| 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?
Rochelle Ballard:
Making "Surf Into Yoga" with my brother
(Hoku), good friend (Chanelle Sladics), and an
amazing cinematographer (John Roderick). Hope
is a funny word...Believe I like better. I believe
2009 will bring new experiences in my life in
a whole new direction and awareness as each day
presents itself in surfing, traveling, and just
simply living the life, Island style.
JG: Tell us about the first
time you ever stood up on a surfboard. Where was
it and what were you riding?
RB: I remember watching
my dad from the beach and realizing I wanted to
be out there surfing with him instead of sitting
on the beach. The first time would have been with
my cousin Tony and my dad. I was probably 7 or
8 at the Hanalei Pier, on Kauai. It would have
been on my dad's single fin.
JG: What is your current
favorite board? In 2009 do you have any plans
to experiment with different surfboard designs,
materials or fin configurations?
RB: A 5'9" Al
Merrick round pin. The Proton, Dane's model. I
am trying a quad out at Backdoor. Want to find
something that is small enough to maneuver in
the barrel but can get in sooner. I am so much
smaller and get into the wave later because bigger
boards are easier to get in, but once I take off
I want a smaller board under my feet. I would
love to ride a 6'10" instead of a 7'3"
at Sunset and a 6'0"instead of a 6'10"
at Backdoor. I think Kelly beat me to it...ha,
maybe I should talk to him and Al about it.
JG: Do you have any heroes?
If so, who and why?
RB: Rell Sunn and
Kelly Slater have always been my biggest inspirations.
Not sure I believe in heroes anymore, unless we're
talking cartoons, 'cuz I really like the wonder
twins. They could become anything and whatever
was the most powerful thing in that moment, and
they always worked together.
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?
RB: Thats a toss
up, it will be between Carissa, Bartelz, or Silvana.
For those of you who like to
jump around instead of going one by one, here's
the complete list of surfers...
Image
Caption: Over the past year Rochelle Ballard has
transitioned from a full time competitor on the
world tour to a life of choosing when and where
she wants to go. I was honored to meet Rochelle
this summer and we had quite a few conversations
next to my tripod on the beach. She's a firm supporter
of the next generation of female surfers coming
out of Hawaii. Check out what Rochelle's been
up to at rochelleballard.com Photo: Chris Grant
/ JettyGirl.com
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