| JettyGirl:
While faltering economies, political turmoil and
energy issues dominated most of the headlines
during the past year, much of 2008's good news
slipped through the cracks. What's the best thing
that happened to you in 2008 and what are you
most hopeful for in 2009?
Chanelle Sladics:
I think 2009 is the year of gratitude. Especially
us west coast Americans that have been so spoiled
for so long, we are all being humbled together
now, the rich, the poor, and all of us in between.
For me, and many poeple around me, I have noticed
an abundance of gratitude. So grateful we get
to travel the world, open our eyes to new cultures
and perspectives, give, and challenge ourselves
in our respective sports. So my 2009 is focused
on just that. Gratefulness!
JG: Tell us about the first
time you ever stood up on a surfboard. Where was
it and what were you riding?
CS: Hmmm, I was standing
up on boogie boards much sooner...I remember those
days like yesterday! I think my dad pushed me
into a wave on his longboard after I had been
surfing on my boogie board all day...and I was
so small I could run up and down that plank!
JG: What is your current
favorite board? In 2009 do you have any plans
to experiment with different surfboard designs,
materials or fin configurations?
CS: Well since I
am in the snow at the moment competing in the
first ever Winter Dew Tour. I am loving my Omatic
Benatar 149. As for surfing, my current favorite
shortboard is a hand-me-down from Megan Abubo.
It's a JS 5'9" squash tail.
JG: Do you have any heroes?
If so, who and why?
CS: I look up to
all my friends that are enhancing, loving, lighthearted,
and hilarious.com! I have been surrounded by such
amazing people lately. Take note, I have been
snowboarding, so they are mostly close snowboard
friends, but they love to surf too....Marie-France
Roy, Jamie Anderson, Kjersti Buass, Kari, Claire
Bevilacqua...to name a few. Ok, so Claire is currently
a fish out of water, here in snowy Colorado, but
I must say she has some serious moves in the snow!
JG: In 2009 we'll see the
best single maneuver ever done by a female surfer.
Who do you think will pull the move and what do
you think it will be?
CS: Claire Bevilacqua
has been blowing my mind with her progressive
moves, especially in our recent 2008 season. I
love watching her skate and snowboard, and I think
it's having a positive influence on her air-time.
I would put my money on her for landing a solid
backside air reverse grab rail!!!
For those of you who like to
jump around instead of going one by one, here's
the complete list of surfers...
Image
Caption: Professional snowboarder Chanelle Sladics
banks one in Newport. I always enjoy shooting
with Chanelle. Being a snowboarder, she has a
unique approach to riding waves and she puts her
board in different angles than the typical surfer.
A really cool and giving person, Chanelle even
hung on the beach one evening this past summer
and spent some time answering my grom's little
video interview questions. Photo: Chris Grant
/ JettyGirl.com
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