| 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?
Jessi Miley-Dyer:
The best thing that happened to me in 2008 was
finding this amazing espresso bar in Brasil. We
had days and days off for the contest, so we sat
in this cafe and drank caffeine until I thought
we were going to have heart attacks. I love coffee
so much.....it's actually pathetic that I would
nominate that as my favorite thing!
JG: Tell us about the first
time you ever stood up on a surfboard. Where was
it and what were you riding?
JMD: I was riding
a foam nippers board, so a paddle racing board
that's about 6 foot long and that you use here
in Australia in the junior surf life saving events,
until you're 11, and then you graduate to a fibreglass
board. it was at Maroubra, and I remember just
thinking to myself, "why don't you stand
up on it?" I used to paddle around on mine
all day, and I started kneeling on it and then
everyone else was surfing around me, so I had
a go!
JG: What is your current
favorite board? In 2009 do you have any plans
to experiment with different surfboard designs,
materials or fin configurations?
JMD: My favorite
board at the moment is my 6'2", it's one
up from my shortboard and when the waves get good
and a tiny bit better, it just goes sooooo good!
I really want a single fin in 2009, and maybe
a stand up paddle board or something else random
like that, they look super fun!
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?
JMD: It will be a
five year old that's been surfing for three years
already, and she will do a backflip in the shorebreak.
For those of you who like to
jump around instead of going one by one, here's
the complete list of surfers...
Image
Caption: Fans of the big frontside gouge would
appreciate Jessi Miley-Dyer's surfing. I remember
watching her surf for the first time a few years
back and she reminded me of a female version of
Occy...just burying her rail and throwing heaps
of water on her turns. Surfers out the back caught
a nice view of the powerful frontside blast as
photographed by Nicole Grodesky. Photo: Nicole
Grodesky
|
