Vanina Walsh in Girl's Life magazine

Check Out Walden team rider Vanina Walsh interview in Girl's Life Magazine

Hang Ten with Vanina Walsh!

Eleven-year-old surfer Vanina Walsh is making a serious splash in the surfing world. She tandem surfs with the majorly accomplished Bobby Friedman, and is a Roxy team rider (did we mention she’s still in elementary school?!). She spills her fave healthy snacks and what she likes to do when she’s not conquering major waves!

GL: What off-the-beach workouts do you enjoy?

Vanina: I enjoy skateboarding on my Kahuna board, it helps me a lot with my stand-up paddle surfing. I recently started gymnastics to help me with my tandem surfing. I also enjoy using my wave-board and RipStick, it helps me with my balance for surfing.

GL: How do you refuel after a hard day of surfing?

VW: After a long and hard day of surfing, I love to go home and make a nice cold smoothie made of Tambor Acai, Yum! Acai is really healthy and I think its great! I like to eat a steak with rice and salad. The steak gives me protein and the rice for carbs and the salad for vitamins. At night I try to rest and watch a surfer flick so I’m ready to go surf again in the morning.

GL: What are your fave healthy snacks?

VW: I love to eat granola bars, and I also love to eat a bowl of fruit, but my favorite healthy snack is a fruit smoothie with strawberries, banana and Acai. I drink a lot of water to keep hydrated after a long day of surfing and being in the sun. I think that it is important to be healthy and athletic, I motivate myself every day to eat good.

GL: Do you play any other sports?

VW: I enjoy skateboarding, gymnastics, and I play other sports just for fun at the beach. A hobby I have is painting. I am inspired by the artist Heather Brown. I think she is a great artist. I have fun doing all of these hobbies and sports. The next time I do a surf trip to the big Island my tandem partner, Bobby Friedman, is going to teach me to go spear fishing. I am soo excited!

GL: What do you love most about surfing?

VW: My favorite thing about surfing would have to be that I can stay out for hours in the ocean trying something new. Knowing I got one inch closer to my goal in surfing is a great feeling. I also love surfing with the people I look up to.