Sage Erickson
Resides: Ojai, CA
Sponsors: O'Neill, Oakley, Gorilla Grip, Roberts Surfboards, Revolution Surf Shop
Food: Mom's homemade hamburgers
Music: Rap, Eminem, Fifty Cent, and Country
Local Surf spots: Silver Strand, Rincon, and C Street
Plans: Do the WQS and someday make the WCT
Movies: Liar Liar and Pirates of the Caribbean
Other interest: Skateboarding and running
Favorite Surfers: Mick Fanning and Melanie Bartels
Highlights
9 contest winning streak in the NSSA Gold Coast Women's division 2006 where she also won three divisions (Explorer Girls, Explorer Womens, and Open Womens) in the NSSA Western Championships at Huntington Pier in 2005. She placed 3rd at the 2006 NSSA Open Women's Nationals at Trestles and recently made the USA Surf team for the Amateur Word titles in Portugal this May. In addition, she won her first Pro Junior this year at Sebastian Inlet.
Background
Sage Erickson is a dominant force in girl's amateur surfing on the West Coast. She was unstoppable in 2005-2006. This 15 year-old sophomore at Ventura High is dedicated to surfing and her results speak for themselves. She placed 2nd in the Open Season ratings for 2006 and quite unbelievably won 9 of the 10 Goldcoast NSSA Explorer Women's events garnering 1st place overall in the year end ratings for that conference. She created big news by winning the ASP Sebastian Inlet Pro Junior in April of 06.
Sage was born and raised in Ojai, California. Then as a youngster moved to Hawaii, and lived on the North Shore for a few years where she taught herself how to surf with her brothers and friends.
When the family returned to California they moved back to Ojai where she currently resides. She then quickly applied what she learned in Hawaii to the good waves of California Street and Rincon. She grew up watching Dane Reynolds and caught onto the radical factor and has her own repertoire of big maneuvers. She is like a lot of teenagers having fun, enjoying her friends, but with one difference, she has found her path early. She knows what she wants to do and that is to become a professional surfer.
Sage still has a couple amateur years ahead of her but in the meantime she is filing her teeth in the NSSA and Pro Juniors on route of reaching the big stage someday. Most importantly, she has the right attitude. She loves to surf and that's her driving passion, and with that she knows the future will take care of itself.
1. Most embarrassing moment?
Hmm, that's a hard one. I would have to say that my most embarrassing moment ever was when I went to an Oakley media event in Miami. It was the first morning there and every magazine journalist from the likes of Teen Vogue, Seventeen to even Cosmo were there. It was a buffet breakfast and I came back with my plate of food only to find that when I sat down my entire chair collapsed to the ground sending my eggs and bacon all over my clothes. I don't think my face as ever been so red! Everyone giggled a bit but a majority wanted to make sure I was ok. Lets just say I'm always cautious when sitting in fold up chairs now.
2. Favorite quote?
To be nobody but yourself, in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. E.E. Cummings.
3. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate everything please. I think I'm addicted, is that normal?
4. Glass on fins or fin systems? Why?
For some reason I ended up being one of those glass on fins surfers. Many people have their opinions on them and what they limit a surfer to but I think they are great. All my channel island boards have worked amazing so I don't complain, just stick to what i know.
5. Favorite surf destination and wave?
My favorite surf destination still to this day was my very first surf trip ever to Nicaragua with the O'Neill girls team. I was 14 and they invited me to go on a 2 week trip with a couple of my past surf heros. The waves were amazing and I'm sure I wasn't the best surfer back then but the vibe and the overall place was awesome. Coming from California the waves don't have that good quality on a consistent basis that other places like Nicaragua have. We surfed three times a day, everyday. For me that was something that my surfing needed and I came home feeling great.
6. Favorite maneuver?
My favorite maneuver is getting barreled. There's nothing like the feeling. I could totally sound like a surf savy and go into complete depth about it but to make it simple and best understanding for a non surfer it would be that same feeling as getting an A+ on a school paper, or scoring a goal in soccer, even winning a race. Plus not every wave barrles so its not an often maneuver, which makes it that much more special.
7. Celebrity crush?
Oh no, I have way to many. But I'll be a movie star junkie and say that I'm never shy to watch a Brad Pitt staring movie.
8. What's in your traveling quiver?
Two or three boards. Two Al' Merrik Flyers, 5'9 by 18' for small windy waves and one Proton for great conditions.
9. Status (Married, single, whatever?)
Single. Haven't met my prince charming yet.
10. Favorite website?
www.oneill.com
11. Sounds?
I love everything, but I listen to a lot of country and or alternative music. Taylor swift, Sneaky Sound System, Beyonce, The Yeah Yeahs, The Killers.
12. Biggest influence in your life?
I look to my closest friends and family as my greatest influencers.
13. Favorite Surfers?
Dane Reynolds and Jordy Smith.
14. What traits in the opposite sex are most attractive?
I find boys smiles and hair key factors. I guess generally how they carry themselves too tells a lot about their personalty.
15. Worst wipeout?
Last winter in Hawaii was my worst wipeout ever. My best friend Coco and I were out at Rocky point on the North Shore of Oahu and the swell was getting bigger by the hour. The current was really strong, sucking us deeper towards the main peak, a huge set came and we barely made it through the first wave. We were both paddling as fast as we couple only to find a longboarder way outside of use bailing his board because the second wave was even bigger than the first. We both bailed our boards, getting thrown around under water I was pushed really deep. I felt something hit my head really hard and then my shoulder. I started swimming to the top but I was swimming for so long that I thought since I did flips under water that I was actually swimming down. I felt my head get light and I just told my self to keep swimming. I got to surface and saw that the longboard was broken in half and tangled up with Coco. We ended up getting washed to shore. All said and done we were held under water for 2 entire waves. The long board was what hit me in the head and Coco was what pushed off my shoulder helping her get to the surface faster. That was the most worked both of us have ever gotten.
16. Words to live by?
To believe in yourself is worthy of life itself.
- O'Neill Shopping
- Irvine, Ca
- December 19, 2008
I went through the warehouse with Karin and Alana.