Shes also a big advocate for equality in surfing and has been leading the fight for equal pay and the inclusion of women in more events. She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer. Its not me. KK: Yeah, I was 17. She continues to push women's surfing to new levels. It totally crushed me and I was held under for two waves. 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. 1,608 posts. There's already such a stereotype for female athletes. Even when I took that first set on the head, and I was like, 'Yeah, awesome. The sharp smell of disinfectant hangs in the air, washing out the odor seeping from the buckets of dark fluid she saw in the hallway when the nurses rushed her into theatre. There were 99 percent closeouts, with one percent make-able barrels. Paige Alms got obliterated by a warping mass of water. So when I got on the tour, I was so freaking nervous because I inherently knew I was gay. I didn't want to win only when it was easy I wanted to win when it was a real challenge. You forget all the BS and the stuff you don't like. But I just got to a point, toward the end of my time on tour, where I said, "I can't do this anymore. It was there, while on top of a 50 . Kennelly has both been nominated for and won numerous big wave awards. Afterward, Keala shared the graphic picture with fans, showing a gash on her upper cheek that extended nearly to the bone. in Venice Beach and opening for Boy Eats World at the Pacifico Beer Party at the US Open in July 2016. Keala Kennelly. 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. Keala Kennelly and Malia Manuel paddled out for a sunset spritz. A video posted by Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) on Jul 25, 2015 at 2:47pm PDT. KK: Yeah, but its funny. 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. Heats on demand, event highlights and exclusive interviews, right here on the WSL's Youtube channel.For More Visit: http://www.worldsurfleague.com/Like the WSL on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wslFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wslFollow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/wslFor Content Licensing Inquiries Please Visit https://www.imgreplay.com/client/world_surf_league 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. [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 is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. If I didnt go back and face my fears I would never get to experience that feeling again for the rest of my life. I thought it was maybe 6- or 8-foot but it was more like 15! She is now pursuing careers as a DJ . Fear helps keep you alive. Andrea Moller made it two-thirds of the way down her wave before hitting a bump and cartwheeling. Video from Ken Kosada. To have fear is to know that there are severe consequences. As of 2022, Keala Kennelly is possibly single. Things are changing fast and getting better for everybody, not just women. 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." KK: I was terrified somebody would find out about my dirty little secret and I would be an outcast. I just wanted to prove them wrong and I wanted to prove to myself that I could. On 12/21/2017 NICOLLE DESANTO filed a Personal Injury - Motor Vehicle lawsuit against LYELL KEALA KENNELLY. On mortal fear, sexual identity, and near-death epiphanies. Kennelly is currently competing in Red Bull Sport's Magnitude, the first womens-only big wave contest across Hawaii. 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. Follow your favorites and never miss a wave. [9] In 2023, she was one of the first women to compete in The Eddie. WSL is best experienced with Javascript! ', This was the start of a whole new chapter. The WSLs made a better environment but athletes are still just scared to lose their sponsors.. He still loves surfing more than anything in the world, and he passed that love on to my brothers and me. 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. Over the course of my life and career, Ive had a lot of people tell me what I can and cant do because Im a woman. [7], She was the female 2018 Big Wave World Champion. His parents split when he was 13. My entire family surfed. Jan 27th, 2023. I revered this beautiful Hawaiian man that rode these mountains of water with such style and grace. Help us build our profile of Keala Kennelly! Against that backdrop, what made you decide to come out? She is one of the few women athletes to have won event titles in both shortboard and big wave surfing events. It got to a point where I didn't care what the cost was, I couldn't live like this. By any measure, Keala Kennelly has achieved a slew of firsts: First woman known to have surfed Teahupo'o. Fear is good. But shell also be the first to tell you there was a time when she wasnt so unapologetically KK., Being gays not a choice, pretending to be straight to save my career was, she says today. The women are returning to Teahupo'o for the first time since 2006 this is going to be good! All you backsiders out here, KK just got a barrel that shit on all your faces! Then he paddled off, laughing to himself. Otherwise, I haven't seen a lot of LGBT communities within the surfing world. Lesbian. Shes also undoubtedly a big part of why the sport has changed, offering equal opportunities for all. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is one such event and today, Kennelly will paddle out alongside five other women to compete in the event for the first time. His mother was a house cleaner, and his father was a longshoreman. [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. PEOPLE: Considering your experiences, do you have advice or any words of encouragement for anyone who might be nervous about coming out? To have fear is to know that there are severe consequences. Not just to women, but to men as well. My sponsors kind of knew, but we didnt talk about it. My diagnosis was another thing where I didn't think I could be open and coming out about my bipolar and my mental illness. I tried to be girly. In 2015, she was again among the nominees. I had to close myself off in order to protect myself, which goes against my nature because Im generally a very open person. Browse 272 keala kennelly photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. Discover Keala Kennelly's Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. "There's . It took me a year to build up the courage to surf it again. Keala was born in Honolulu, the capital and largest city of Hawaii. The Surfers Journal is made possible with sponsorship from: Tel: 949-361-0331 Keala Kennelly was born on August 13, 1978 in Kauai, Hawaii, USA. He said: Surfer Keala Kennelly attends the 10th Annual XXL Billabong Big Wave Awards at Grove Theater on April 23, 2010 in Anaheim, California. I liked to push myself, and I liked being challenged. KK: Well, Kapaa High was infamous for being a rough school. My last few years on tour everyone pretty much knew I was gay. 8 talking about this. 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. Then, Keala took a break from surfing to pursue acting. 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? 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. The Big Wave World Champion and Former Championship Tour Surfer also dives deep on the importance of women's events at waves of consequence. Keala Kennelly. But the feeling when you get spit out of a giant barrel at Chopes is like nothing else. #KKWouldGo! Hemal Jhaveri. Good luck tonight LaLa at the Surfer Poll Awards. And, probably, the first former Championship Tour (CT) surfer ever to star in an HBO series. 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. Surfer Keala Kennelly attends the 10th Annual XXL Billabong Big Wave Awards at Grove Theater on April 23, 2010 in Anaheim, California. It was just to prove that women could do it. finishing runner up to the World Title in 2003. Menu. Dig this slice of The Surfer's Journal? PEOPLE: After doing that, did you feel the surfing community eventually embraced you? I lived on pins and needles, trying not to get outed all the time. "They made it pretty rough," she tells Bustle, but she still wanted to make and ride the biggest waves she could. After a heroic performance at The Eddie, Keala Kennelly faces a painful reality. But none turned our heads like Moana Jones and Tatiana Weston-Webb, who could be seen (and presumably heard) upbraiding one another after getting their swords tangled this evening. Keala is a Kauai-born surfer who turned pro at seventeen, and in time qualified for the ASP World Tour. Photo: Keoki Saguibo. Keala Kennelly: Yeah, I remember that [article]. Kennelly no longer competes on the tour. I think I could have made a lot more money if Id stayed in the closet and played the game longer. The Big Wave World Champion and Former Championship Tour Surfer also dives deep on the importance of women's events at waves of consequence. Growing up in Kauai, Hawaii, she didn't have the opportunity to compete in surf competitions against other girls so, she . Kennelly is fully qualified to participate as she, and many other female surfers, have been arguing for years. He said that I shouldn't be afraid of asking for help. 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. It was hard at times being the only girl with all these tough boys around. I'm just a really honest person, I'm a really genuine, authentic person. I slowly became more comfortable with myself. I didnt like the odds. KK: Loosing the people I love the most, dying before I have accomplished everything I want. I thought it was rad! 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." Keala Kennelly's surfing career has spanned two world tours, so she's uniquely qualified to talk about the evolution of the profession as we all celebrate International Women's Day in 2019. "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.". 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. 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. 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. THIS IS MY OFFICIAL FB PAGE RUN BY ME :) For bookings and inquires conta Keala Kennelly captured by Tim McKenna. 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. What's missing? As a woman, and as a first, I can't even put into words what a huge honor that is. Link copied to clipboard. A few years ago I was surfing in Morea with my brother Gavin and a few boys from Oahu and Kauai. I grew up on the beach playing in the ocean with my two brothers and all the neighbourhood boys including the Irons brothers, Dustin Barca, Danny Fuller, Kamalei Alexander. There are six women nominated for the prestigious Performer of the Year award at the 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards, here's their stories. 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. I came from a very loving, very supportive family. I paddled for a smaller wave but it didnt even break. 2021 Women's Performer Of The Year Nominees. [15] Keala Kennelly was born on August 13, 1978 (age 44) in Hawaii, United States.According to numerology, Keala Kennelly's Life Path Number is 1. Passion. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Stanley Mosk Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. . "I beat all the best men in the world to win the wipeout of the year," she says while laughing. Transsexual. It was there, while on top of a 50 . But I was stoked, I was feeling really confident. Kennelly began a string of successful visits to Teahupoo, Tahiti in 1998 when she won the Gotcha Black Pearl Women's Pro. What was your take on the experience? [The Wavelength Drive-In Cinema is back for 2021, bringing you a range of surf cinema, cult classics and family favourites from the clifftops of Cornwall, including two screenings of Blue Crush on the 18th of July and the 7th of August. raised in the beautiful Hawaiian islands, Keala is one of the best female. Behind The Scenes On Blue Crush With Keala Kennelly. Pure Scot Barrel Winner: Keala Kennelly, Photo by Tim McKenna. Keala Kennelly won The Billabong Pro in 2002. The whole thing scared the shit out of me. She would inspire future legends like Bianca . That was later, in 2011. I would have loved it if it had been a little less windy. Keala Kennelly is an incredible surfer. So what is it that keeps you going? I think about death a lot. Video from Ken Kosada. and more from FamousFix.com. It felt like I was trying to be something I was not and I didnt like the way that felt. It's likely a handful of other women tried their luck throughout the day. 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. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Growing up in Kauai, Hawaii, she didn't have the opportunity to compete in surf competitions against other girls so, she took on the guys starting at age 7. Anna Dimond. For some reason the kids in Kauai are really hard on each other. I slowly started to love and accept myself as a gay person. Following her role on John from Cincinnati in 2007, Kennelly began touring the world to pursue her music career as a DJ. 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. I didnt come flying out of the closet swinging rainbow flags in the air. Keala Kennelly, 42, has been surfing for as long as she can remember. 2021 Women's Biggest Paddle Nominee: Keala Kennelly at Himalayas on December 2, 2020. So, it's worth it. 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.". Generally, she won. 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. I'd already come out as a lesbian, and then I had to have a second coming out as a mentally ill person? like. PEOPLE: How does that make you feel to see that? Keala Kennelly, going where no women have gone before. Everything that matters in surf + outdoorsdirectly to you inbox. WSL is best experienced with Javascript! Her aggressive approach to catching waves was inspired by her upbringing, surfing with legends like Andy and Bruce Irons and Laird Hamilton in Kauai. To be fearless is to be ignorant to those consequences, and that is very dangerous. So I had to endure a lot of teasing and put-downs, especially if I beat any of them in a contest. My name is Keala Kennelly and this is my website. She has also become an outspoken feminist and activist for the LGBT community, a world away from the cloistered surf industry. Keala came home from school one day and there was a "Dear John" letter for her on the bed. And yet, it wasn't the easiest of days for you, and you left with an injury. Its not always easy straddling the divide. It saved my ligament from tearing which kept me off the surgeon's table, but poor muscles take a while to heal too. I would just kind of say, "This is my girlfriend, deal with it." What opportunities do you see for creating community for LGBTQ+ people and folks with mental illnesses in the surfing world? Kennelly was rushed to the hospital where she reportedly received 40 stitches, 30 in the front and 10 in the skull, SurferToday.com reported . The 35-year-old Kennelly suffered a severe injury to her face while competing in Teahupoo, Tahiti, 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. Keala Kennelly is a 44 year old American Surfer born on 13th August, 1978 in Kauai, Hawaii, USA. So, that was just, it gave me a reason to leave the tour. She shares a variety of her . A post shared by Keala Kennelly (@kealakennelly) on Dec 17, 2017 at 1:56pm PST. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #kennelly, #kellyskennel . Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. 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. 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. Keala Kennelly's age is 44. The events have improved, there is a lot more prize money now and . A doctor explains in broken English that they need to operate immediately, before its too late, and she starts sobbing. Search instead in Creative? I saw the way lesbians, or just presumed lesbians were treated on tour, and it was terrible. Later that same year (2016) she was nominated for an ESPY Award.[16]. planet. You also recently made history at another historic event, the women's Pe'ahi Challenge. KK: Yeah. WSL: Did you know that you were going to be named as an alternate in the Eddie? When Keala Kennelly (43) began to surf professionally at the age of 17, she was one of the few female surfers to make a mark in big-wave surfing. I feel like my contributions to the sport have made some positive changes, not just in terms of women getting more events and equal prize money pay, but also in terms of people coming out. Thats always pushed me harder, to prove them wrong and try to be better. Updated about 1 month ago. factors that led to the formation of legco in uganda / does mezcal with worm go bad / eddie aikau trophy It was around 2005 when Kennelly conquered her fears by coming out as gay to her surfing peers. It took her finding other gay surfers to realize she could be open about her sexuality and be a pro surfer. "They say a picture is worth a thousand words. 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]. Kennelly was first included in the Eddie in 2017 but the event didnt run. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, surfer DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. KK: It did. Browse the full lineup and get your ticket here. )For More Check Out:THE GNARLIEST BIG WAVE RIDES OF THE YEAR!!! 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. 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. Red Bull Big Wave Awards - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiIKBNXY-F0THE BIGGEST WAVES SURFED IN 2020!! It's not like I made some big statement I just started bringing girlfriends on tour and not introducing them as friends. She is now pursuing careers as a DJ and actress while . Light / Dark. It was pretty much all Brian Kennelly had. If anything, I think it would be the opposite. 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. secluded - kennelly stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images . KK: I believe it has. 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. 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. PEOPLE: From what you know about surf culture today, have things changed for the better? Things have improved a lot for the Women's Tour. It took me two years to go back after that. In the above video, Kennelly nabs a 2013 Jaws bomb, showing she can hold her own in waves of consequence. Somewhere inside her, the worm-shaped organ known as the appendix has ruptured and is leaking toxic bile onto her vital organs, causing her to vomit out black liquid. But this winter, Kennelly achieved yet another first: She was invited to the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau as an alternate. What do we tell our daughters right now? The sharp smell of disinfectant hangs in the air, washing out the odor seeping from the buckets of dark fluid she saw in the hallway when the nurses rushed her into theatre. 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. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Here, surfing world champion Keala Kennelly discusses coming out as a lesbian and fighting stigma against mental illness in the surfing world. 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. Hopefully, her story saves a future CT athlete, man or woman, from pretending to be something theyre not. In the last few years Keala has had much success as the first viable female free surfer. Dont get me wrong. We were always trying to outdo each other, go bigger. 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. 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. 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. Despite her packed resume of badass wins and awards, Kennelly is very clear that as a 43-year-old competing against 20-somethings, she's keeping her expectations in check for the tour. In 2006, Keala earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii. Her zodiac sign is Leo. Keala Kennelly (born August 13, 1978) is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. People: from what you know about surf culture today, have been arguing for years 7 ] she... Like, 'Yeah, awesome money if Id stayed in the world win!, to prove to myself that I could n't live like this and folks with mental illnesses in the few! Totally crushed me and I was like, 'Yeah, awesome it gave me a reason leave! 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