

TEAM RIDERS

KEONI DEFRIES




AGE: 17
HOMETOWN: Redondo Beach
DAY TIME JOB: High school student
FAVORITE FOOD: Poke
DREAM VACATION: To go to Tahiti and spend a week with a professional team like EDT, Shell, Paddling Connection. Just learning.
FAVORITE PADDLING RUN: Cabrillo to Long Beach in California
DREAM PADDLING RUN/ADVENTURE: Maliko Run
FAVORITE THING TO DO ON AN OC-1 (i.e. downwind run, surf, fish, etc.): Downwind run
IF YOUR NOT PADDLING YOU'RE: If I’m not paddling surfing, skating, or I’m hanging with family and friends, kanikapila.
IF YOU COULD TAKE ANYONE TO DINNER (dead or alive) WHO WOULD IT BE: If I could take anyone to dinner it would be my grandparents on my dad’s side. I never met them and I would love to hear their story.
MUSIC OR NO MUSIC WHILE PADDLING. IF MUSIC, WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU ENJOY ON THE OCEAN: No music in surf for me, It is important that I listen to the ocean. If it’s flat I enjoy music, a good mix of rap, reggae, edm, and country.
BEST PIECE OF LIFE ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED: Prove yourself to yourself, not others.
FAVORITE OC-1 RACE: My favorite OC1 race is The Gorge Championships, any downwind run race is on my list.
WHO IS YOUR HERO IN YOUR LIFE: My dad is my hero in my life. Only my dad works and I have 4siblings. He works so hard to provide for my family of 7.
IF YOU COULD INSTILL ONE THING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF PADDLING WHAT WOULD IT BE: No matter what happens in your life stay humble.