| 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?
Nicole Grodesky:
In 2008 I finally finished up college, for the
most part. I had my senior year project for public
relations management and that went really well.
I also landed myself two really good internships
and I've already started one at etnies as a public
relations intern.
JG: Tell us about the first
time you ever stood up on a surfboard. Where was
it and what were you riding?
NG: I can remember
the first time I stood up on a surfboard like
it was yesterday. I was in Florida and it was
after school, I was at a friend's house hanging
out. There was an old Hawaiian looking gun about
seven feet long. We were bored and my friend,
Cathy, asked me if I wanted to take the surfboard
out. I was nervous and scared and she said, "Come
on let's go, it'll be fun." We walked down
to the beach and she walked the board out to waist
deep water. She made me jump on the board and
then she pushed me into a wave. I felt the energy
of the wave lift me up and I could feel her let
go of the board and then the next thing I knew
I was thrusted forward by the wave and I stood
up. I remember seeing fish swim underneath me
as if they were chasing the wave and I never felt
so free. It was like standing on a cloud the first
time I stood up, probably because I took off in
the white-wash.
JG: What is your current
favorite board? In 2009 do you have any plans
to experiment with different surfboard designs,
materials or fin configurations?
NG: My Lost 5'9 squash
tail Chris Ward model. Yes. I actually just got
a new shortboard that I'm trying out. It's in
the photo above. That was actually the first day
I rode it. The board is a compilation of an old
5'8 swallow tail and my 5'9 squash tail. The wide-point,
rocker and thickness is a blend of the two. I'm
trying to experiment with different shortboard
designs because I feel my body shape is very different
then most guy's, so I'm experimenting with a wider,
shorter template then I've surfed in the past.
As far as fins, my friend, Maurice, owns
a surfboard shop, the Factory in San Clemente,
and he just got the FCS demo package. I'll definitely
be taking advantage of that this year!
JG: Do you have any heroes?
If so, who and why?
NG: Barack Obama
and Hilary Clinton are my heroes of 2008. No explanation
necessary really. If you have a pulse, you should
know why.
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?
NG: Coco Ho. Frontside
360 rail grab air 3ft above the lip.
For those of you who like to
jump around instead of going one by one, here's
the complete list of surfers...
Image
Caption: I met Nicole Grodesky about three years
ago and I have to admit that she is one of the
more interesting surfers I've met. Nicole is deeply
passionate about quite a few subjects and causes.
I love the way she throws all of herself into
whatever she's doing...be it photography, women's
studies, changing her hair color simply to test
social behavior and responses, or blasting her
way into an oncoming section. Photo: Nicole Grodesky's
friend
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