I guess it made me really hard and standoffish. Keala Kennelly girlfriend, wife list. . [15] Kennelly: I think they learned to respect me. And yet, it wasn't the easiest of days for you, and you left with an injury. like. Tyler Wright was sponsored by Rip Curl before coming out and they didn't drop her, which is nice to see. Anna Dimond. What they're missing is how inspiring big-wave surfers are. Keala Kennelly, Campeona y Biggest Wave. Where would we be if she hadnt decided to stay the course and continue to live the great life she has? After that, I felt like, "OK, I have to be open about my mental illness, because if I can help just one person, then I need to do this." But I just got to a point, toward the end of my time on tour, where I said, "I can't do this anymore. Keala had (1), maybe of the year, at Teahupoo, Tahiti. Keala Kennelly: Yeah, I remember that [article]. Keala came home from school one day and there was a "Dear John" letter for her on the bed. Showing Editorial results for keala kennelly. A Norfolk Pine karate-chopped the house. Honolulu. Recently, Keala became the first woman to surf Nelscott Reef and won the Big Wave Classic, the first event of its kind to include women. When I was a little girl, I had all the Eddie Aikau posters on my wall. I dont have a big ego about that because its my life on the line. parties, do deliveries, paint houses, give surf lessons here and there. 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. I think about my family, my friends, my loved ones, my partner. After a successful career on WSL World Championship Tour. Music has always been Kennelly's therapy; she also works as a DJ and is excited to share her upbeat . So when I got on the tour, I was so freaking nervous because I inherently knew I was gay. Even when I took that first set on the head, and I was like, 'Yeah, awesome. It's still very homophobic, and there's not a lot of brand inclusivity in terms of sponsorships and advertising. 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. 1,608 posts. "Big wave" is a sub-category of surfing where riders tackle monstrous waves measuring at least 20 feet high. I thought it was maybe 6- or 8-foot but it was more like 15! [5], In 2011, Kennelly chased one of the biggest swells to ever hit Teahupoo. 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. Kennelly was rushed to the hospital where she reportedly received 40 stitches, 30 in the front and 10 in the skull, SurferToday.com reported . Monday, January 23, 2017. Less talk, more action. I thought it was rad! Following her role on John from Cincinnati in 2007, Kennelly began touring the world to pursue her music career as a DJ. And every so often, the dragon catches up to you. That was later, in 2011. I was living this double life because on tour, I was pretending to be straight. You forget all the BS and the stuff you don't like. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. Hawaiian native Paige Alms made history on November 11 when she became the first woman to win the Pe'ahi Challenge. (Video by Carlo Carbajal. It is the first time that a woman has been included on the invitee list for the prestigious big wave contest. A blur of bodies pass by, but most of all Kennelly can hear the screams that echo through the dilapidated hospital. 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.". It's this mystical thing that is ingrained in Hawaiian culture. "There's . Professional Big Wave surfer who is known for competing in a variety of opens and surfing events. To have fear is to know that there are severe consequences. After a heroic performance at The Eddie, Keala Kennelly faces a painful reality. ', This was the start of a whole new chapter. #KKWouldGo! The 43-year-old former Big Wave World Champion is bouncing back after going through a major wipeout during a World Surf League event in Hawaii two years ago. Surfer Keala Kennelly attends the 10th Annual XXL Billabong Big Wave Awards at Grove Theater on April 23, 2010 in Anaheim, California. And, probably, the first former Championship Tour (CT) surfer ever to star in an HBO series. He told me I couldnt sit with the surfer boys because I was a girl. Paige Alms got obliterated by a warping mass of water. I left the tour because, emotionally and mentally, I just couldn't handle it but I also got this really amazing opportunity to go do acting on an HBO TV series (2007's John from Cincinnati) for a year. When they called that Jaws event at our end, you get butterflies. Bruce paddled out and said, Nice barrel Lala! Then he proceeded to tell all the other boys in the water about it. And doing so has helped shape the path of her life. Below, Kennelly explains how she decided to come out as a lesbian and about her mental health. But when the show didn't get picked up for a second season, then it was, "Okay, now what am I going to do now? It was there, while on top of a 50 . Featuring a broader diversity of people in ads would be so important to promote acceptance in the sport. I lived on pins and needles, trying not to get outed all the time. He attempted suicide soon after. My last few years on tour everyone pretty much knew I was gay. Then, Keala took a break from surfing to pursue acting. And instead it feels more like I have a really expensive hobby. Keala Kennelly. Make sure to enable it in your browser. It makes me feel very connected to the universe. 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. Her name is one of four that comprises the Committee for Equity in Womens Surfing (CEWS) maybe the single greatest influence on the WSLs new equal pay policy that might also become state law in California. The WSLs made a better environment but athletes are still just scared to lose their sponsors.. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. Video from Ken Kosada. 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. Hawaii's Keala Kennelly has won the first Red Bull Magnitude, a first women-only big-wave contest held in Hawaii, in a remote, digital format. KK: Its still always in the back of my mind. (For the record, we have no worries whatsoever that this photo . I almost died. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. If anything, I think it would be the opposite. "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. It's treacherous and exhilarating all at once, and sort of "feels like trying to outrun a dragon," surfer Keala Kennelly says. Keala is a Kauai-born surfer who turned pro at seventeen, and in time qualified for the ASP World Tour. Everybody's congratulating me, and I thought, What did I do?' Keala Kennelly, going where no women have gone before. Those years before I came out were really hard. 1,334 following. Transsexual. Dont get me wrong. 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]. Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2017. Attorney Karen Tynan and Sabrina Brennan, the president of the San Mateo County Harbor Commission, also came on board as co-founders. On 12/21/2017 NICOLLE DESANTO filed a Personal Injury - Motor Vehicle lawsuit against LYELL KEALA KENNELLY. . Kennelly has both been nominated for and won numerous big wave awards. As she recovered from the injury, she hopped on the phone to discuss what all these big moments mean, and how soon she might be back in the water. Keala is a good soul. "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.". 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. From a young age, she knew that to pursue being a champion surfer, she'd have to crash through a lot of barriers. Right now at a time when we could really use some strong female role models -- especially after this last election, where we thought we were going to have a woman president and then we got the antithesis of that. And it felt like high school, with rumors and people talking crap behind my back. We were always trying to outdo each other, go bigger. It created a lot of internalized homophobia and self-hatred in me that wasnt healthy. So I took his tray of food and smashed it into his face. Browse 1,676 kennelly photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Keala Kennelly is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. "The competitive surfing world and the surfing industry overall seem really laid-back, but it's really not that way," she says. KK: Yeah. And the thing is . 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. On Tour, Keala charged in heavy waves like Cloudbreak and Teahupoo, where she also earned recognition for being the first woman ever to tow-in in 2005. contact@surfersjournal.com. I know it's terrifying, and you're so scared about what people's reactions are going to be or how your life is going to change, but I can honestly say, it's one of the best things I ever did for myself. Instead, the person lying on the operating table is a much younger version of herself, terrified, utterly alone, and about to die. raised in the beautiful Hawaiian islands, Keala is one of the best female. 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. That was a real turning point for me, says Kennelly, now 38. She is now pursuing careers as a DJ and actress while . It was kinda like, dont ask, dont tell, and as long as I wasnt vocal about it in the media, the relationship continued. So what is it that keeps you going? photos, He previously worked for Complex Magazine in New York City. KK: Yeah, it was with a boy. Keala Kennelly is an incredible surfer. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. [12] She was inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach, California as 2013's Woman of the Year. 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. PEOPLE: So you finally come out what was the reaction like? Keala Kennelly and Malia Manuel paddled out for a sunset spritz. It felt like I was trying to be something I was not and I didnt like the way that felt. He still loves surfing more than anything in the world, and he passed that love on to my brothers and me. Except Kennellys never been one to shy away from doing it tough. My entire family surfed. 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." Connect any celebrity with Keala Kennelly to see how closely they are linked romantically! Its not the Keala Kennelly who appeared fearless to the world and aloof to her fellow competitors. The posters I collected from #TheEddie big wave event every year were some of my most prized possessions as a kid and I was beyond proud when my brother #BruceIrons won the contest a few years back. Keala Kennelly Wiki, Biography, Age as Wikipedia. A post shared by Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) on Dec 17, 2017 at 1:56pm PST. Pure Scot Barrel Winner: Keala Kennelly, Photo by Tim McKenna. in Venice Beach and opening for Boy Eats World at the Pacifico Beer Party at the US Open in July 2016. Hemal Jhaveri. Im actually a real daddys girl. Who is Keala Kennelly dating? 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. I think I would have stopped hiding who I was sooner. A powerful wave threw her from her surf board while she was in shallow water into a coral reef. 8 talking about this. Even when we got enough girls for competitions, I still wanted to compete with the boys, too. Against that backdrop, what made you decide to come out? In 2006, Keala earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii. 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. I revered this beautiful Hawaiian man that rode these mountains of water with such style and grace. 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. )F. Video from Ken Kosada. It was like they were second-class citizens. [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. When I turned around there was just this huge set coming for me. 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? I had undiagnosed bipolar depression and was having lots of suicidal ideation at that time. I don't care what happens." Verified. 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. He has a B.A. We have no records of past relationships for Keala Kennelly. Once you got home and absorbed the news, did you connect with Clyde Aikau or the rest of the family? PEOPLE: How does that make you feel to see that? He kept calling me all these awful things at lunch, things I had never been called before. 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. THIS IS MY OFFICIAL FB PAGE RUN BY ME :) For bookings and inquires conta 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. 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. Everything that matters in surf + outdoorsdirectly to you inbox. She left that behind a decade ago, along with the hardened exterior shed cultivated since childhood. There's already such a stereotype for female athletes. When I finally came up my board was destroyed, smashed to pieces. KK: NoI dont know. I am so humbled right now. 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. Am I going to go back?" Keala is a Kauai-born surfer who turned pro at seventeen, and in time qualified for the ASP World Tour. I think the pressure of it hyperextended my knee in an unnatural way that tore a muscle - I tore this little muscle right behind my knee that attaches your calf to the back of your knee called the popliteus. Dig this slice of The Surfer's Journal? Surfing's first openly gay world champion gave a powerful speech everyone needs to hear. She resided atop the CT . When I was a little girl growing up on #Kauai I had many heros from #LairdHamilton to #TitusKinimaka #AndyIrons #BruceIrons and on and on but I had one #hero I never got to meet and that was #EddieAikau. Over the last decade Keala has played internationally at venues in Australia, France, South Africa, UK, Spain as well as domestically . PEOPLE: And one of the companies sponsoring you today is Flex. You've said that, in recent years, there was a point at which you thought about quitting professional surfing. There were 99 percent closeouts, with one percent make-able barrels. 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! But even though it was never really talked about, I felt like I was in a support group. Dyke. As appeared in Wavelength, 2021. KK: In Mexico, huge Puerto. After getting barreled, she was pushed down to Teahupoo's notoriously shallow reef and received a severe gash to the side of her face. KEALA KENNELLY, PRO SURFER. But they also had my back and it made me strong. But Kennelly who runs AKKTIVE, a women's board shorts company is used to facing obstacles and succeeding in the face of adversity. What opportunities do you see for creating community for LGBTQ+ people and folks with mental illnesses in the surfing world? On mortal fear, sexual identity, and near-death epiphanies. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, surfer DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. It made my mother sound like an awful mom who wasnt there for me. She continues to push women's surfing to new levels. Editors Note: Check out more amazing stories from fearless women in surf and outdoors on The Inertia Women. You also recently made history at another historic event, the women's Pe'ahi Challenge. Lesbian. Make sure to enable it in your browser. She is one of the few women athletes to have won event titles in both shortboard and big wave surfing events. I feel that very strongly when I surfthat Im connected to something greater or connected to everything all at once, if that make sense? While open to discussing the past, as youll see in this HEADSPACE we filmed with her last year on the North Shore, shes also ready to move forward. finishing runner up to the World Title in 2003. In 2015, she was again among the nominees. First woman to win a Big Wave Award for the year's best tube. Kennelly was first included in the Eddie in 2017 but the event didnt run. KK: Well, Im not religious. However, Kennelly says that there was intense pressure to hide who she is: between competing on tour, coping with undiagnosed bipolar depression, and being in the closet, she says, "I don't know how I survived those years.". Its like a form of entertainment for them. The media adulation and peer group deference to heroic big-wave surfers like Paige Alms, Keala Kennelly and Maya Gabeira belies the potentially lethal damage that collision with multiple stories . I finally got diagnosed three years ago. cbdMD XXL BIGGEST WAVE w/ Kai Lenny, Sebastian Steudner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjfnWhA04n4BIG WAVE Overall Performance 2020 Nominees!! KK: Surfing with all those boys in Kauai is what got me into bigger, more powerful waves. Her zodiac sign is Leo. Everything that matters in surf + outdoorsdirectly to you inbox. I feel like I am good at calculating the risks involved versus the reward, and when I feel like the risk is too high, I have no problem sitting my ass on the beach. But thats not true. 2021 Women's Ride Of The Year Kennelly Keala at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. "They made it pretty rough," she tells Bustle, but she still wanted to make and ride the biggest waves she could. Generally, she won. Kennelly turned professional at the age of 17 and soon began surfing in the World Qualifying Series (WQS). 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. They pushed me to be better in the water. Keala Kennelly was born on the 13th of August, 1978. Peter "Joli" Wilson explains just what made the 2005 Billabong Pro Tahiti such a special moment in surfing history. After I survived that experience, I let my walls down and became more open again. Big way surfer Keala Kennelly has been fighting for women . The crash was so severe that it earned Kennelly the Red Bull Big Wave Wipe Out of the Year award. [9] In 2023, she was one of the first women to compete in The Eddie. )For More Check Out:THE GNARLIEST BIG WAVE RIDES OF THE YEAR!!! First woman to win a big-wave contest. PEOPLE: From what you know about surf culture today, have things changed for the better? [13], In 2016, she won the Pure Scot Barrel of the Year Award at the XXL Big Wave Awards for getting barreled at Teahupoo, Tahiti. To this day, my father is a 60-something surf-stoked grom. April 1, 2019 1:06 pm ET. PEOPLE: Considering your experiences, do you have advice or any words of encouragement for anyone who might be nervous about coming out? 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. Growing up in Kauai, Hawaii, she didn't have the opportunity to compete in surf competitions against other girls so, she . 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. Keala Kennelly, 42, has been surfing for as long as she can remember. But especially to women. [7], She was the female 2018 Big Wave World Champion. By any measure, Keala Kennelly has achieved a slew of firsts: First woman known to have surfed Teahupo'o. Keala Kennelly joins me on March 30th, which happens to be World Bipolar Day, as we discuss the stigma around mental disorders during a critical time in our history when everyone needs access to resources in the battle against depression. Rebecca Parsons. 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. Fear helps keep you alive. On Tour, Keala charged in heavy waves like Cloudbreak and Teahupoo, where . IRVINE, Calif., July 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Keala Kennelly has redefined women's surfing. I slowly became more comfortable with myself. Video from Ken Kosada. It's not like I made some big statement I just started bringing girlfriends on tour and not introducing them as friends. Kennelly was at that event, too, although her run was cut short when a wipeout sent her to the hospital. Keala Kennelly. Andrea Moller made it two-thirds of the way down her wave before hitting a bump and cartwheeling. Everything that matters in surf + outdoorsdirectly to you inbox. Search instead in Creative? Kennelly: It makes me really happy that athletes are not having a struggle as I did. Follow. He was gonna have to start over, so Keala's mom, free spirit that she called herself, up and split. Keala Kennelly is a member of the following lists: American television actors, Actors from Hawaii and 1978 births. 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.. The Hawaiian became a professional surfer at the age of 17 and embarked on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) before reaching the elite level. Fear helps keep you alive. I spent so many years being ashamed, hiding who I am. Updated about 1 month ago. What's one thing that you think just might not be translating to potential sponsors? Kennelly: I think for me just going through life, living inauthentically was so hard, and coming out was so scary but when I actually finally did come out, it was one of the most freeing feelings in my life. She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer. 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. Im terrified of snakes! Keala Kennelly captured by Tim McKenna. I tried to be girly. I have a friend from the tour, Sunny Garcia, who was struggling with depression. 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. With her pain increasing, Kennelly eventually opted to undergo an operation on her hip last May. In the last few years Keala has had much success as the first viable female free surfer. WSL is best experienced with Javascript! 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.". Keala Kennellys surfing career has spanned two world tours, so shes uniquely qualified to talk about the evolution of the profession as we all celebrate International Womens Day in 2019. Kennelly, the first openly gay surfer to win a world surfing title, speaks with PEOPLE about that time in her life and if she believes things have changed in the years since. Slater Nebrosky, Ken Kosada, Ceshina Feliciano, Mike Nulty, Ceshina Feliciano, RedBull, Meet The Contenders For The Red Bull Big Wave Awards Women's Performer Of The Year, 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, Billy Kemper and Paige Alms Make Maui Proud, Post Show: Paige Alms Leads Bold Pack of Women at Pe'ahi. Winners of the first-ever Red Bull Magnitude have been announced and it's Keala Kennelly taking out the women's big wave event. 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. | 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. My diagnosis was another thing where I didn't think I could be open and coming out about my bipolar and my mental illness. Kealla Kennelly | USA. WSL is best experienced with Javascript! When you're backside on any wave, you're not facing the wave, so your peripheral - you can only see about 11'o'clock without completely jerking your head around. (Video by Carlo Carbajal. And not even 11-time world champion Kelly Slater could keep his jaw from dropping. 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