COMMUNITY . . . I am a surfer
Photos: Eddie Pitts | 911surfreport.com
She Piper Surfs Austin
Age: 16 | Years Surfing: 8 | Sponsors: Body Glove, Cobian, ESA Allstars, Aqua East, Planet Fitness, Scratch Tracks, Angel Eye Wear, 911 Surf Report | Homebreak: Jacksonville Beach Pier, Florida
In PIPER’s Words
“Growing up, my parents went to the beach all the time. When I started surfing the boogie board,
My Daughter PIPER
by Kathy Austin
“Piper has trained before and after school and any free time she has. Best times for practice are during tropical storms (like Katia) or hurricanes (like Irene). We sometimes arrive at the beach before daybreak and in horrible conditions, with huge waves that even some men can’t make it out in. She is attending Stanton College Prep and currently holds a 4.2 GPA. Stanton High School is the #4 high school in the country right now. She is on the National Arts Society as well. In Jr. High, she achieved Athlete Scholar of the Year for two years straight. Besides being the East Coast Champion for Girls for the ESA (Eastern Surfing Association), she competes in NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) and in local contests like Wavemasters, Sisters of the Sea and EPIC Surf Classic. She was invited this year to be an ESA Allstar, which consists of the top surfers along the east coast. Piper has assisted the Special Olympics Surf Training in Jax Beach for the past two years in a row, helping handicapped kids learn to surf and go on to compete with other Florida cities in Cocoa Beach at the end of the season. She has helped paraplegic and quadriplegic people surf by participating in Life Rolls On. She rode on the board with them to help them catch waves, and she has assisted with Autistic Surfers in their annual event. She has been competing in contests since the age of 10. Her love and learning how to surf came from her beloved dad who passed away from brain cancer when Piper was only 9 years old.”
96 | womenssurfstyle.com | wSSm
my dad decided to put me on his board and pushed me into the white water. I was hooked! My first board was a fun-shape my grandparents bought me and I quickly moved to a short board. Over the years as I improve, the boards get shorter and shorter! I still like to jump on my mom’s longboard and catch some waves, if they’re really small. My mom is someone I’ve always surfed with consistently. She loves to surf and is always willing to drive to the beach! I also surf with all the local girls – either free-surfing or at contests: Cierra, Kayla, Mary, Carla, Rossi, Teale, Mallory, Katie, Faith, Sophie, Molly, Shaeylyn, Braiden, and Layne are some of my favorite girls to shred with. I’m either at the Pier, the Poles or North Jetties; the tide and wind determine where we go. My scariest surf experience? Paddling out on a big day too close to the pier, I was swept under the pier because I misjudged the direction of the current. I had to paddle out from under it super fast before the next wave broke. My greatest accomplishments to date? I won the ESA Easterns Girls Shortboard division for 2011: It was really exciting. The waves weren’t that great, but I managed to find a couple of decent faces and do what I could with them. I was able to get on the ESA Allstar team because of that win. That led to attending the Surf Expo in Orlando in January where I was able to land BodyGlove, Scratch Tracks and Angel Eyewear. My high hopes for the future are to make it on the Pro Tour, and spread God’s Word. All other things aside, if there was one thing I would want the world to know about me, it’s that I love Jesus! Though I’m surrounded by inspiration, the 3 people who inspire me the most are my dad: Brett Austin, David Cito Melnyk and PJ Satterwhite, and in my free time, I enjoy painting, skateboarding and yoga. Training/preparing/staying stoked for surfing, I have a lot of routines. I stretch before I surf, I try to watch a lot of surf videos- paying close attention to detail, with light permitting I surf before school, and I try to eat right and drink lots of water before a long session.”
About My Sponsors Cobian has been a great sponsor: they always keep me stocked up with great shoes. I just picked up Body Glove and am excited to rep them. ESA Allstars is a huge help and it’s exciting to be part of that team. Aqua East Surf Shop has really helped me have all the right supplies and guide me in the right direction. Angel Eyewear has the best shades a girl could want. Scratch Tracks hooked me up with awesome headphones and iPod fitted backpacks. Planet Fitness helps me get a work-out in when there are no waves. Thank you, to every one of them! F