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| Keala Kennelly |
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Keala “The Queen of Chopes” Kennelly The day after Reef McIntosh nearly beheaded Tahitaian charger Raimana Van Bastolear with a jet ski out at epic Teahupoo in May 2005 (many say it was the best conditions in decades), Keala Kennelly became the first woman to tow in at the infamous left-hander. 
I wasnt thinking, she remembers. I was just doing what felt right in
the moment. The face of it was about 20- to 25-feet, but it was pretty
damn thick, which I think counts for a lot. KK borrowed a tow board and
sat in the channel for an hour trying to convince someone to give her a
tow. I asked everybody, she continues. Michael Ho was the one who
finally convinced the boys to give me a go. Akila, one of the Hawaiian
boys, towed me in. He was awesome. I felt really safe with him on the
ski.Keala was already dubbed the Queen of Chopes before her historical tow because she had won contests there three times already. The tow solidified her reign. It is fitting that KK was the first woman to tow in at Teahupoo because from a young age she was accustomed to pushing herself at the same pace as the boys. She grew up on the beach in Kauai with her family, surfing and playing with all the neighborhood boys. Her father taught her how to surf when she was a baby, and she was sponsored by Town & Country by the age of 12. I had a beautiful childhood, she says. Her grom crew included Andy and Bruce Irons and guys like Kamalei Alexander, Reef McIntosh, Aamion Goodwin, Danny Fuller, Jesse Merle-Jones and Dustin Barca. It was beautiful but also very difficult at times, she recalls. People hated on me for being a haole and also for being a girl in a male-dominated sport, so I always felt like I was having to defend myself all the time; and there were times where I didnt have a lot of friends and it got quite lonely. t was a much different gromhood than girls like Carissa Moore and Coco Ho have today. Keala laughs, I am very proud because I know these girls are making a decent livinga better living than me actually! But Im happy that I contributed to that. The same way that women like Lisa Andersen, Layne Beachley, Pauline Menzcer, Jodi Cooper and Pam Burridge contributed to my success. Keala began competing at eight years old and developed a taste for it, all the while pushing herself as hard as the local crew could go. I like the feeling of winning, she says. I dont necessarily like feeling like I am being compared to another surfer. That kind of bothers me actually, because I feel like everyone brings something unique to the sport. But I like going out there and putting on a show, doing it well and inspiring people. Now in her 12th year on tour (on the WQS since 1995 and the WCT since 2000), Keala has no doubt inspired people all over the world. Im inspired by people who are passionate about what they do, KK says. Like Andy, Bruce, Rochelle and Shane Dorian. At 19, she started going out clubbing with her best friend. A few years later, Keala had bought her first turntables and was collecting records and learning how to mix. I loved dancing and started to develop a taste for house music and that whole underground culture, she says. DJ KK plays gigs between her competition and promo schedule and recently spun at Nextdoor and Casa (Bliss Nightclub). Im looking forward to throwing down at both of those venues in the futureand a few select house parties. When she does have time to herself, Keala relaxes and enjoys her other passions, which include art, cooking, interior decorating and fashion. As for Kealas passion for surfing is simpleshe loves the way it makes her feel. The biggest lesson shes learned from a life revolving around it is also simple: Dont get too worked up about things that are completely out of your control. Im not perfect and I care less and less to try to be, she maintains. Keala lives life to its fullest in her surfing and personal life. She owns who she is and makes no apologies for those who are intimidated by her fearlessness to be herself. I believe in energy, she says, explaining her philosophy on life. There is good energy and bad energy. If you put beautiful, good, pure energy out into the world, you will attract more of the same back to you. This is how I try to live.—Tiff Hervey KK Stats: DOB: Aug 13, 1978 Stance: Goofy Sponsors: Billabong, Spy, Converse, Spyder, Toyota of South Bay, Aftermath Surfboards, Sambazon, Red Bull, H20 Audio, Urban Decay, Island Style, Vestal Shaper: Ian Wright Home Quiver: 10 to 15 boards Travel Quiver: Six boards (59, 510, 511, 60, 61, 63, 65, 66, 68, 610) Tunes: Depeche Mode, Massive Attack, Air, Everything But The Girl, Halou, Frou Frou, Sise, Sia. DJs: Danny Teneglia, Chus And Ceballos, Jesse Garcia, Cevin Fisher, Sander Klieninberg, Laurent Wolf. Local Talent: X-Factor, Kate Earl, Cancel, Daize Shayne Post-session Grinds: Down To Earth, Diamond Head Market & Grill Liquid Loves: Teahupoo and Pipe KK By The Numbers: 2005 First female to tow in at Teahupoo 2004 2nd Place Roxy Pro France (WCT) 2004 2nd Place SG Queen of Surf (WQS) 2003 World Championship Tour No. 2 (her highest ranking on tour) 2003 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Winner 2003 3rd Place Billabong Pro Maui (WCT) 2003 1st Place Billabong Pro Teahupoo (WCT) 2003 1st Place Roxy Pro Fiji (WCT) 2002 1st Place Billabong Pro Teahupoo (WCT) 2001 1st Place Billabong Girls, Panama (WQS) 2001 1st Place Op Pro Boat Challenge, Indonesia (Specialty) 2000 1st Place Gallaz Womens Pro, Tahiti 1999 1st Place Wahine, USA (WQS) 1999 1st Place e11even US Open of Womens Surfing, USA (WQS) 1998 1st Place Black Pearl Womens Pro, Tahiti (WQS) 1997 1st Place Wahine Womens, USA (WQS) 1997 1st Place Wahine Womens, USA (WQS)
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