"When I was a little girl," said Keala Kennelly, accepting her award for Barrel of the Year, "I kept getting told I couldn't do things because I was a girl. I was told that women can't surf. That women can't get barreled. That they can't surf Pipeline or paddle into Jaws…"
Big ole check for a big ole tube. Hats off to Keala's Barrel of the Year award. - WSL
Indeed, the wave was frightening. Massive, gaping, deadly Teahupo'o. The size you could fit a semi truck in. But a semi truck was not in the tube: Keala Kennelly was. And not on the shoulder, not outrunning the lip, but deep inside that monstrous cavern.
The wave that would make anyone cry. - WSL / Brent Bielmann
In a true milestone moment for women's pro surfing, Keala was not only nominated, but won the Barrel of the Year Award at the Big Wave Awards, outclassing big wave chargers like Greg Long, Ian Walsh and Mark Matthews in the same category.
Best female big wave surfer of 2013.
Kennelly continued, "So who I really want to thank is everyone who told me 'you can't do that' because you're a woman, because that drove me to dedicate my life to proving you wrong. And it's been so damn fun."
Certainly, it has.
Story Makers of 2016: Keala Kennelly's Massive Moment
WSL
"When I was a little girl," said Keala Kennelly, accepting her award for Barrel of the Year, "I kept getting told I couldn't do things because I was a girl. I was told that women can't surf. That women can't get barreled. That they can't surf Pipeline or paddle into Jaws…"
Indeed, the wave was frightening. Massive, gaping, deadly Teahupo'o. The size you could fit a semi truck in. But a semi truck was not in the tube: Keala Kennelly was. And not on the shoulder, not outrunning the lip, but deep inside that monstrous cavern.
In a true milestone moment for women's pro surfing, Keala was not only nominated, but won the Barrel of the Year Award at the Big Wave Awards, outclassing big wave chargers like Greg Long, Ian Walsh and Mark Matthews in the same category.
Kennelly continued, "So who I really want to thank is everyone who told me 'you can't do that' because you're a woman, because that drove me to dedicate my life to proving you wrong. And it's been so damn fun."
Certainly, it has.
Keala Kennelly
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 Winter saw the women charging on the North Shore, a Championship Tour event at Pipe and the crowning of a female Triple Crown champ.
From huge barrels to massive drops, for a handful of other women at Jaws on January 16, it was just the moment they've been waiting for.
Big Wave Award paddle week, Keala Kennelly breaks down her Wipeout of the Year, and Sky Brown heroically back on a surfboard.
Getting ready for the Countdown Series events in Australia, Carissa Moore on the women's return to Teahupo'o and BWA Wipeout Week.
News
With Finals Days set, top seeds Ferreira, Florence and Wright all came up short on a fierce day of action in New South Wales.
The surfer from Reunion Island once again rose to the occasion, dropping an excellent score to turn the heat and book a spot in the
The Brazilian attacks the perfect Narrabeen left and eliminates Nikki Van Dijk to book a spot in the Quarterfinals.
The Sunshine Coast wildcard goes above the lip and shows why he's one of the best in the world securing a spot in the Round of 16 at
Season 2, Episode 4
Check out his self-shaped step-up, collection of trophies, family-made art, and a tour of his home break of Narrabeen.