| 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?
Karin Kendrick: The
most exciting thing to happen to me in surfing
in 2008 was watching Malia Manuel at 14 years
old win the US Open, breaking ASP records as the
youngest competitor to ever win an ASP event.
I also recently started my own Athlete Management
Company so 2009 should be interesting to say the
least.
JG: Tell us about the first
time you ever stood up on a surfboard. Where was
it and what were you riding?
KK: I learned to
surf at the San Clemente Pier. I surfed down the
beach from Matt Archbold, Christian Fletcher and
the old school San Clemente crew. I didn’t
really know who they were at the time, but I knew
they surfed really good. My first board was a
BC with a rainbow spray, I still have it, it was
a terrible board to learn on. I remember Christian
Fletcher sticking up for me when somebody told
me I was riding the wrong board.
JG: What is your current
favorite board? In 2009 do you have any plans
to experiment with different surfboard designs,
materials or fin configurations?
KK: I’ve been
riding my 5'6" fish lately since its been
a slow winter so far. It's a thicky though which
threw me off at first, but it's super responsive
and really fun. It suits the way I feel like surfing
lately. I’m looking forward to surfing it
in bigger waves. Earlier this winter Rosy Hodge
let me borrow her Al Merrick Biscuit out at Makaha,
that was probably the most fun I’d had surfing
in a while. I’d like to play around with
another little biscuit type board again and boards
that bring back the stoke for me as opposed to
say my normal shortboard, which I’ve been
getting bored with.
JG: Do you have any heroes?
If so, who and why?
KK: Cesar Millan,
the Dog Whisperer...
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?
KK: It’s probably
going to be Bartels. She could pretty much do
whatever maneuver she sets her mind to, it will
probably be some messed up chop hop to backside
rodeo or something. So it’ll be interesting
to see if that happens. Otherwise its going to
be one of the new school groms, Malia Manuel will
probably do the biggest air we’ve seen yet
or Carissa will figure out some new crazy moves.
Or Silvana, she’ll go light speed. Or wait
it’ll probably be me on my fish.
For those of you who like to
jump around instead of going one by one, here's
the complete list of surfers...
Image
Caption: Without a doubt, this photo was my favorite
of the year. I busted up laughing when I saw it.
For those that don't know, Karin Kendrick has
been in charge of Athlete Marketing at O'neill
for the past number of years. Karin has been instrumental
in promoting O'neill's crew of talented riders
including Kyla Langen, Sage Erickson and Malia
Manuel. She's also helped make the O'neill Women's
Team Challenge an annual and fun North Shore event.
Photo: Courtesy of Karin Kendrick.
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