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THE SUN ALSO RISES
Keala Kennelly announces her break from the 2007 WCT
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December 15, 2006
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Keala Kennelly is probably one of the most well-known icons in surfing.
She's been on the WCT since 2000 but it's her accomplishments as a freesurfer and personality that's made her into the symbol she is today.
Earlier this week, Keala officially announced her decision to take a sabbatical from the ASP competition scene in 2007. For most pros, a departure from the WCT would mean career suicide. But for KK, this break is merely a way for her to grow her name through things like big-wave expeditions and acting in an HBO series. |
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Previous
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Before her recent second place finish at the 2006 Billabong Pro Maui, she wasn't even going to requalify for the 2007 WCT, but she wasn't worried about it. After all, Keala isn't exactly starving for talent and she's hardly a wallflower. And then there's the fact that she towed into the biggest wave ever ridden by a woman at Teahupoo in 2005-- not a record she was aiming to break, but still a glimpse of what the girl can do. ASP's Melissa Buckley caught up with KK just minutes after taking second place in the last event on the women's '06 WCT and final jewel of the Vans Triple Crown, the Billabong Pro Maui. Melissa Buckley: You just barely missed out on that title. What a bomb there, at the end! Keala: Yeah, just inches away from a ten and claiming the whole thing -- I'm kind of a big deal...I reek of champagne [laughs]. "I think my best surfing comes out when I don't have the pressure of a time limit or being judged. I think when you put those restraints on me it really cuts of my ability to be creative and in the moment."
-- Keala Kennelly
So what happened? You looked like you were maybe gonna come out of that one? I was standing up to celebrate already and maybe I got clipped in the head. But I mean, if I was gonna lose, I was gonna lose trying to get a ten. I'm lucky that bomb came right at the end and I was able to get into it and if I would've come out of that thing, it would've been amazing but I had an amazing event and what a great way to end the year, you know? The end of the year and maybe a little break from the ASP? Yeah, a little hiatus. Why don't you let us know what you're doing? Oh, I'm gonna be working on a T.V. series on HBO. I got a part as a season regular on a show called John from Cincinnati and I think it's going to be amazing for me and I think it's going to be amazing for women's surfing -- just to get more of a mainstream audience interested back in the sport. And when I'm not shooting for HBO, I'm going to be doing adventure division stuff for Billabong -- Shane Dorian type of stuff -- flying around to the best waves in the world and doing photo trips and not really worrying about contests. I think that's gonna be really good for me. I think my best surfing comes out when I don't have the pressure of a time limit or being judged. I think when you put those restraints on me it really cuts of my ability to be creative and in the moment. I'm really excited. What's a quick synopsis of what it's been like for you, traveling around the world, surfing the best waves with all your buddies? Oh, I mean, it's been a dream life. I'm gonna miss it a lot, especially all my friends on tour. It's been an amazing run but I'm going to do a few surprise appearances. I can't be away from here for too long. Sixteen hour days -- that's going to be a big change for me but I'm trying to do great things so I'm going where the universe takes me right now. Well it was such a pleasure to watch you here at the Billabong Pro Maui, charging barrels, getting gnarly and almost taking out the win. Thanks a lot, KK. No problem. MORE WOMENS SURFLINE HOME PAGE |
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