Who is that inspires you to surf?  Who was it that pushed you to start, to surf better and to try new techniques?  We all have a list of surfers who encouraged us to surf and inspired us to travel further afield on our surf holidays.  So to help energize you in your surfing journey here's our list of inspiring surfers that help us find out motivation...
 
The Boys:


 
  • Kelly Slater- or otherwise now known as King ‘Ke11y' since he won his 11th world championship title.  There are few surfers out there who have done more for surfing around the globe.
  • Eddie Aikau- one of the first Hawaiian north shore lifeguards, Eddie was a phenomenal big wave surfer who gave his life in order to go for help when a traditional Polynesian boat and its sailors went down in the 70s.
  • Laird Hamilton- regardless of what board you put Laird on, he rocks it.  Pioneering big wave rider, SUP boardman, windsurfer and general walking human fish... Laird takes on the craziest of swells and waves.
  • Rasta- champion for the ocean, Rasta free surfs around the planet, and in response to the needs out there, campaigns for cleaner oceans and protections for its creatures.
  • Mick Fanning- even when some of the worst things happen to you, Mick should that you can over come it all and thrive.  He lost one of his brothers to a car accident when he was only 16 years old, and when he was in his early 20s, he suffered a horrible wipeout.  Mick had to have his leg muscle grappled back onto his bone.  Yet since then he has gone on to win two world titles.
  • Jamie O'Brien- ever seen ‘Job' in the barrel?  Jamie is one of the most fearless surfers out there.  Dropping into 20ft+ pipeline is what he lives for, and makes it look as effortless as a 3 foot wave at Waikiki.
 
The Girls:




  • Layne Beachley- few women have done more for the sport of surfing than Layne.  7 world titles, hosts her own world tour contest each year and is still an ambassador for the sport.
  • Lisa Andersen- carving a powerful path in the women's surf world with world title wins and a competitive approach, Lisa changed expectations of what it meant to be a female surfer.  You could be strong, feminine and competitive without being called ‘butch' for the first time.
  • Kassia Meador- dancing on a longboard seems effortless to Kassia, but she has brought beauty and recognition to longboarding globally.
  • Maya Gabeira- if anyone ever thought big wave riding was for men only, think again. Maya has revolutionized the sport of tow-in surfing for women, taking on some of the biggest waves ever ridden... just ask Billabong at their XXL awards. Maya's won the Billabong Girls Best Overall Performance Award 4 years straight.