Westbound Boarder

Wow.  It’s hard to believe that it has been more than a year since we published our first post on Westbound Boarder.  My how time flies!  2009 was an extremely busy, but great year, and we’d like to thank all of you for stopping by our blog.  We hope you’ve enjoyed reading!

In case you’re new to our blog, or simply just want to refresh your memory, here is a list of our most popular posts from 2009:

• Spotlight Female: Kimi Werner, National Spearfishing Champion
• Skimboarding, The ‘Shore’ Kind of Fun
• Windells – The Funnest Place on Earth!
• Get Those Ladies Off Yo’ Board!
• Westbound’s Guide To Sk8board Tricks
• Surfing: Longboard vs. Shortboard
• Resort Review: Vail, CO
• Saturday Shop Review – Val Surf
• Featured Female: Chanel aka CC
• Snowboard Buyer’s Guide: First Things First
• Safety First!
• ‘SUP With Your Board?

We’re excited to bring you more in 2010 and beyond!

(Note: If you would like to be a guest blogger or contributor, we welcome any and all female voices in the action sports industry!  Contact us at westboundboarder@gmail.com)

Yes folks, they aren’t kidding when they say there’s literally a sport for everything.  This Thursday, the National Spearfishing championship comes to Malibu, and Kimi Werner, 2008 defending champion, will be competing for national title number two.  Kimi has an awesome story to share, as she has paved waves in this sport in such a short amount of time.

What does spearfishing have to do with board sports?  Absolutely nothing, but we do love to feature women who do exceptional things in the sporting industry, and Kimi trumps on that one.  We caught up with Kimi this week to ask her a few questions on her successes as a female in spearfishing, as well as… what is heck IS spearfisging?! (Note: It’s pretty dang cool).  Fore more info. about the national spearfishing championships and how YOU can watch, too, check out their Web site: http://www.nationals09.com

Tell us a little bit about spearfishing. How did you get involved? What is your background in the sport?

Spearfishing is a wonderful way of life. To me it’s therapy, exercise and a sustainable way of living. I got involved with spearfishing by tagging along with my father at the age of 4 on Maui. I loved requesting my favorite fish for dinner and watching in delight as he fetched it for me. I was always a content tagalong and didn’t learn to spear fish on my own until adulthood. It happened 4 years ago when I realized that I missed that part of my life spent in the ocean and I sought out people to teach me to dive and spear fish. I live on an island away from my dad, but was lucky enough to find help from past national competitors, Kalehi Fernandez, Gavin Sato, and 1999 national champion, Wayde Hayashi. They all saw potential in me and immediately took me under their wings and taught me the ropes of diving. Since then, it has been a whirlwind of fun as wonderful opportunities and accomplishments have come my way. Now with support of Hawaii’s people and companies like Primo beer, there are more things possible in this sport than I could have ever imagined. The support that I have received is amazing and it truly takes spearfishing to a higher level and supports an important part of Hawaii’s culture.

What is your training schedule like?

Right now we (Team Hawaii) are training here in California. We wake up at 5am and have breakfast together, usually eating oatmeal. Then we’re out the door with our kayaks and dive gear. We paddle several miles and scout for good grounds, trying to make ourselves familiar with the foreign waters and acclimated to the different climate. We dive for about 6 hours and then head home to rinse gear and have dinner. We’ve been repeating that routine daily.
Are there any dangers that come along with the sport?

There are definitely dangers that come with the sport. Shallow water black out is by far the scariest. We lose many divers to this every year, and that’s why it’s so important to dive safely and always have a partner.
What is the weirdest/strangest/funniest thing you have ever experienced while spearfishing?

I’d have to say seeing a molamola up close. Last year while diving in Rhode Island and scouting for nationals, I saw a huge dorsal fin sticking out of the water. I approached it with caution, not knowing if it was a shark. Once I saw it’s weird and “ugly-cute” face I was so stoked. They are such strange looking creatures and I felt so lucky to have that encounter. I had previously only seen molamolas on National Geographic, and I had always found them to be funny looking and beautiful at the same time.
After winning the 2008 Women’s National Champion title, you were named “Rookie of the Year.” What did it feel like to win a national title after only four years of participating in the sport?

I think I had only been participating in the sport for three years, and the feeling was truly amazing. It was a moment where I was completely overwhelmed with gratitude for every single person that believed in me. I also just felt like my whole life made sense. I was a swimmer in high school, but lacked the passion for it. I then joined canoe paddling and enjoyed it very much for many years. But diving….that’s something all of its own to me. That’s what made it all come together. I realized that everything in my life had led up to that moment.

What is it like being a female participating in a highly male-dominated sport, and how have you been able to overcome the challenge?

You know, I get asked that question a lot. But to tell you the truth, I have hardly had any challenges due to being a female in a male-dominated sport. Hawaii’s diving community is a wonderful one. I was embraced immediately and have always been treated equally. The same thing goes with my sponsors and partners. The Primo team has shown me nothing but support. They believe in celebrating and supporting the ocean community, regardless of being male or female.

What advice would you give to women in similar positions?

Just go for whatever you want in life. Don’t be afraid to dream big! Big dreams are fun to grow into and there’s just many life adventures that you can experience along the way. Do what you love and do it wholeheartedly.