JettyGirl: A one million
dollar check arrives in your mailbox with a
note that reads, "Half of this amount is
yours and the other half is to benefit the world
around you." How would you spend the money?
Cher Pendarvis:
If finances allow, I would give all the money
away to help others. I would donate to the Humanity
United organization and the American Cancer
Society.
Humanity
United was founded with the belief that mass
atrocities and slavery are two of the worst
ways that human beings inflict suffering on
one another. Both are preventable. Humanity
United is helping to prevent mass violence and
establish conditions for long-range peace. Regarding
modern day slavery, Humanity United researches,
educates and supports interventions that change
the underlying dynamics which allow slavery
to exist.
I
lost my Mother to cancer when I was in my teens,
and in January 1998, we lost our long-time friend
Rell Sunn, and more recently my sweet friend
and church Mom, Millie. We're praying for cures.
JG: Describe the best surfboard
you've ever ridden and why it was special to
you.
Cher: Well, there
have been a lot of special boards with their
own unique rides. A big favorite is the first
6'6" Angelfish, shaped by Steve Pendarvis,
which was a combination of a favorite 5'6"
fish from the early 1970s shaped by Steve Lis
and a favorite Channin trifin shaped by Mike
Casey from the early 1980s. The Angelfish is
a fun all around twinny with a trailing fin
that suits my style. It drives down the line
and does smooth wrapping roundhouse cutties
like a fish, but can also slash off the top
like a shortboard thruster.
JG: If you could travel
back to any time in history and hang with one
person while they go about their daily activities,
who would it be and why?
Cher: I would like
to spend the time with George Greenough, designing
boards and doing photography and filmmaking,
while surfing Australia, Santa Barbara and the
Ranch in the 1960s and early 1970s. George inspired
us with his breakthrough designs, surfing and
photography. I was fortunate to meet George
while surfing Rincon in the 1970s.
JG: For thirty days you're
stuck on a desert island with one book, one
song, one surf movie and one snack food. Which
ones would you choose?
Cher: My favorite
book is the Bible, the song would be Somewhere
Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, and the movie would
be The Innermost Limits of Pure Fun
by George Greenough. Hmmm, snack food? Organic
Brown Rice cakes!
JG: What is your best surf-related
memory of 2009?
Cher: It was a
dream come true, to shape a special board on
my 59th birthday, in August, 2009. This was
my last birthday of the 50s and I wanted to
build a 6'7" high aspect fish, which is
a meaningful experience for me and a fun board
for winter waves. While I have painted and glassed
boards recently, I had not shaped a board in
nearly 30 years. It was wonderful to spend quality
time with my husband Steve, who is a creative
surfboard builder, and he enthusiastically coached
me along the way. After six hours in the shaping
room, we were blessed to share fun waves together
at our favorite spot in the late afternoon.
The spot doesn't break often that time of year
so were surprised and happy. We shared waves,
enjoying watching one another surf and I was
blessed with two tube rides, and one of them
a double barrel! So grateful, this was the best
surfing day that I can remember in years.
It is a privilege to
surf, every wave is a gift. Through gratitude
and prayer, we can share this gift of joy with
every beating heart. Aloha!
