September was an epic month. I (finally) got to surf again, travel more, and I got an opportunity.

Bethany Hamilton and me at Surf Expo in Orlando

This month started off GREAT because I got to go to Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida. When I traveled there, I met with a few sponsors and I picked up a new sponsor! Orion Surfboards is my new sponsor and they are going to make me some awesome new boards! I got to meet Bethany Hamilton while I was there, also. (She’s really tall!) It was amazing to meet someone that has accomplished so much even though she’s been through a lot. Surf Expo was really great for me to go to and it was awesome to see some friends I haven’t seen in a while.

After that weekend, I went to school for a week then took off for Nags Head, North Carolina. Easterns. That week was the first time I had surfed in two months! I was SO excited to get back in the water on my board. It was awesome to be able to surf again, see friends, and compete at such a great competition. I was able to train with an amazing coach, Erik Krammer, and learn so much throughout four days of training with him. My first heat was a Girls Shortboard heat where I got second and advanced to quarter finals. In quarters, I got eliminated. I got eliminated in Semi finals in Menehune Bodyboard, but that is okay. In Menehune Longboard, I advanced all the way to Semi Finals where I got eliminated. It was disappointing to be eliminated, but I have something to work towards to for next year. In Jr. Womens Longboard, I made it all the way to the final. My semi final was the best I have performed at a contest. I got an 8.83 and a 6.0 for my two waves and it was awesome. I was the only person to make it to the outside and it completely paid off. In my final, I didn’t make it to the outside and had to surf the inside waves. I ended up getting third place for the entire East Coast. I also was awarded the Iron Woman and made the 2015 ESA Allstar Team! This year’s Easterns was an amazing experience.

Happy with 3rd place in Jr. Women's Longboard!

After Easterns, we had a Georgia ESA competition. It was great to go back to Tybee to surf. The waves weren’t like they were at Easterns, but it wasn’t flat. I won Jr. Womens Longboard and got second in Menehune Longboard and Girls Shortboard. It was great to see everybody, too.

This past month, an opportunity arose. I have the opportunity to go and speak at a girls’ conference in Alabama. It is an amazing opportunity to encourage others and have God make an impact in the lives of others. I also get to speak to a Social Entrepreneurship class at Belmont in October! I cannot wait for the experience!

This past month has been full of surfing, competition, traveling, and opportunities. I cannot wait to see what October holds.