First woman to win a Big Wave Award for the year's best tube. KK: Its still always in the back of my mind. The sharp smell of disinfectant hangs in the air, washing out the odor seeping from the buckets of dark fluid she saw in the hallway when the nurses rushed her into theatre. They make a sport out of putting each other down. Rebecca Parsons. Keala Kennelly wins the Red Bull Big Wave Awards WIPEOUT OF THE YEAR for her heavy beat down at Jaws, Hawaii on February 11, 2020. news, Passion. Red Bull Big Wave Awards - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiIKBNXY-F0THE BIGGEST WAVES SURFED IN 2020!! First woman to win a big-wave contest. And being trapped in a room full of snakes, like in Indiana Jones. 5TH JULY 2021 [The Wavelength Drive-In Cinema is back for 2021, bringing you a range of surf cinema, cult classics and family favourites from the clifftops of Cornwall, including two screenings of Blue Crush on the 18th of July and the 7th of August. and more from FamousFix.com. It was hard at times being the only girl with all these tough boys around. So now,as the 2018/2019 Big Wave World Tour season winds down, we have the Kauai-born Kennelly closing in on her first world title. It was as if the doctors had cut the hard part of me out and left it on the operating table. I am so humbled right now. She is a celebrity surfer. So, I was absolutely terrified and I spent the majority of my time on the pro circuit in the closet and just completely terrified to come out completely terrified to get outed, that I was going to lose my sponsors. (Video by Carlo Carbajal. It was there, while on top of a 50-foot wave, Kennelly was sent cartwheeling down the mountain of water after a blast of wind sent her board flying. And doing so has helped shape the path of her life. "The board hit me in the shin, it flipped again and hit me in the ribs and then it flipped again and hit me in the face.". KK: Yeah, I was 17. Laird had gone there and gotten into many fights, and so had my older brother, so I knew what I was in for. Kealla Kennelly | USA. Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) July 23, 2015. According to our records, Keala Kennelly is possibly single. Keala Kennelly is lying on an operating table. Professional Big Wave surfer who is known for competing in a variety of opens and surfing events. What happened out there? Keala Kennelly was born on the 13th of August, 1978. She resided atop the CT . She continued to make history for female surfing when she won the first women's big wave contest at the Nelscott Big Wave Classic in 2010,[4] opening the door for more female big wave surfing competitions in the future. Things have improved a lot for the Women's Tour. For the first time ever, the women of big-wave surfing got Pe'ahi to themselves. - WSL / Tim McKenna. Browse the full lineup and get your ticket here. So, to feel like I was living this lie was just crushing my soul and after so many years of that, it was just, "I can't do this anymore, this is actually going to kill me if I can't live my truth." Monday, January 23, 2017. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. The sharp smell of disinfectant hangs in the air, washing out the odor seeping from the buckets of dark fluid she saw in the hallway when the nurses rushed her into theatre. PEOPLE: How does that make you feel to see that? Login Anna Dimond. But especially to women. I slowly became more comfortable with myself. Some people are just not going to be accepting, not going to agree with you, but if you're living your truth, people will respect you. Its like a form of entertainment for them. "They say a picture is worth a thousand words. That is a career, you get paid. KK: It did. I grew up on the beach playing in the ocean with my two brothers and all the neighbourhood boys including the Irons brothers, Dustin Barca, Danny Fuller, Kamalei Alexander. Hawaiian native Paige Alms made history on November 11 when she became the first woman to win the Pe'ahi Challenge. After spending a decade ranked in the top 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), Kennelly took a break from the tour in 2007 to explore her passions for acting and music. She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer. Keala Kennelly is a 44 year old American Surfer born on 13th August, 1978 in Kauai, Hawaii, USA. DJKK's style is a mix of tropical "feel good" house, tech house, deep house and 80s remix, indie dance/new disco and pop remixes. She continues to push women's surfing to new levels. finishing runner up to the World Title in 2003. The historic invitation came on the heels of another history-making moment, the first-ever women's big-wave contest on the WSL's Big Wave Tour (BWT). But the feeling when you get spit out of a giant barrel at Chopes is like nothing else. Honolulu. Peter "Joli" Wilson explains just what made the 2005 Billabong Pro Tahiti such a special moment in surfing history. Who is Keala Kennelly dating? Follow your favorites and never miss a wave. So I had to endure a lot of teasing and put-downs, especially if I beat any of them in a contest. I guess that's why I was discouraged -- there I was, breaking all these records, and I don't feel like I can call myself a professional surfer anymore because if you are a professional, you are getting paid. One time I beat Andy, and he wouldnt even speak to mefor a few weeks! Verified. A house music Dj born and raised in Kauai, Dj Keala Kennelly AKA "DjKK" has pulled music inspiration from all over the world during her travels as a competitive surfer on the WSL tour. But I'm still in the surfing world and pioneering big wave surfing, so living my truth doesn't mean I can't surf no matter what sponsors say. Hurricane Iniki, September 1992. Make sure to enable it in your browser. She has played internationally at venues in Australia, France, South Africa, England, and Spain as well as domestically in Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and San Diego. Keala Kennelly: Not at all. On 12/21/2017 NICOLLE DESANTO filed a Personal Injury - Motor Vehicle lawsuit against LYELL KEALA KENNELLY. There's already such a stereotype for female athletes. Behind The Scenes On Blue Crush With Keala Kennelly. It took her finding other gay surfers to realize she could be open about her sexuality and be a pro surfer. RELATED VIDEO: Ultimate Surfer's Jesse Palmer Says Despite Being an Athlete Learning to Surf Was a Challenge. In 2015, she was again among the nominees. I grew up in Hawaii, so the Eddie is this legendary thing. There are six women nominated for the prestigious Performer of the Year award at the 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards, here's their stories. Keala Kennelly was born on August 13, 1978 (age 44) in Hawaii, United States.According to numerology, Keala Kennelly's Life Path Number is 1. While Kennelly was able to continue surfing the rest of the season, she says the wipeout's effects lasted long after she made it back to shore. Showing Editorial results for keala kennelly. I don't do this to make money, I put myself in debt to do this. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. I'd already come out as a lesbian, and then I had to have a second coming out as a mentally ill person? Keala is a good soul. Kennelly began her acting career with a role in the 2002 film, Blue Crush, and later landed a recurring role on the 2007 HBO series, John from Cincinnati. But its the industry that needs to change, not me. Its not the Keala Kennelly who appeared fearless to the world and aloof to her fellow competitors. Keala Kennelly. For over a decade she has consistently pushed the limits of what we thought was possible for a womanor hell, anyone. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. KK: Surfing with all those boys in Kauai is what got me into bigger, more powerful waves. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "2002 Results: Kennelly Defeats Beachley In Teahupoo Final", http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing-news/7910#.UehrN1NQ2sM, http://www.surfersvillage.com/surfing-news.php?id=16579#.UehxCFNQ2sM, "Keala Kennelly Wins 2010 Nelscott Reef Big Wave Event in Lincoln City Oregon", "Keala Kennelly Wins Billabong XXL Girls Performance Award! I paddled for a smaller wave but it didnt even break. I do a lot of things to make money that also keep me from being tied down to a 9 to 5, so I can still chase swells from time to time, especially at Chopes. And instead it feels more like I have a really expensive hobby. She is one of the few women athletes to have won event titles in both shortboard and big wave surfing events. By any measure, Keala Kennelly has achieved a slew of firsts: First woman known to have surfed Teahupo'o. But shell also be the first to tell you there was a time when she wasnt so unapologetically KK., Being gays not a choice, pretending to be straight to save my career was, she says today. PEOPLE: You came out as a lesbian in the surfing community nearly two decades ago, can you tell us what that experience was like for you? The name-calling and gender-shaming from other kids was relentless, even in grade school. So, it's really nice to see that attitude change. The Surfers Journal is made possible with sponsorship from: Tel: 949-361-0331 After getting barreled, she was pushed down to Teahupoo's notoriously shallow reef and received a severe gash to the side of her face. THIS IS MY OFFICIAL FB PAGE RUN BY ME :) For bookings and inquires conta But they also had my back and it made me strong. He was open about it on social media, so I reached out to him privately. Hemal Jhaveri. KK: Loosing the people I love the most, dying before I have accomplished everything I want. I had lost a bunch of sponsors at that point, so I decided instead of going back on tour, just chase my passion for surfing big waves. To this day, my father is a 60-something surf-stoked grom. So what is it that keeps you going? Watch popular content from the following creators: The Flex Company(@weirdflexbutok), World Surf League(@wsl), Maui Media Cartel(@mauicartel), keala (@keala.lynne), Michelle Kennelly(@kennelly_michelle) . I have a friend from the tour, Sunny Garcia, who was struggling with depression. She was ranked in the top 10 on the ASP World Champion Tour for a decade, before taking a break in 2007 to pursue acting and music. Later that same year (2016) she was nominated for an ESPY Award.[16]. Andrea Moller made it two-thirds of the way down her wave before hitting a bump and cartwheeling. It got to a point where I didn't care what the cost was, I couldn't live like this. On December 3, 2013, at TEDx Malibu, Keala gave a presentation on desire and surfing: "I'm Keala Kennelly and I'm a surfer."[17]. And I thought I was already on the shoulder and had made the wave and was getting ready to head for the channel. Like, when we were surfing events, I couldnt wait to finish the contest and run off as fast as I could, away from the tour to a big city where nobody cared about my sexuality and I didnt have to feel like I was under a microscope. We need some heroes. Video from Ken Kosada. Discover short videos related to Keala Kennelly on TikTok. Keala is a Kauai-born surfer who turned pro at seventeen, and in time qualified for the ASP World Tour. If I didnt go back and face my fears I would never get to experience that feeling again for the rest of my life. It's likely a handful of other women tried their luck throughout the day. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. Music has always been Kennelly's therapy; she also works as a DJ and is excited to share her upbeat . And yet, it wasn't the easiest of days for you, and you left with an injury. After winning the first-ever women's Big Wave Tour contest, the Maui local reflects on her triumph, her team and what's next. That was part of the reason why I left the tour and didn't go back to it. That translated well into competing on the tour, because I was able to keep all my competitors at a distance and not get too friendly with them. Professional Big Wave surfer who is known for competing in a variety of opens and surfing events. Keala Kennelly is lying on an operating table. After I survived that experience, I let my walls down and became more open again. In 2016, Valenti teamed up with other female surfers from the event including Andrea Moller, Keala Kennelly and Paige Alms to form the Committee for Equity In Women's Surfing. SOPHIE EVERARD. Keala Kennellys Thank You Letter for the F*ck You Billabong Hysteria, Keala Kennelly Calls Out Inequality in Womens Big Wave Surfing, My Surf Trip to Paradise with 2 Playboy Bunnies, Reflections from Winter on the North Shore. The women are returning to Teahupo'o for the first time since 2006 this is going to be good! First woman to win a Big Wave Award for the year's best tube. First woman to win a big-wave contest. After spending a decade ranked in the top 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), Kennelly took a break from the tour in 2007 to explore her passions for acting and music, including a recurring role as a surfer in the 2007 series John from Cincinnati. I guess it made me really hard and standoffish. Afterward, Keala shared the graphic picture with fans, showing a gash on her upper cheek that extended nearly to the bone. And if you don't have any sponsors, basically you won't have a career. I remember thinking that I had spent all this time on tour with all these women that I kept at arms length and here I was, about to die, and none of them would care because I never opened up and let them see the real me.. Paige Alms got obliterated by a warping mass of water. She remembers constantly feeling like she was under a microscope and feeling pressure from the ASP toturn a blindeye to her true self. Big Wave Award paddle week, Keala Kennelly breaks down her Wipeout of the Year, and Sky Brown heroically back on a surfboard. Your gift gives them full membership benefits. Winners of the first-ever Red Bull Magnitude have been announced and it's Keala Kennelly taking out the women's big wave event. Surfer Keala Kennelly attends the 10th Annual XXL Billabong Big Wave Awards at Grove Theater on April 23, 2010 in Anaheim, California. Otherwise, I haven't seen a lot of LGBT communities within the surfing world. So, it's worth it. WSL: Did you know that you were going to be named as an alternate in the Eddie? WSL is best experienced with Javascript! I never thought that I would be a woman invited in my lifetime. Keala Kennelly, 42, has been surfing for as long as she can remember. It was just to prove that women could do it. KK: NoI dont know. I never thought I would see the day that a woman would be invited to #TheEddie. Keala Kennelly's surfing career has spanned two world tours, so she's uniquely qualified to talk about the evolution of the profession as we all celebrate International Women's Day in 2019. He was pissed and smashed my sandwich into my face and we were about to start throwing blows when security broke us up. But I just got to a point, toward the end of my time on tour, where I said, "I can't do this anymore. In the last few years Keala has had much success as the first viable female free surfer. What's missing? During that infamous 'Code Red' swell,[6] she displayed the best barrel-riding by a female at Teahupoo. KK: I believe it has. Photo: Keoki Saguibo. Help keep Keala Kennelly profile up to date. And so, I went out and started surfing these waves that previously, people's perception was like, "Women just can't surf these waves, women can't surf big waves.". From a young age, she knew that to pursue being a champion surfer, she'd have to crash through a lot of barriers. Kennelly: I think they learned to respect me. PEOPLE: So you finally come out what was the reaction like? It was very similar to coming out as gay. As appeared in Wavelength, 2021. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. When I turned around there was just this huge set coming for me. Jan 27th, 2023. The 35-year-old Kennelly suffered a severe injury to her face while competing in Teahupoo, Tahiti, in 2011. Keala Kennelly Wiki, Biography, Age as Wikipedia. So when I got on the tour, I was so freaking nervous because I inherently knew I was gay. There are six women nominated for the prestigious Performer of the Year award at the 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards, here's their stories. He kept calling me all these awful things at lunch, things I had never been called before. To have fear is to know that there are severe consequences. I got into a lot of fights too, but I pretty much learned that the other kids would mess with you, threaten you, and try to intimidate you until you stood up for yourself. Keala came home from school one day and there was a "Dear John" letter for her on the bed. When I was a little girl, I had all the Eddie Aikau posters on my wall. Keala Kennelly won The Billabong Pro in 2002. Light / Dark. And every so often, the dragon catches up to you. All you backsiders out here, KK just got a barrel that shit on all your faces! Then he paddled off, laughing to himself. [7], She was the female 2018 Big Wave World Champion. A few years ago I was surfing in Morea with my brother Gavin and a few boys from Oahu and Kauai. Kennelly no longer competes on the tour. After finishing 2nd in the world on the WQS Tour in 1997, she was accepted to the World Championship Tour and quickly began earning victories at some of the tour's biggest events. Heats on demand, event highlights and exclusive interviews, right here on the WSL's Youtube channel.For More Visit: http://www.worldsurfleague.com/Like the WSL on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wslFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wslFollow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/wslFor Content Licensing Inquiries Please Visit https://www.imgreplay.com/client/world_surf_league Tyler Wright is another out championship surfer now, and it's so important because it helps LGBT youth say, "I can be me and still accomplish what I want.". He started at PEOPLE's Los Angeles Bureau as a writer and reporter in 2017 and interviewed the likes of Kobe Bryant, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Brady. Growing up in Kauai, Hawaii, she didn't have the opportunity to compete in surf competitions against other girls so, she . If youre a female professional surfer and dont fit that description, you basically will have no sponsors. Following her role on John from Cincinnati in 2007, Kennelly began touring the world to pursue her music career as a DJ. She gathered a lot of big-time wins after being accepted into the World Championship Tour, an elite competition hosted by the World Surf League, spanning multiple events, locations, and months. They pushed me to be better in the water. (For the record, we have no worries whatsoever that this photo . Even when I took that first set on the head, and I was like, 'Yeah, awesome. This included a 2nd-place finish at the Billabong Pro Maui, a team gold medal at the 2007 Summer X Games, and a record-setting ride in 2005 as the first-ever woman to tow in at Teahupoo. I didn't want to win only when it was easy I wanted to win when it was a real challenge. Surfing wouldnt be the same. Kennelly turned professional at the age of 17 and soon began surfing in the World Qualifying Series (WQS). This Winter saw the women charging on the North Shore, a Championship Tour event at Pipe and the crowning of a female Triple Crown champ. To be fearless is to be ignorant to those consequences, and that is very dangerous. Fear helps keep you alive. KEALA KENNELLY was introduced to surfing at a young age by her father and living in Hawaii meant there were always lots of opportunities for her get on her board and hit the waves. On a surfboard have fear is to know that there are severe.... Got a barrel that shit on all your faces fearless to the World and aloof her! Doctors had cut the hard part of me out and left it on social media, so Eddie! The rest of my mind remembers constantly feeling like she was the like! I put myself in debt to do this was already on the 13th of August, 1978 I could live. Surfing World the top of the page across from the tour, Sunny Garcia, who was struggling with.. A womanor hell, anyone Surf was a little girl, I could n't live like this I have everything! 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