| 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?
Kelly Nicely: Although
the economy has taken a hard hit and it's sad
to see the losses due to the fall in the real
estate and stock market, the fall in the market
has given me a chance for investment. I
am very excited to be a home owner in California
after only living here for two years. When
I first moved to California prices were very high
and I never thought I would have the chance to
be a home owner here. With luck of finding
a wonderful career with Genentech, I now live
2 miles from work and 4 from the ocean.
It's nothing too fancy but I now have a new hobby
and place to spend my time out of the water.
I am excited and happy but it's also a scary big
step because watching the market take such a hit
clarifies how there is no such thing as
job security. I am going to be hopeful and
put my full heart into everything working out.
My
biggest hope for 2009 is to see political and
economic focus on new energy resources.
It's an obvious need for our day and time and
I hope to see more and more technology hitting
our markets and raising our economy by providing
new jobs.
JG: Tell us about the first
time you ever stood up on a surfboard. Where was
it and what were you riding?
KN: After my grandfather
died, my grandmother gave me and my brother their
old Mach 77 boogie boards. They were
bright yellow on the top and bright orange on
the hard slick bottom. I was about nine
years old and pretty scared of the ocean...all
because of crabs that bite your toes and the murky
sharky waters in Emerald Isle, North Carolina.
I only went in the ocean for a week out of the
year when my grandmother went on summer vacation.
I thought laying down was boring so I tried standing
and it was much better.
JG: What is your current
favorite board? In 2009 do you have any plans
to experiment with different surfboard designs,
materials or fin configurations?
KN: For at least
a year I have been hooked on Donald Takayama
Noah Comp boards. They've got a high performance
tail and still have a pretty wide nose that is
really great for nose riding. I don't know
how much I am going to experiment with fins because
I really fell in love with the set up I use now.
Donald has recently patented some new fins that
are absolutely amazing. I first used them
and the turns were so loose that I was doing laybacks
on accident (not pulling them off) so it was hard
the first day. But once I figured out that
you could turn in a really tight section like
when shortboarding, I kept them in every board
and my roundhouse has improved because of them.
I have really learned to like light boards, although
when you ride nine footers that's a problem because
lighter boards snap easy so my shaper is trying
new and lighter foams to compromise with heavier
glassing.
JG: Do you have any heroes?
If so, who and why?
KN: My heroes are
my friends, family and co-workers who I see follow
their hearts and find stoke and happiness
in the little things in life.
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?
KN: I think it will
be a surprise!!!!!
For those of you who like to
jump around instead of going one by one, here's
the complete list of surfers...
Image
Caption: Four views of North Carolina's Kelly
Nicely, one of the most talented surfers I know.
If there's a short list of surfers who can do
airs, there's a REALLY short list of people who
can air it out on both short- and longboards.
Proud owner of two science degrees and a world-class
cutback. Kelly has been an avid supporter of JettyGirl
and truth be told, she's almost like a sister
to me. Photo: Chris Grant / JettyGirl.com
|
