Down at C Street Beach in Ventura, OVS freshman Kiana Carlisle gets suited up. She fastens the velcro band around her ankle and ties her hair into a bun. She grabs her waxed-up board and runs into the crashing waves.
She has fifteen minutes to prove herself. Her task? Catch at least three waves. Why? She is competing in the C Street Classic, a surf competition for Ventura locals.
The Camarillo resident has been surfing nonstop for the past four years. She joined the Makos Surf Team last year and has graduated from the middle school team to the high school team. Her passion for the sport goes beyond what she’s experienced for any other exercise.
“I don’t think it’s really like any other sport,” Kiana said. “When you go out, you can’t think about other things or else you’ll get worked. It’s also a really good group of people. I like all the people who surf, even though there’s stereotypes, but those don’t matter.”
Kiana’s journey began when her mother, Michelle Selka, signed her up for surfing camp when driving by Makos beach in Ventura. Her counselors would take her out and push her into the waves. Eventually, she stood up. Now, she can do various tricks, such as roundhouse cutbacks, snaps, cutbacks, and floaters.
From her mother’s perspective, Kiana’s surfing passion has been a humbling experience for the both of them.
“She possesses qualities that I certainly do not have. I freeze when I see her dip her toes in during rainy weather,” gushed Mrs. Selka. “It makes me realize that Kiana is tougher than she looks, and I shouldn’t worry so much about her.”
Last year, Kiana placed third in the C Street Classic out of all the middle school girls. This win didn’t come without a lot of intense training and struggles. Kiana remembers a time when she got knocked off her board during a wave storm.
“[My coach] took me out and it was my first time surfing with him and I had a wave storm, the surf was probably like seven feet. I paddled out for a wave and I got thrown over the falls and hit the bottom and I was terrified,” Kiana said. “I didn’t go again for four months, but I knew that I would be fine. I learned how to suck it up and keep on.”
Since then, she’s been thrown off her board plenty of times. However, she’s learned to get right back up and keep surfing. These setbacks are nothing Kiana can’t handle and, instead, has only helped her grow as a surfer. Kiana’s determination is what makes her mother the most proud.
“Recently, I’ve seen her go through some setbacks. There’s a lot of talk about sharks, and she’s seen a lot of serious injuries,” said Mrs. Selka. “Someday, I hope she makes it as a pro surfer and realizes that she’s the only one standing in her way. I know she can do it! She has everything she needs.”
Even though she couldn’t make it to this year’s C Street Classic, Kiana hopes to get back into the competitive season. Since being back at school, she’s been too busy for her weekly surf excursions in Ventura. However, she’s ready to buckle down and work hard this season.
“Even though it’s my first week back and I’m out of practice, I know it’ll be fun,” Kiana said. “It’s always fun competing with my friends.”