Paige Alms started surfing at the age of ten. Photo Ryan Moss
PAIGE ALMS has always felt comfortable on a surfboard as she started out in the sport age the age of nine. Her passion for the pastime has only grown over the years and in this exclusive interview she talks about some of her biggest achievements in the sport as well as how she is able to continue to fund her lifestyle through part-time jobs and attracting the sponsorship of surfing companies.
Read on to find out more about this girl from Maui who isn’t ever far from her surfboard and has a fervour for the waves which can’t be matched by many.
When did you start surfing and who inspired you to give the sport a go?
I had my first surf lesson when I was 9 in Australia while traveling around the country with my mum. I officially started surfing when I was 10 on Maui. I was always really comfortable in the ocean and loved it instantly!
Paige grew up on Maui which gave her lots of opportunities to surf. Photo Sachi Cunningham
Where did you grow up and what the opportunities like to surf on a daily basis?
I grew up on Maui since age nine, living in Haiku, within 15 minutes to our local beach Ho’okipa. My mum would take me almost everyday after school and on the weekends. She would pick shells and walk the beach while I surfed.
Tell us about the impressive way you are able to fund your life as a surfer?
I’ve worked a lot of different jobs, from ding repair to digging holes, painting houses to polishing stainless steel, random jobs but everyday was different. I enjoyed doing jobs that allowed me to have surf time before or after and the work was hard but I made good money. Now I am lucky I have a little help from sponsors so I work two to three nights a week at a local restaurant here in Paia, called the Paia Fish Market and help my boyfriend run his surfboard business SOS Shapes.
Paige has always worked hard to fun her surfing passion but now also has a little help from sponsors. Photo Erik Aeder
What have been your biggest accomplishments in the sport to date?
My biggest accomplishments in surfing was winning the 2015 XXL Big Wave awards, getting my barrel at Pe’ahi in January 2015, and winning the first ever women’s WSL Jaws contest a few weeks ago.
What are you currently training for and what ambitions do you have for 2017 and beyond?
I’m always training, I don’t think that ever slows down, just trying to stay in the best shape and be ready for anything thrown my way. I’m looking forward to more amazing trips to big waves and enjoying the ride!
