Wonder Woman of the Week: Lakey Peterson

The Wonder Woman this week is probably who Wonder Woman would be if she became a surfer rather than a superhero. Lakey Peterson is the kind of person you might mistake for a simple woman on the beach. Her blonde hair and bronze skin gives her the kind of “California Girl” look the Beach Boys sang about. Peterson is however not the type of woman you would ever want to underestimate. You would definitely not want to challenge to a surfing competition. Lakey Peterson is this week’s Wonder Woman of the Week.

Lakey Peterson was born to surf. Before she was five years old, she was already jumping off diving boards and swimming in her family’s pool. As a child, she played any sport she could- softball, basketball, track & field, and finally surfing. Her family told her she could be great at any sport if she focused on one, and fatefully Peterson chose surfing. [1]

At age fourteen, Lakey Peterson became the first female surfer ever to complete an aerial maneuver, winning her the NSSA Open Women’s Title in 2009. In 2010, Peterson successfully defended her title and was named the ASP North American Regional Champion. In 2011, Peterson was able to compete in the world’s largest surfing event- the US Open of Surfing- and placed as a runner-up. By age 16, Lakey Peterson was one of the most impressive surfers in competition. By 2012, Peterson was ranked the fifth best female surfer in the world. [2]

The world-class surfer not only shreds waves, but also works adamantly as a philanthropist. Lakey Peterson works with organization like H4O (Hands4Others), works to bring clean water systems to third world nations, has a seat at the Advisory Board for Ocean Lovers Collective, and is a spokesperson for the Student Conservation Association. [2]

Lakey Peterson is likely to continue to push the boundaries of what women are capable in the sport of surfing. Thanks to the recent biopic Zero to 100, Peterson has been able to share her story with young men and women across the globe. Her successes on and off the beach show women can perform just as well as men in her sport. Your Wonder Woman of the Week: Lakey Peterson.

[3]

Works Cited

Lakey Peterson: Zero to 100. United States: Netflix, 2013. Film.

"Lakeypeterson.com." Lakeypeterson.com. 2013. Accessed December 31, 2014. http://lakeypeterson.com/.

Kenworthy. “She got a never ending flow of McDonalds French Fries.” CISurfboards.com. 2014. Accessed December 31, 2014. http://www.cisurfboards.com/team/lakey-peterson/