London Foster
Staff Writer
Mira Costa freshman, Kyra Williams, an up-and-coming young surfer, is making a huge splash in the surfing industry as she begins her high school surfing career.
Williams first began surfing at the age of 5 when her father taught her during a family trip to Hawaii. She began competing seriously as a seventh grader.
“I first realized surfing was what I wanted to do when I went to Fiji for the first time,” Williams said. “That was the first time I got to surf in huge, amazing surf.”
Companies started to take notice of Williams soon after she began competing in seventh grade. Spyder Surfboards sponsored her when she was twelve, and now she is also sponsored by Modom, a surf brand, and Girl is Not a 4 Letter Word, a surf and skateboard brand that promotes awareness for female athletes.
We started sponsoring Kyra over a year ago, when we heard about her locally. We knew she was a rad surfer and did more than just compete,” Girl is Not a 4 Letter Word founder Cindy Whitehead said. “She also skateboards which was an added plus for us in having her on the Girl is Not a 4 Letter Word team. Kyra also has the same philosophy we have here with our brand – that girls can do anything, and she is also someone who encourages other girls as well. That’s extremely important to us.”
Williams’ sponsorships benefit both her and the companies. It gives the companies the opportunity to advertise their apparel while she surfs and in return Williams receives free merchandise as well as discounted products.
“We flow Kyra product; skateboards, and apparel of course, but most importantly we are here to promote her on our social media channels, and any other media outlets,” Whitehead said. “Now other girls can see that she is out there pursuing her passion and encourage them to do the same.”
Williams competes in surf contests most weekends. She competes in amateur surfing competitions through National Scholastic Surfing Association, Surfing America Prime, the South Bay Boardriders club in addition to school competitions.
“I hope to compete all throughout high school,” Williams said. “I love competing I want to keep on doing well and continuously getting better.
Williams attended her first varsity high school competition, The Kick Off Classic, on Oct. 24, with the Costa surf team. William’s won first place in girls’ varsity shortboard despite the fact that it was her first varsity high school competition.
“She’s improved so much because she really loves surfing, nobody has to push her, she is just motivated because she loves being out there,” Williams’ father Mark Williams said. “It’s a lot easier to get better at something you love.”
Williams is a member of Costa’s award winning surf team and her involvement with the team has brought her surfing to a new level. With the current surf season, Williams is surfing with the team in order to prepare for upcoming competitions.
“Kyra is really into surfing and being part of the team,” Williams’ teammate Amelie Vergnolle said. “She’s really dedicated and her background in competitive surfing makes her a huge asset to the team as she pushes all of us to try a lot harder and surf our best.”
Williams hopes to continue surfing and someday surf for the University of California, Santa Barbara surf team. She also hopes to keep surfing and improving for the rest of her life.
“My favorite part of surfing is being able to travel all around the world and surf amazing waves,” Williams said. “I love being in the water and having a great time doing what I love.”
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