MAHINA MAEDA
My Story
Three time Women's Junior Tour world title holder 22 year old Mahina Maeda is a dominating force in women’s professional surfing. Coursing and navigating some of the heaviest waves in the world, Maeda has been achieving success after success from an early age. When most children were watching the tides ebb and flow, Maeda was learning to grasp control of the water beneath her board.
Born to Japanese parents on Oahu’s north shore, Maeda flourished into a talented ambassador for the Asian-American community in sport. Holding dual Japanese and American citizenship, Maeda treasures both sides of her cultural identity and has been able to represent strongly as a powerful figure as one of the few Asian-American women in professional surfing. A strong contender to represent Japan at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, Maeda stands to showcase her skills to more surf fans than ever before.
Dedicated to the surf, action sports and the practitioning of Ginastica Natural - ‘Natural Gymnastics’ - Mahina Maeda’s story is one that is still being told, however hers is one that proves to be even more exciting with each turn. As one of the youngest ever to achieve the highest level of coaching of Ginastica Natural - Level 3 - Mahina has made momentous strides in building her knowledge and skills within the specified training system.
Inspiring other professionals at the top of their game with her infectious energy and personality, Mahina has co-taught the current World #3 Jordy Smith and is a strong ambassador of Ginastica Natural as a craft. Having taught some of the world’s top surfers, Mahina’s love for Ginastica Natural has reached all corners of the surf community.
With three World Titles on the Women’s Junior Tour and multiple victories throughout the Women’s Qualifying Series, Maeda’s name has become synonymous with excitement and accomplishment. At just 16, Maeda became the second woman ever to surf Portugal’s Nazaré, one of the most legendary and toughest breaks in the world.
In the years that followed, the globe was further introduced to Mahina Maeda, as the young surfer made her way to global surf hotspots, entering the upper ranks of female surfers on the World Surf League’s Women’s Qualifying Series. Now listed as #14 on the Women’s QS 2020 ranking, Maeda is continuing to build a legacy for herself in 2020.
