I was down checking the surf on a really big day and saw a
board wash in. No one was in sight to claim it, and not many people were out, due to the conditions. I was surprised to see a
slight form swimming in through the whitewater eventually. It was Jeanette. With complete nonchalance, she said hi, went to get
another leash, and paddle back out into the double overhead plus surf. It is just how she rolls.
Jeanette recently appeared in her first fashion shoot, for designer James Perse, which ran in Nalu magazine in Japan, and was also recently picked up to be on the Brewer Surf Team, which places her in a high bar, male dominated surf clique.
She lives in Ventura California near the beach, and her parents are both licensed commercial vessel operators. Her Dad is the one
who taught her to surf, and they still go together all the time. Her Mom told me the unique story about their wedding, which took
place at the H1 buoy far at sea in Hawaii while she was already pregnant with Jeanette.
As an honors student with aspirations to study engineering, I have little doubt Jeanette will accomplish whatever she sets her hand
to. One has to admire quiet beauty and strength.
Name: Jeanette Iolana Oritz
Vintage: 1990
What's your hometown? Where do you live now? Ventura all my life.
What's your sign? Aries
Your sponsors? Brewer Surfboards, Las Olas Restaurant, Betty Belts
When did you start surfing? When I was about 12
Where do you love to surf most? wherever theres waves
Who taught you to surf? This is all my dad's fault
Why do you love to surf? It makes life less mundane
Describe your surf style: umm Id say its pretty close to a combination of Andy and Kelly... hah!
What was your kookiest moment in the water? Falling on the rocks in front the entire NSSA contest after my heat
Your favorite Betty Belts? Two of my favorites are
Adonia and
Jeni, because they're versatile
Your motto: Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow
TOP FIVE PICKS
Things You Love to Do:
- Travel the world
- Hang with friends
- Laugh
- Eat sushi
- Doodle
Movies:
- Second Thoughts
- Anchorman
- Pulp Fiction
- Dumb and Dumber
- Endless Summer
Music:
- Houses of the Holy - Zeppelin
- Axis: Bold as Love - Hendrix
- True Democracy - Steel Pulse
- 40 oz to Freedom - Sublime
- Battle of Los Angeles - Rage Against the Machine
Achievements:
- Ranked 1st in CA, junior women black belt lightweight division (Sparring, Tae Kwon Do)
- 1st place, Volcom Crustaceous Tour: Open Womens, at the Pipe, Ventura
- 4.0 GPA and National Honor Society
- 4th Place Tae Kwon Do National Junior Olympics
- 1st place Momentum Contest Open Women
Destinations:
- Australia
- Maldives
- Tahiti
- Spain
- France
Inspirations:
- Parents
- Revolutionaries
- Melanie Bartels
- Jay Moriarty
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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