Lauren Sweeney
Nickname: Sweenis
Stance: Regular
Goals: Win NSSA Nationals, Become a pro surfer. Live a simple and happy life
2nd Overall – NSSA Southwest Open Women
Achievements:
5th – NSSA Nationals 2002
4th - WQS Fosters Pro, Trestles
Media Coverage: interview in Surf Life for Women Magazine
Hobbies: Surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, biking and history
Sponsors: O'Neill, Rat Surfboards, Stay Covered, Gymamerica, Pipes Cafй, K-Five Futures Fins
Favorite Foods: Mexican
Favorite Movie: Shelter
Favorite Music: no particular type of music I listen to, there's a little bit of everything on my ipod so I just hit shuffle.
Favorite Moves: Barrels and gnarly turns
Favorite Motto: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
Craziest Injury: Nothing too gnarly, but last summer the nose of my board cut my face below my right eye, and it gave me a black eye for a week as well.
Best concert: This summer I went to a Ben Harper concert and Damien Marley opened for him. It was super sick because it was a small venue right on the san diego bay and my friends and I danced all night long, the music was awesome, and the atmosphere was irie.
Ever snowboard? I've been snowboarding for 5 seasons now and I love it. Laying down freshies in the powder is almost as good as getting barreled.
Ever sponge? Sponging is fun in a death beachbreak, but other than that, I'd rather surf.
Most Embarrassing Moment: I was at work and I said "you know what they say, when it pours it rains" well it's the other way around, it's obviously raining if it's pouring, so everyone at work laughed and till this day they still bring it up.
Traveled to: I've been to Tahiti, England, South Africa, Hawaii, Florida, and this summer I rode shotgun all the way down to the tip of baja with my friend Nick. I love surfing everywhere!!
Dream date: Celebs and pros are too hyped up on themselves for me, just a regular guy with a mellow personality and who likes the beach (hopefully surfing too) would be awesome.
Must Have O'Neill: My favorite product has to be the colorfull shortarm fullsuits, I love a nice new soft wetsuit with lots of color.
Dream session: Glassy overhead a-frames with nobody out except me and my friends and everytime you paddle back out after a wave, you see your buddy get barreled and you can't contain yourself, so you let out a hoot for them and they slide by under the curtain.
In 5 years: Wow, I'll be 25 years old, a UCSD graduate, and hopefully on the wct and close to winning a world title. Oh yeah, above all HAPPY!
Currently focusing on: I'm focused on graduating from UCSD in June of 2008 with a B.A. in History, also trying to travel and keep my seed on the wqs, so when I finish school I can qualify.
Can't live without: Ice cream
Most embarrassing moment?
When I was a rainbow warrior at the 2008 O'Neill Team challenge.
Favorite quote?
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow and learn as if you were to live forever" Gandhi
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate!
Glass on fins or fin systems? Why?
Doesn't matter. Just as long as the board works.
Favorite surf destination and wave?
The wave in front of my house in Baja.
Favorite maneuver?
Little nuggy barrels.
Celebrity crush?
Celebrities are over rated.
What's in your traveling quiver?
A couple of 5'8 squashes
Favorite website?
Surfline, so I can check the surf.
Sounds?
All music is rad!
Biggest influence in your life?
My dad.
Favorite Surfers?
My friends Tarzan, E.T., Poppy, and Rob because surfing with them is a blast!
What traits in a boy do you find most attractive?
Compassion.
Worst wipeout?
Went left at gas chambers this season and got rolled onto the inside. When I tried paddling back out a big set came and I thought I was going to drown, so I had to ride some whitewater in.
Words to live by?
I truly believe that in order to fully appreciate something, you have to make a conscious decision to separate yourself from it