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March 15, 2009
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With each new generation of surfers there's that one person who's always in the spotlight -- the face that forever immortalizes that era -- Rell Sunn, Lisa Anderson, Layne Beachley and, now, Stephanie Gilmore.
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Southern California's hopeful of the '80s, Alisa Schwarzstein -- correction -- Alisa Schwarzstein Cairns (she eventually married her NSSA coach, the legendary Ian Cairns in 1996) was the Carissa Moore of her day. If you were wearing diapers, watching the Muppets, or still a cluster of cells floating though bodily fluids during the early 80s, Alisa's name might be unfamiliar to you. But to anyone who surfed in neon wetsuits, her maiden name tied your tongue back then just as much as it does now.
"We'd rent a car with a group of people and would stay at trailer parks. We wouldn't stay at fancy hotels."
-- Alisa Schwarzstein Cairns
Alisa blazed to stardom when she dominated the NSSA for a couple years, then went on to become a world amateur champion in 1980 -- all of this by the age of 15. But she owes it all to her dad who, then a lawyer in Manhattan, packed up his family upon first seeing Southern California and moved to Laguna Beach. The Schwarzsteins rented a house on Thalia Street. "That was the first time I saw surfing and I just knew that I wanted to be a surfer," says Alisa of her nine-year-old self. "After that it was just non-stop." From the NSSA, her transition to professional status in 1984 was seamless. That year, Alisa was crowned ASP Rookie of the Year. Her top result was fourth in the world in 1986 and she remained in the top eight for about four years. "They didn't have the women's [clothing] lines and all that stuff," Alisa says of pro surfing back then. "We flew all over the world and would just try to do it as cheap as possible. We'd rent a car with a group of people and would stay at trailer parks. We wouldn't stay at fancy hotels." "But some of us were fortunate to get support," she continues. Her salary from the non-endemic Sunset Beach Swimwear, along with O'Neill wetsuits, a few accessory sponsors and photo incentive paid her way. Sure, traveling the world sounds like a sick life, but try doing it on a shoestring budget, staying in random places and then trying to surf your best. It isn't exactly easy. While selflessness is an attribute sometimes rare among pro surfers who are forced to be so "me"-oriented, Alisa's career wasn't all about her. Women were competing in the same events as the guys, but unsurprisingly, equal treatment wasn't exactly the first thing on the ASP's mind at the time. So in an era when the men would have happily let women's surfing slide by unoticed, Alisa served on the ASP board for ten years alongside Debbie Beacham. "It was their dedication, persistence and political skill that helped grow the sport," Ian Cairns recalls of his wife. So now that women's surfing has shot into its future, where's Alisa? She and Ian have their hands full raising twin boys in Laguna Beach, just blocks from Alisa's parents' house. Today, their home is loaded with stacks and stacks of surf memorabilia both, Ian's and from Alisa's dad, who'd collected so many clippings from all his daughters' successes over the years. Ian still coaches surfing and is starting up an organic products company, while Alisa's coaching for the Laguna Beach High School surf team and, on the side, helping young competitors like 16-year-old US Surf Team Member and NSSA up-shot Taylor Pitz, as well as 12-year-old Leah Pakpour, develop their competitive skills. These two young Laguna Beach girls couldn't have found a better coach or inspiration than former pro surfer Alisa Schwarzstein Carins. MORE WOMENS SURFLINE HOME PAGE |