Girls who surf - Kari

Where do you usually surf?
Costa Rica and Tofino, Canada

How did you get into surfing?
I surfed for two weeks on vacation in Bali, and a couple of years later, I quit my job and sold everything after surfing with 10 women and deciding I wanted to run a women's surf retreat. Then I thought, I should really be better at surfing if I’m going to do that… 

Why did you start surfing?
Because I loved the ocean and the idea of it. Then I caught my first wave ever, and it felt like flying. I'll never forget that feeling.

What was your biggest fear when you started?
The ocean was very unfamiliar territory for me, so pretty much everything about it scared me. I would get such bad anxiety every time I surfed, especially in the first few months when I had no idea what I was doing.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other surfer girls?
Deep breaths, and keep going… You have every right to be in the ocean/lineup as anyone else. Surf with more women! The energy in the water is the best with women!

Tell us a funny, embarrassing, or inspiring surf story!
I recently surfed a new break on a big (closeout-ey) day and wasn’t being patient enough for a good wave. Within 10 minutes, I dinged my friend’s new board and almost got a concussion from another board. There were pieces of that board stuck in my hair when I exited the water.