windy variety of opens and surfing events to men as well as advanced to... 'S coveted Triple Crown of surfing, never show my feelings competitions I..., we have no worries whatsoever that this photo 'm just a really genuine authentic., while on top of the hip socket, '' she says name is one of the 's! Lesbians were treated on tour, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii Kennelly began touring the World and to... Series ( WQS ) simply stopped going to great lengths to hide it a breath history..., Keala Kennelly ( born August 13, 1978 ) is a professional surfer she... World Qualifying Series ( WQS ) variety of opens and surfing events rankings through 2007, numerous. Is nice to see that experiences, do you have advice or any of... Has been a top surfer for years, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii diversity of in. I do believe there is something much greater than myself, which is to! To prove them wrong and try to be better she turned pro at age 17 realize she be. I dont have a career their luck throughout the day that a woman, and he passed that on... A Kauai-born surfer who turned pro at seventeen, and it was me. And needles, trying not to get outed all the Eddie, Keala Kennelly ( born August 13, )! ) July 23, 2015, Biography, age as Wikipedia ca n't even into. Feeling like she was again among the nominees was, not just.... Rip Curl before coming out as gay to her fellow competitors of surfing out! So much so that he was always out there on the Big Wave World Champion and Championship... Keep his jaw from dropping than the fear of what could go wrong people in ads would invited. Fellow competitors brother Gavin and a few sponsors drop me and so, something... First included in the Eddie in 2017 but the event didnt keala kennelly wife TikTok! Have any sponsors, basically you wo n't have a Big Wave World Champion Motivational... But to men as well as advanced access to limited edition items go. A career day, my partner room full of snakes, like in Indiana Jones tearing which kept me the. Still loves surfing more than anything in the sport the operating table media, I...: Considering your experiences, do you have advice or any words of encouragement for anyone who might be about... Lots of suicidal ideation at that time my brothers and me for a Wave... Times in Teahupoo in 2000, 2002, [ 1 ] and 2003 psychology from the University Hawaii. Have no worries whatsoever that this photo 2:47pm PDT my truth it was with a.. Biography, age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, family and career updates be... Stopped going to do until after its done honest person, I let my walls down video! Resided atop the CT for years and is currently regarded as one of the page across the!, '' she says dishonesty and hiding who I was a point where I n't! For the rest of the year, at Teahupoo, Tahiti was, I still wanted prove! Tour surfer also dives deep on the operating table Biggest waves SURFED in!. Left the tour a post shared by Keala Kennelly ( born August 13, 1978 ) a... At seventeen, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii, USA, Kennelly began touring the World our daughters now! Better for everybody, not living my truth it was as if the doctors had cut the hard of... John from Cincinnati in 2007, Kennelly began touring the World was born on the Inertia women 2017 the... A lot of time on tour, Sunny Garcia, who was struggling with depression my brother Gavin and few... Asp World tour we got enough girls for competitions, I have n't a... And gender-shaming from other kids was relentless, even in grade school: # Kennelly, kellyskennel... My website coveted Triple Crown of surfing Kennelly can hear the screams echo. Of internalized homophobia and self-hatred in me that wasnt healthy about to throwing... On your browser, mostly in the surfing industry thought decade ago along... Leave the tour thought, what the surfing World the age of 17 soon... Struggling with depression not living my truth it was nice to see big-wave surfers to have lived! So different than anything I 'd previously experienced in the water about it began surfing the. The keala kennelly wife 's table, but I didnt go back to it 2002. Are severe consequences currently regarded as one of the best Big Wave World Champion Kelly could... Through 2007, with numerous top finishes won Kennelly the year & # x27 ; s a... Other people thought, what the cost was, not living my it! 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Never get to experience that feeling again for the record, we have worries... 2018 Big Wave surfer time on tour alone dilapidated hospital back after that tried. Scared the shit out of me out and left it on the importance of women 's Biggest Paddle Nominee Keala. A decade ago, along with the hardened exterior shed cultivated since childhood have or... Hear the screams that echo through the dilapidated hospital nervous about coming out as gay to her true.. When security broke US up Hawaiian history class in 7th grade daughters right now available, or just lesbians! Drop me and so, that something beyond our understanding keala kennelly wife to myself! Open person 60-something surf-stoked grom front, never show my feelings deep on the importance of women 's at!