Posted by Rick Civelli | 10.08.2012 | Surfer of the Week

Instructor of the Week is Back! – Kirstin Thompson

WB Surf Camp was stoked this past summer to have so much new energy infused into our team of instructors. We had the potentially largest spread of instructors from around the country come join us for an incredible season of surfing magic. Each week this fall and winter we will feature them in no particular order to allow the world to know ho awesome they are and learn a little bit about them.

Our first featured instructor hails from Florida and she lead our Hawaii Teen Travel Surf Adventure for an entire month. Kirstin worked with dozens of kids this year sharing her love and stoke of the ocean, surfing, and the conservation of it. We’ve been extremely lucky to have her take up residence in Wrightsville Beach after the end of the season to continue being a part of our rich surf community and continue teaching others the art of surfing.

1. What drew you to a position at WB Surf Camp? I wanted to be able to share with others what surfing did for me…it changed my life and now I can give the best gift a person can give: happiness, through the art of surfing.

2. Who is your favorite surfer and why? Karina Petroni, a female surfer out of my hometown in Florida. I admire her involvement with ocean conservation and her amazing outlook on life. She also started a triathlon in Jax Beach, Florida called Never Quit, in honor of her dad who died not too long ago. You can watch a video she made about it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UodVQXrb5qs

3. When did you start surfing and where? Summer 2010 in Neptune Beach, FL while working as an ocean lifeguard

4. What is your favorite surf break? Pavones, Costa Rica

5. What inspired you to start surfing? Seeing the lack of female surfers out in the water, listening to those ants in my pants everytime I saw someone surfing, wanting a piece of that magic that reflects in a surfer’s eyes when they gaze out at the ocean, watching documentaries and reading about surf trips around the world, and that basic need for something more.

6. Where was your most memorable session? While living in Punta Banco, Costa Rica I went on some surf safaris with the awesome people I met there. This one day we rented a rusty old car with no door and drove down to our favorite break with all 5 of us crammed in there, plus boards. It was perfect…the waves were head high, not too steep, peeling all the way into the bay with hardly any crowd. I caught the longest wave of my life over and over. Surrounded by beautiful jungle, laughing with my crazy friends, and then later being flooded by deep colors as the sun was setting, made for a truly magical day.

7. What is the worst wipeout you’ve ever had? In all honesty, it was on the smallest wave I’ve ever surfed. I somehow managed to slice my foot with the fin of my board, which really bummed me out because it kept me out of the water for a couple weeks during some prime surf conditions. However it ironically left me with a sweet fin shaped scar…

8. What are some of your interests outside of surfing? The list is always growing…sustainability, organic farming, ocean conservation, nutrition, holistic medicine/healing, writing, environmental advocacy, swimming (preferably in the ocean), painting, biking, wandering, reading (just bought 30 books at the library sale), walking barefoot, making healthy smoothies and juices, travelling, hiking, exploring, playing beach v-ball, yoga, laughing, kayaking, rock climbing, doing handstands, chillin in a hammock, dancing…and just livin it up. PS:  Check out my blog! http://dreadnut32.tumblr.com/

9. What is your favorite movie? Avatar, all the Harry Potters, Blue Crush

10. What is your favorite music? I have had an ongoing obsession with Jason Mraz ever since I saw him live at Sunfest in West Palm Beach…other than that, my main go-to music recently is: Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Keane, Dispatch, Donovan Frankenreiter, Fleet Foxes, and lots of reggae

11. What is your favorite food? Mangos…lots of juicy juicy mangos.

12. Where do you see yourself in five years? Writing, surfing, travelling, teaching, and healing others

13. In your eyes, the three things you value most are: Happiness, freedom, love.