Shes not being melodramatic about that last part as she looks back on a time when she was within arms reach of a world title while suicidally depressed. To her, the choice came down to being open about her sexuality or face losing sponsors and by extension, her career. Kennelly: There wasn't a big wave tour or anything like that yet so, I was just going out and doing it and I was one of the only women doing it at that time. But Kennelly who runs AKKTIVE, a women's board shorts company is used to facing obstacles and succeeding in the face of adversity. By any measure, Keala Kennelly has achieved a slew of firsts: First woman known to have surfed Teahupo'o. A video posted by Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) on Jul 25, 2015 at 2:47pm PDT. Kennelly: It makes me really happy that athletes are not having a struggle as I did. It's treacherous and exhilarating all at once, and sort of "feels like trying to outrun a dragon," surfer Keala Kennelly says. The Inertia Contributing Editor. "This gust of wind came up the face of the wave and got under my board and just flipped it sideways," Kennelly, named Female Surfer of the Year by ESPN in 2002, recalls to PEOPLE. Fact: Keala Kennelly is one of the hardest charging and most determined female big-wave surfers to have ever lived. Besides these two acting roles, she has appeared as herself in a number of documentaries, including 7 Girls (2001) and Step Into Liquid (2003). RELATED VIDEO: Ultimate Surfer's Jesse Palmer Says Despite Being an Athlete Learning to Surf Was a Challenge. Keala Kennelly Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Family Age, Wiki Biography and Wiki Keala Kennelly was born on 13 August, 1978 in Kauai, Hawaii, United States, is an American surfer and actor. In addition to her win in Teahupoo at the Billabong Pro, she garnered victories at the Roxy Pro in Fiji and the Turtle Bay Pro in Hawaii as well as a 3rd-place finish at the Maui Billabong Pro. A lot of community things are unspoken. So much so that he was the subject of an essay I wrote in Hawaiian history class in 7th grade. He was pissed and smashed my sandwich into my face and we were about to start throwing blows when security broke us up. It was there, while on top of a 50 . I tried to be girly. Keala Kennelly, Campeona y Biggest Wave. All you backsiders out here, KK just got a barrel that shit on all your faces! Then he paddled off, laughing to himself. Keala is a good soul. Kennelly no longer competes on the tour. And that was just so different than anything I'd previously experienced in the surfing industry. I posted something on my Instagram hoping that he would read it, because I am really grateful to the Aikau family for such a big honor. 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. It was this unspoken thing, a safe space, kind of like 'don't ask, don't tell.' If you look at it, most surf brands only advertise one kind of woman: pretty, feminine, straight, and looks more like a model than an athlete. 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. Browse 1,676 kennelly photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. It saved my ligament from tearing which kept me off the surgeon's table, but poor muscles take a while to heal too. Then, Keala took a break from surfing to pursue acting. Then we had Laird Hamilton, Kala Alexander, and Titus Kinimaka to look up to, as well as my own father [Brian]. And it almost killed me.. Slater Nebrosky, Ken Kosada, Ceshina Feliciano, Mike Nulty, Ceshina Feliciano, RedBull, - WSL / Fred Pompermayer / Red Bull Content Pool, 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly At Himalayas, 2021 Women's Ride Of The Year Nominee: Keala Kennelly At Himalayas, Keala Kennelly Talks Equality In Women's Surfing, Charging Teahupo'o And Competing Against The Irons Brothers, It's Big Wave Award Paddle Week, And Jaws Stole The Show, Four-Time World Champ Carissa Moore On A Return To Teahupo'o, Meet The Contenders For The Red Bull Big Wave Awards Women's Performer Of The Year, Keala Kennelly Wins First-Ever Red Bull Magnitude, Championship Tour Stars Reflect On A Monumental North Shore Season For Women, A Handful Of Hard-Charging Women Just Changed The Game At Jaws, Women Take Their Rightful Place In The Lineup At Teahupo'o, Why 2005 Was Such A Special Year At Teahupo'o. KK: Yeah, but its funny. First woman to win a big-wave contest. photos, in Venice Beach and opening for Boy Eats World at the Pacifico Beer Party at the US Open in July 2016. Am I going to go back?" And if you don't have any sponsors, basically you won't have a career. [2], 2003 was a breakout year for Kennelly as she peaked at number 1 in the WCT rankings before ending the year ranked as the 2nd best female surfer in the world. Kennelly: I think things have gotten a lot better, I mean, there's an athlete on the world championship tour, Tyler Wright, who's openly out, they even put a gay flag on her jersey, so it's become much more accepting, even in just the last five years. Things are changing fast and getting better for everybody, not just women. Keala Kennelly, the professional surfer who came out years ago, has given a fantastic interview to fellow out surfer Craig Butler, who has posted the . 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." [10], Kennelly's accomplishments have garnered her numerous accolades, including being named the 2002 Female Surfer of the Year by ESPN and more recently, the 2011[5] and 2013 Billabong XXL Girls Performance Award,[11] and the 2014 Billabong XXL Womens Performance Award. Laird had gone there and gotten into many fights, and so had my older brother, so I knew what I was in for. The WSLs made a better environment but athletes are still just scared to lose their sponsors.. During that infamous 'Code Red' swell,[6] she displayed the best barrel-riding by a female at Teahupoo. She came out and her sponsor didn't drop her, they're still supporting her. I was just doing it purely out of passion. She remembers constantly feeling like she was under a microscope and feeling pressure from the ASP toturn a blindeye to her true self. Kennelly was at that event, too, although her run was cut short when a wipeout sent her to the hospital. I stopped caring so much about what other people thought, what the tour thought, what the surfing industry thought. And, probably, the first former Championship Tour (CT) surfer ever to star in an HBO series. [8], She was invited to the 2018-2019 The Eddie, which was cancelled when waves that met the tournament criteria failed to arrive. Keala Kennelly, 42, has been surfing for as long as she can remember. He was gonna have to start over, so Keala's mom, free spirit that she called herself, up and split. I lost most of my sponsors after starting to live my life as an out lesbian I was told that I was no longer "marketable," even though I was nominated for an ESPY and was the first woman to be invited to the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Event. Her most notable appearances include opening for Snoop Dogg at Rain Nightclub at the Palms in Las Vegas, The Work Magazine Summer Rooftop Pool Party at The Standard in downtown Los Angeles, The Surfrider Foundation 2 Coasts 1 Ocean Event in the Hamptons and Malibu, The Primo Beer/Inertia Summer Rooftop Party opening for Y.A.H.T. Video from Ken Kosada. It's still very homophobic, and there's not a lot of brand inclusivity in terms of sponsorships and advertising. Kennelly: Everybody was just talking about me and it was just I actually quit the tour shortly after I came out because I couldn't handle mentally and emotionally what that was like. So it was nice to see for myself what was really possible. Keala Kennelly is an incredible surfer. They pushed me to be better in the water. | Red Bull Big Wave Awards - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO5xy_Nihb0#WSLSubscribe to the WSL for more action: https://goo.gl/VllRujWatch all the latest surfing action of the world's best surfers in the world's best waves. Behind The Scenes On Blue Crush With Keala Kennelly. I didn't want to win only when it was easy I wanted to win when it was a real challenge. I never thought I would see the day that a woman would be invited to #TheEddie. 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. first woman to be invited to the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Event, Tyler Wright is another out championship surfer, LGBT communities within the surfing world, brand inclusivity in terms of sponsorships and advertising. My entire family surfed. Whereas for the five to 10 years I was doing it, there were no competitions, there was no prize money, there was no incentive really. 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. Fear helps keep you alive. Hemal Jhaveri. Sunday January 22, 2023. So what is it that keeps you going? Jaws delivers again for the WSL's Big Wave Tour event on Maui. . When I finally came up my board was destroyed, smashed to pieces. news, Keala Kennelly: Yeah, I remember that [article]. Keala Kennelly: Not at all. Later that year, Kennelly had a tow-in at Puerto Escondido that is considered to be arguably the best barrel by a female to date. I should post a real surfer._ That led me to an incredible picture of Keala, a tiny figure surrounded by a literal wall of water, that took my breath away. I never thought that I would be a woman invited in my lifetime. As the weeks went by, Kennelly says she developed pain in her labrum (hip) caused by the board yanking the leash attached to her leg during the wipeout. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. I am so humbled right now. Keala Kennelly said her injury had the severity of a car accident, and for months afterward she had to take powerful pain medications just to make it through the day. I'd be hanging out with one of my good friends on tour; we'd be at barbecues where it was all women, and some were sitting really close together. Professional Big Wave surfer who is known for competing in a variety of opens and surfing events. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Its the double standard. I think about my family, my friends, my loved ones, my partner. I'm proud of who I am, and when you come out, you're teaching people that you are not something to be ashamed of. Where would we be if she hadnt decided to stay the course and continue to live the great life she has? My sponsors kind of knew, but we didnt talk about it. It's way more challenging when you have that stiff wind, that makes things harder, and you saw a lot more wipeouts in both the men's and the women's. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Stanley Mosk Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. Keala was born in Honolulu, the capital and largest city of Hawaii. Keala Kennelly is lying on an operating table. Follow your favorites and never miss a wave. )F. What has the surfing world been like for you since you came out? Its not me. 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.". "It got to a point where I didn't care what the cost was, I couldn't live like this," the surfing champion tells PEOPLE in a new interview. I liked to push myself, and I liked being challenged. Passion. No doubt I pushed them too. There were all these cautionary tales of, "You can't be a lesbian, it's career suicide.". Jan 27th, 2023. [5], In 2011, Kennelly chased one of the biggest swells to ever hit Teahupoo. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. O ne sunny morning in January 2018, on a white boat in the blue sea off the Hawaiian island Maui, Bianca Valenti and Keala Kennelly sat on a beanbag listening to "German Sparkle Party," a song . You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. On Tour, Keala charged in heavy waves like Cloudbreak and Teahupoo, where . So when I got on the tour, I was so freaking nervous because I inherently knew I was gay. THIS IS MY OFFICIAL FB PAGE RUN BY ME :) For bookings and inquires conta Athlete WSL Womens Big Wave World Champion DJ Motivational Speaker 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. PEOPLE: Do you feel you are your 100%, authentic self today? He attempted suicide soon after. She is a celebrity surfer. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. (For the record, we have no worries whatsoever that this photo . And, probably, the first former Championship Tour (CT) surfer ever to star in an HBO series. 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. Three days later while riding in a memorial heat for Andy Irons during the Billabong Pro Men's WCT, Kennelly suffered a massive facial injury. Professional surfing wasnt a good place for an LGBT athlete 15 years ago. It was there, while on top of a 50 . Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, surfer DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. Im terrified of snakes! 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. For the first time ever, the women of big-wave surfing got Pe'ahi to themselves. I think that's why I was so frustrated -- I have incurred so much debt chasing swells and chasing my passion, it comes to a point where I think, I can't do this anymore. 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. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. Keala Kennelly was born on August 13, 1978 in Kauai, Hawaii, USA. In doing so, she says, she faced a wave of homophobia from companies and other surfers that eventually led her to leave the sport before returning to leave her mark on it forever. Justine Dupont, left, and Keala Kennelly ride a large wave during The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, on Oahu's North Shore, in Hawaii. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. She is one of the few women athletes to have won event titles in both shortboard and big wave surfing events. That was later, in 2011. 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. 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. And it felt really natural, like 'this is how it's supposed to go down.'. But lo and behold, there was a hammer about to be dropped on me. Keala Kennelly won The Billabong Pro in 2002. I saw the way lesbians, or just presumed lesbians were treated on tour, and it was terrible. Because of that, more women started doing it and we were able to establish a women's big wave tour and have competitions where you could actually win prize money. 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 shares a variety of her . 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. Login Kennelly: I think they learned to respect me. To have fear is to know that there are severe consequences. His mother was a house cleaner, and his father was a longshoreman. Keala Kennelly is one of the most successful competitive female surfers of all time. Photo: Thouard. I spent so many years being ashamed, hiding who I am. KK: Andy and Bruce were brothers to me in every sense of the word, which meant they treated me like crap a lot of the time [laughs]. It took me two years to go back after that. But even though it was never really talked about, I felt like I was in a support group. Her zodiac sign is Leo. 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