Who was the queen of surf? Rell Sunn

Rell Sunn is one of the earliest and the most famous female professional surfers in the world. Sunn is known to have defied the macho image during his time surfing. He navigated his way through gender barriers in the world of surfing, riding waves with fellow contemporaries male surf and even beat them at their own game.

Sunn is the epitome of true Aloha spirit. Maybe it was fate that brought her into the sea as his middle name Kapolioka `Ehukai means" heart of the sea ". His grace in the water, he earns the title "Queen of Surfing".

Early Life

Rell Sunn was born on 31 July 1950 in Makaha, Oahu, Hawaii being the fourth among the 5 children. She has a lineage unique Hawaiian-Irish and Irish mother Roan his father Elbert.

Because his house was near the sea, the surf began at an early age of 4 in 1954. What inspired most of his interest in surfing is when she was able to get a taste of international surfing competition in the mid-1950s when surfers from around the world gathered at Makaha.

Training and Achievements

At the age of 14 in 1964, he joined his first ever competition surfing. Since there was no category for women, however, that competed with with children and beat them all the way to the top. He continued to compete in the category of men until the women's category was created later.

In 1976, he founded the Menehune ( "Little People") Surfing Championships. Now, is the largest surfing competition for young people in the world levels.

Sunn surfer fought as a young woman amid the male-dominated sport. So in 1979, was co-founder of the Women's Professional Surfing Association along with other women Surfing Champs to give women a voice in the professional surfing community. South Africa has soared by an incident surf competition, where she and her colleagues spent surfing almost $ 2,000 to get there, only to discover that the prize for women was only $ 300 compared to the increased participation in the division of men.

Sunn was a child of the oceans and woman of all water. In his hometown of Makaha, expert learned to swim, dive and canoe. His talent in the water, became the first female lifeguard in Hawaii in 1977. Because she was a woman, at times, would be derided by men who are saved.

In 1982, when, finally, International Classification professional surfing for women was established Sunn classification led the International Surfing Association for women surfers.

The battle with breast cancer

In the same year, while she was in California during a professional tour, she noticed a lump Chest. In 1983, a year after world No. 1 ranking, was diagnosed with breast cancer and the prognosis for only one year. At that time, had Sunn only 32 years old and at the peak of his career.

Sunn spent the next 14 years of his life battling cancer in remission three times. She also suffered a series of transactions, including bone marrow transplantation. What most horrified when she had to undergo a mastectomy. He said sadly that they I could never wear a bathing suit because, as it is the ordinary everyday use of Hawaii.

Cancer did not stop her mind as she engaged in other activities different surf surf how to become a journalist, radio presenter, a physical therapist in a care home Wai'anae and an adviser to the Wai'anae Cancer Research Center, disseminating knowledge about breast cancer.

The death and internment

Power From 1998, New Year's Day, his family and friends took her to the shore in Makaha to take their last look at sea, his second home. She believed in the idea of Hawaii Auma Kua, that any person who has died of water pass form part of the ocean. The day after, 2 January 1998, Sunn died at the age of 37, leaving his only daughter, Jan.

At the memorial service, Thousands of people flocked to the beach. His friends brought water and sand from around the world and scattered with his ashes in the water where people will always find it. One hundred surfers after the service had their boards and ride the waves as a tribute to Sunn.

Awards and honors

Sunn is most famous for being the first surfer rank no. 1 at the International Women surf in the world. In August 1996, Sunn was one of the five women included in the Surfing Walk of Fame Huntington Beach, California. He was honored with a granite stone for their contributions and achievements in the surf and placed alongside the likes of Duke Kahanamoku.

In the same year, Waterman also received the Achievement Award from the Manufacturers Association of the surf industry. An award giving body called Rell Sunn "Queen of Makaha Award also was named after her, which gives a person a year for efforts in the fight against cancer.

The life of Rell Sunn was also the subject of several publications, including the 2001 book written by Andrea Gabbard, entitled "Girl in the Curl: A Century of Women Surf." In 2002, filmmakers from Charlotte Lagarde and Lisa Denker released the award-winning documentary film about the life of Sunn, "Heart of the Sea".

Today, every woman who surfs the time – Auma Kua – riding the waves with Sunn, whose spirit will remain forever in the sea. For surfers worldwide, Rell Sunn may be just another star of the surf. Without But in Hawaii, where it breathes the first and last, always will remain a blue blood – a queen, the queen of Surfing.

About the Author

Me-Shell Mijangos (http://www.swellwomen.com/founder/html) a surfer who first began surfing at the age of 30. She is the founder of an all inclusive women’s surf camp called SwellWomen. Two years ago, she started SwellCo-ed, a Surf and Yoga Experience for women, men and couples. She hopes to surf with you in paradise soon! Visit her SwellBlog!

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