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?
Leah Dawson: The
first half would go to an education fund in
Hawaii. I believe education is the most important
element to a flourishing society, and the public
school system in Hawaii has fallen victim to
the economy, and is in dire need.
The
second half would consist of a number of things,
first of which would be an open-ended surf trip
to travel to the surf breaks of my dreams. Second
would be to invest in my business with my friends
to help us all achieve our dreams and make our
passions of making the world a better place
come alive. I would also love to buy some property
in Hawaii :)
JG: Describe the best surfboard
you've ever ridden and why it was special to
you.
Leah: Longboard
wise: Donald Takayama gave me his personal DT2
noserider that he shaped for himself. It was
a magic carpet, it truly made surfing feel like
dancing. Donald never puts leash plugs on his
boards, and unfortunately, the fate of the board
came to end at a fun day at Haleiwa, where I
lost my board into the only rock, to see it
get totally demolished. It's the only time I've
ever cried about a board!
Shortboard
wise: I started riding my friend Rochelle's
Al Merrick 5'2" Biscuit. The thing is a
skateboard that allows me to turn in ways I've
only dreamed of.
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?
Leah: Rell Sunn
is a hero of mine, not only for her surfing,
but for her perseverance through her sickness
to continue touching the lives of so many people
all across the world. I would love to surf Makaha
with her, and talk to her about her philosophies
on life.
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?
Leah: The book
would be the one I am writing right now, the
song would be the song I wrote with my friend
Cindy Santini called It's Always the Best
Day of my Life, the surf movie would be
the one I would be filming on the desert island,
and the snack food would be my mom's left over
spaghetti, nothing better!
JG: What is your best surf-related
memory of 2009?
Leah: I had the
amazing opportunity to film the Eddie Aikau
Big Wave contest for the live webcast. As much
as I love being in the water, seeing those incredible
guys charge Waimea with such courage, took my
breath away. Not to mention, Tom Carroll sat
next to me for half the day and gave me the
play by play of his accident the day before
when he broke his leg. It was an experience
of a lifetime, that I hope happens again and
again!
