Keala Kennelly © Billabong
Surf News, 21 June, 2012 : - - Keala is a Kauai-born surfer who turned pro at age 17. She has accumulated so many awards/wins over her career, there are too many to mention, but her most recent awards include 1st place at the Nelscott Reef Big Wave invitational 2010, winning the Billabong Girls Best VBILLABONG GIRLS BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD in 2011, and her fantastic 2nd place finish in the Bud Light Lime Surf Series June 3, 2012.
Since being the first woman surfer to tow in at Teahupoo in 2005 Keala has focused heavily on Big Wave surfing, recently catching what is arguably the best barrel ever ridden by a female surfer at Teahupoo during the Code Red swell of 2011. In addition to her career as a pro-surfer, Keala also is an accomplished actor, having played key roles in the movies Blue Crush and Step into Liquid, and starred as Kai in the HBO series John from Cincinnati. When she's not surfing or acting, Keala also is a DJ.