“I think the key to happiness is being happy with yourself.” Sage words from 19-year-old Kloee Openshaw – an up-and-comer on the female surf scene.
When we met on the other side of the pier at the Supergirl Pro in Oceanside, I wasn’t sure what to expect. She seemed nervous. I was nervous. But the conversation quickly turned into one about doing good, and being lucky to live the life we lead with the ability to get in the water each and every day.
It’s funny. Especially in Southern California, it’s often easy to complain about surfing – the crowds, the wave quality (ironic because it’s really consistent, though not always perfect), etc., etc. But when it comes down to it, having the ability to play in the ocean with any sort of frequency is pretty special. Kloee reminded me of that.
Over the course of the conversation she talked about how she believes social media is a platform that’s empowering women’s surfing. “I think social media supports women and the beauty of the sport,” she says. She’s got almost 2.9 thousand followers on Instagram.
She also told me about her passion to help others and share the stoke. I asked her about those times in life she feels the most joy. “When I push kids into waves for the first time and see the smiles on their faces,” she said. More than a good surfer, Kloee’s a good human. And that’s rad.
