di Erika Scafuro
Lisa Andersen has struggled to pursue the dream of becoming a professional surfer. Of course she did it and in a bright way! From 1994 to 1997 she earned four time the title of woman world surfing champion.
In the 80’s the surfing world was very different from today. Lisa, native of Ormond Beach, Florida, started to surf there when she was a teenager. She found her freedom in surfing, she found her refuge in the ocean, away from a family that didn’t support her decision to pursue the dream of surfing; this is the reason why she was only sixteen when she decided to run away to Huntington Beach, California, and catch the waves with the best surfers. Huntington Beach is where Lisa put down roots to become a professional surfer. She began to participate in competitions, winning lots of prizes in a short time. Lisa entered the Association of Surfing Professionals in 1987. From that moment her professional surfing career takes off, she competed in the first season of Women’s CT in 1990. Lisa is remembered above all for having made the history of women’s surfing by winning the world title four times in a row from 1994 to 1997.
Without neglecting her private life, at the height of her career, Lisa became mother, returning to the water to compete a few months after the birth of the first son. Lisa told how it was more difficult for her, as a woman and a mother, to return to compete in the tour compared to her male colleagues and fathers who could surf when they wanted to. A very interesting topic and still very topical for all those women, athletes and not, in career and mothers.
In 1995 Surfer Magazine has celebrated Lisa Andersen by dedicating her the cover and inserting her in the list of the 25 most influential surfers of all time. In 1998 Lisa was named Female Athlete of the Year by Condé Nast Sports for Women magazine and Top Female Athletes of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated.
Lisa has inspired and inspires many young women who want to join the surfing world: still in 2018, director Chas Smith made a documentary about her life, titled Trouble: The Lisa Andersen Story. Nowadays she continues to shine bright on her surfboard, simply scroll the Instagram profile of this surfing icon.
