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Your backstage pass to the world of surfing, hosted by MC and commentator Terry “Tappa” Teece. From pro surfers and legends of the sport to shapers, innovators and anyone with an epic story and a love for the ocean—The Green Room dives deep. Expect tales of epic wins, brutal wipeouts, and behind-the-scenes moments from life in and out of the water. Whether you’re chasing waves or just some inspiration, this podcast will leave you stoked to paddle out.
00;00;07;19 - 00;00;29;09
Tappa
Welcome to the Green Room. Your backstage pass to the world of surfing. I'm your host, surf emcee and commentator, Terry Tapper diving into epic winds, crashing fouls and wild stories with surfing's biggest names, as well as the legends working behind the scenes to keep that state alive. A big shout out to our sponsor for this episode. The official break out with their new Jersey lager.
00;00;29;11 - 00;00;49;25
Tappa
So wax up, paddle out and join us in the green room with a surf chat. Never guys flat. Welcome to the Green Room today. We've got the youngest ever guest on the green room. Now, commentator. The mom is a young lady and she's a good surfer. Or I'm right. And I feel like I've been commentating this young girl Lahaina here, like, forever at, 13 years of age.
00;00;49;27 - 00;01;14;07
Tappa
She's already achieved so much. Is in the Surfing Australia's Olympic Pathways program. Proud of her indigenous heritage and hoping to be the first indigenous woman on the World Championship Tour. She's already competed in the Stab high, won many events and is a keen eye on a future. Already she's, got other interests. Charity and is nominated for, the junior female at the Steph Gilmore Award at the Surfing Australia Hall of Fame Awards.
00;01;14;12 - 00;01;32;20
Tappa
A radical style, amazing aerial and rail game. It's such a tender age. The last girl I saw stand out from the pack like this was an 11 year old girl I commentated called Stephanie Gilmore. And that's the award she's up for. She got a big future and I reckon plenty to say. One of the biggest and best smiles around.
00;01;32;22 - 00;01;34;02
Tappa
And welcome to the Green Room.
00;01;34;07 - 00;01;36;04
Leihani
Thank you for having me.
00;01;36;07 - 00;01;48;06
Tappa
It's a pleasure. It really is. Now, I just did a little bit of research, you know, because I'm nine, you and your mama wall. But is it true you had your first surf when you were at two days?
00;01;48;08 - 00;02;04;10
Leihani
Yeah. So basically, as soon as my parents got home from the hospital, they took me down to my home break broken head, and they had this little surf mat, and it was like some really little waves enclosed. So my dad was like pushing the board. Oh, I know my dad was holding me and my Paul was pushing the board.
00;02;04;17 - 00;02;06;25
Leihani
And then yeah, that was my first five rounds, two days.
00;02;06;26 - 00;02;18;24
Tappa
What was your dad and Pat and we're going to say happy birthday to PA at his birthday isn't it? Yeah. He said that to you. Happy birthday to you. Good work mate. Awesome. What's that?
00;02;18;26 - 00;02;27;08
Leihani
Hug girl, whose real name is Pato. But oh my. Gave him the nickname hug because he Covid hugs wetsuit. Yeah, yeah.
00;02;27;11 - 00;02;40;21
Tappa
That's cool. Happy birthday. Grandpa. You got a great little granddaughter here now. So that's your first one. Just a baby on the wave. And when? When's the first time you remember surfing your wife?
00;02;40;24 - 00;03;06;00
Leihani
I don't remember the first wave. Because only two days. Oh, yeah, but, I don't know. When I was five, I can remember a couple of ways, and I. My parents filmed a lot of my waves because, like, they were just, like, so proud, I guess. But I like I've saying, like, why is when I was, like four and three so I can, like, kind of remember, but like the most I can remember is when I was five catching this wave at at broken.
00;03;06;00 - 00;03;08;09
Leihani
I did a couple like little Wiggles things.
00;03;08;12 - 00;03;24;00
Tappa
Yeah, I remember I think I remember commentate uni about four, six, two. Now how is it being growing up at Broken Heads by and by? You're a very proud member of the bar and by Boardriders, and I believe that you had part in redesigning the, the shirts and getting a bit of pink in there, too.
00;03;24;01 - 00;03;45;21
Leihani
Yeah, well, we had the pink one for the season down then we did this purple one for this year. Saves the day. And I got to do a little bit of designing for them. But yeah I'm like so grateful to like be able to grow up where I grew up because like, it's like the waves are so good, but the community, like they've got a really strong community there and they're all like, so happy.
00;03;45;21 - 00;03;50;24
Leihani
And yeah, I'm really grateful to of had that experience growing up. And Byron.
00;03;50;29 - 00;03;53;04
Tappa
And a lot of support you get from the bar area.
00;03;53;04 - 00;04;15;09
Leihani
Too. Yeah, yeah, they're very supportive and encouraging me like when, I think it was last year, I Roubaix grand final. I took off before the buzzer and I had to do the run and catch the IV twice. I was so exhausted, but they were just they were like, you can do this. We believe in you like it's you going to have to, like, really push hard because you probably really tired.
00;04;15;09 - 00;04;21;15
Leihani
But we believe in you. So yeah having their support, it just makes you feel so like happy and excited.
00;04;21;18 - 00;04;26;06
Tappa
And that's awesome. And mom and dad and pop by the sands. Oh oh behind you as well.
00;04;26;07 - 00;04;32;21
Leihani
Yeah, yeah. They've all like, helped me heaps and taught me everything I know.
00;04;32;23 - 00;04;44;10
Tappa
Oh. That's unreal. And, Now, when did you first think, hey, I want to be a prize surfer. How old were you when you went like, oh, I want to be a pro because we know that. Don't you want to be a prize surfer? And you're going to be our ranking?
00;04;44;11 - 00;05;04;16
Leihani
Oh. Thank you. I don't know. I've always, like, just love surfing. And I've always wanted to do it as, like. Like, instead of having to go to an actual job, like on the what? Title roof tiling or something like that. So I feel like I was around 4 or 5 and it's like, like I think Carissa Moore and Steph, like on the tour.
00;05;04;18 - 00;05;13;16
Leihani
And I was like, oh my gosh, like, imagine if I could do that one day. Like, I really want to get good at this because I love it. And it would be the coolest thing ever to do that as an actual job.
00;05;13;19 - 00;05;23;11
Tappa
And that's for sure. And I'm not sure there's lots of pictures of you and Carissa. Carissa seems to be one of your favorites. I think I saw a picture so tiny, and I think I seen online with Carissa.
00;05;23;13 - 00;05;41;29
Leihani
Yeah, yeah, the first time I like Saina, like it was at snap off for the Roxy Pro. And my parents say no, like doing a Walmart's with her dad and all that and they were like, because my parents love her surfing as well. And they went over to her. I was like, hey, do you yaki you could get photo with like horny.
00;05;42;06 - 00;06;00;22
Leihani
And I was in this, like really cute little pink jumpsuit and then she was like, yeah, yeah, for sure, I'd love to. And then I got a photo with her and then like I think was a few years later, she came to snapper again for the com and, Oh, I know it wasn't for that was for the Juro Kai com.
00;06;00;24 - 00;06;07;03
Leihani
We like we I wasn't in her team. I was with Nike, and I'm like, I got to surf against Carissa.
00;06;07;05 - 00;06;09;22
Tappa
Oh, so you've already got the surf against Curacao? That's good.
00;06;09;22 - 00;06;28;28
Leihani
Yeah. Yeah. And she was ripping and. Yeah. So I got the surf against her and then I got another photo with her. And then we kind of connected, through Instagram. And I stayed in touch with her ever since then. Yeah. When she came back to the Goldie, she, like, was like, hey, do you want to come surf with me and catch up?
00;06;28;28 - 00;06;47;08
Leihani
And I got surf of, And then two years ago, she invited me to go and stay with her and her dad in Hawaii and do, like, a, like, a little, strike mission, like, learn about Hawaiian culture and get surf the whys. And that was my first ever overseas trip. And it's like the best one so far, too.
00;06;47;14 - 00;06;55;28
Tappa
So how did you find Hawaii? Because I know I've only been in Hawaii once, but the power really shocked me. How much push is in that wife has that for a young, young guys like yourself?
00;06;55;28 - 00;07;12;01
Leihani
Yeah, it's very scary surfing. Like, even when it's small, it's so much like more like it's still scary because it's so powerful. But I feel like it's a little bit similar to why Was the Power. Yeah. Like, I don't know, it's just super scary. You're surfing all the waves there.
00;07;12;03 - 00;07;20;11
Tappa
Well, I say I when I got back from Hawaii that I found that like surfing big Bill. Like what? Nothing. Because it's just my ex. When you. Me, I'm so much easier to surf.
00;07;20;11 - 00;07;32;20
Leihani
Yeah, yeah. Like when I came home, I think I was like 4 to 6 footer on Lennox. And I went out there and I was like, oh, this isn't as hard as I thought it was going to be because I had been surfing Hawaii. Yeah. And it's so much like harder over there.
00;07;32;23 - 00;07;43;11
Tappa
Yeah. Well, yeah, definitely everything's harder there. It's now we'll it, like we've got Carissa is one of the surfaces at inspire you any, any other women or men that, that inspire your surfing?
00;07;43;11 - 00;08;06;13
Leihani
Yeah I have like everybody inspires me, everyone surfing. So go in that like everyone's so nice as well. Indians. I love his surfing. He's got such a great style and approach. Even using same. He's got really good style technique. Aaron Brooks I love the way she's us and who she is as a person. She's like super nice and, years of broski.
00;08;06;13 - 00;08;21;15
Leihani
She's like my really good friend. And when I say no qualify, that's like, I really like, was like, oh, I want to do this as well. Steph, she's like such a cool person. And she says, really good. I don't know, I've got so many inspirations.
00;08;21;18 - 00;08;34;19
Tappa
That's cool. Tina just not narrowing it down, you know, it being to seize the day a few times, you know, a little birdie where your mom told me that you had a bit of a yam to line. Basically, they asked her a question. What? After me?
00;08;34;21 - 00;08;53;22
Leihani
Yeah. So I asked her, I asked her, what did it feel like when Steph, like, beat your record and she. I forgot what she said. I think she said I felt like I was, like, really proud of her. Like, because I know how hard it is like to win. Seven world, 21. One more. And then I said, no.
00;08;53;22 - 00;09;01;16
Leihani
And then she said, but you know one thing nobody will ever beat me at. And she said, her six world titles in a row.
00;09;01;22 - 00;09;02;11
Tappa
And what do you say?
00;09;02;12 - 00;09;13;17
Leihani
I turned around, I said, oh, go. And then, like, I think a few people heard me saying that. And then everyone like, couldn't stop laughing. And I was like, I was like, oh, why you guys laughing? I was being honest.
00;09;13;17 - 00;09;32;13
Tappa
Yeah, well, well, well that's it. That's really good to show that you've got the confidence in yourself already and you got goals. That's that's what. Well, you know, there's not one world champion that hasn't said all I want to be world champion. So yeah that's a that's a really good start. Yeah. Now your indigenous heritage, you're really proud of that.
00;09;32;13 - 00;09;38;28
Tappa
I noticed when you get a lot of wins, you get the Aboriginal flag out there. Can you tell us a bit about your your heritage?
00;09;38;28 - 00;09;45;09
Leihani
Yeah. For sure. So my mob is from Western Australia. You know, where the pinnacles on like the 70s.
00;09;45;12 - 00;09;45;26
Tappa
Are not.
00;09;45;26 - 00;10;08;06
Leihani
Quite big. I well that's like like that's where it is. Yeah. Yeah. So my pop's an elder there and he takes care of the pinnacles. And like two years ago I went over there and I did, like, a little can't wait for him. I stay with my family and I look at history, at our culture. I had like, he had given me this massive book of all our language so I could practice.
00;10;08;06 - 00;10;12;20
Leihani
And I'm not fluent yet, but I know, like a few words.
00;10;12;23 - 00;10;16;06
Tappa
So yeah, there's many languages to an Aboriginal culture.
00;10;16;09 - 00;10;33;06
Leihani
Yeah. So in Western Australia, the main, language group is the normal language. But each like like over here there's different like each mob has their own language and. Yeah. So my language is Noongar, but then. Yeah.
00;10;33;08 - 00;10;37;17
Tappa
How do you say say hello. How are you it. And Noongar. Can you say that.
00;10;37;20 - 00;10;47;02
Leihani
I'm not fluent, but I know a couple words. Guy. Yeah. So hello is Kayo and then welcome is Wanjiru. I'm pretty sure I'm not 100%.
00;10;47;05 - 00;11;06;12
Tappa
That's all right. Yeah. Aliya. Well, that's all I got a midnight oil album and then the inside the inside cover, it has all the Aboriginal, very like, sort of states. Yeah. And it's amazing how many there is across this beautiful, wide, brown land of Australia. How many different Aboriginal nations there are?
00;11;06;14 - 00;11;20;09
Leihani
Our eyes. Yeah. It's so cool. Like and like like saying all the different names of them because it's really hard to pronounce like the words and like the, the mob names, but it's like so cool saying all the different like ones and how big they are and where they are.
00;11;20;11 - 00;11;26;05
Tappa
And that's how unreal that you and that is your goal to be on the the first indigenous woman on the World Championship tour.
00;11;26;05 - 00;11;32;25
Leihani
Yeah. Saint Sully do it. And then I was like, oh, I want to be the like first women to they. Yeah that's cool.
00;11;32;25 - 00;11;35;10
Tappa
And Sully and now the Byron Bay border rider today.
00;11;35;10 - 00;11;39;00
Leihani
Yeah. Yeah. He he's another one that inspires me as well.
00;11;39;07 - 00;11;53;16
Tappa
Yeah. He's a great surfer and a good black Sully. I've known him since. He's young, black and he's dad as well. Now overcoming injury. Now you had a bad like you're only, what, 13? And you had how well you had the knee injury because it took a while to get better didn't it.
00;11;53;16 - 00;12;12;21
Leihani
Yeah. So I had only just turned 12 and basically I was doing step offs with, Hulk and Chelsea. Well, Chelsea was filming, but Hulk you'd like, I did a step off on the jet ski, and then I did a turn, and then I rice and tried to do, like, a, a strider into the flats. I had no speed.
00;12;12;21 - 00;12;29;06
Leihani
I got called at the top of the Levi's, came down with the wave, and then my knee, like, went the wrong way. And, like, I landed really hard. And then I came off. All was crying and screaming, and I'm like. I was like, as soon as it happened, like all signs, definitely not right. Like, I think I broke my leg and stuff.
00;12;29;06 - 00;12;45;27
Leihani
And then I went in, got carrying all the baits, did all these mirrors. And that night I got on, you know, going to other stuff for at least six, eight weeks and went out. It was even longer because I, I tried to I didn't do my training once with, like my knee brace on so and end up being like eight.
00;12;45;29 - 00;12;50;25
Leihani
No, like, yeah, 8 to 12 weeks. I think it was until I could have one self thought.
00;12;50;25 - 00;12;57;28
Tappa
I know, I know with me that, that that almost killed me. That for a grom like you that these guys, let me surf.
00;12;57;28 - 00;13;09;03
Leihani
Yeah. It was really hard. And I say that because when I did it, the OSHA was on and the whys was so good, I was like, oh my God. And it was at snap all like, yeah, no one out. Basically, I was like, oh my God, for people.
00;13;09;03 - 00;13;09;09
Tappa
In the.
00;13;09;09 - 00;13;17;23
Leihani
Water. And this has to happen. And I went down to cheer on the team. And then I was sitting on the rock. I was like, damn, I really want to be out there. Yeah, definitely hurt.
00;13;17;25 - 00;13;33;24
Tappa
But then again, you've had plenty of time. Like, I think the last time I probably commentated was the okay, okay Grom comp and you had a great win and it was pumping for your your heat. Actually, I think your heat was probably the best waves of the whole time of the finals.
00;13;33;24 - 00;13;39;01
Leihani
Yeah. Yeah. It was so good. Well for the semis it was really good. But for our final it wasn't all that right.
00;13;39;01 - 00;13;39;12
Tappa
Yeah. It was a.
00;13;39;12 - 00;13;43;00
Leihani
Semi. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was so good. Just me and one other girl.
00;13;43;00 - 00;13;45;05
Tappa
And it was. Well I've had two sets too.
00;13;45;07 - 00;14;09;03
Leihani
Yeah. Yeah I remember one of the sets. It was like at least a 4 to 6ft set. And it was like and I was out the back like I was sitting just like off the rock and all that. Oh my god. Like, if I'm actual like a big on comms and get what I get so smashed. But I ended up catching one set once and my ball was too small because I thought the like the waves are going to be like 2 to 4 four and I were 4 to 6 four.
00;14;09;05 - 00;14;17;14
Leihani
And then I was like holding on the whole time. Like I thought I was going to fall off and like, my ball was going so bumpy cause I was always full of board.
00;14;17;16 - 00;14;22;01
Tappa
But you did pretty well. You got a couple, I think you got a did you get a tan in that semi?
00;14;22;02 - 00;14;22;23
Leihani
You,
00;14;22;25 - 00;14;25;19
Tappa
Or maybe you got. No, I don't know. I was right out there anyway.
00;14;25;20 - 00;14;29;02
Leihani
Yeah. I think I got an either 9 or 10 nines. Not too.
00;14;29;02 - 00;14;31;22
Tappa
Sure. Wow. That's not too bad, is it?
00;14;31;29 - 00;14;33;10
Leihani
Yeah.
00;14;33;13 - 00;14;48;01
Tappa
And, Now, now what you've got, of course. Amazing natural ability that, do you have to work on, like, your contest, strategy and stuff like that? Do you work on that with some people from Surfing Australia or that?
00;14;48;02 - 00;15;07;04
Leihani
Yeah. So I work with Chelsea. She just does like, like coaching stuff. I don't do too much like, hate drills just yet cuz I'm not focusing on that until, like, I feel like I'm ready to make the tour cuz, like, I'll like my friend here. She got like when she started trying to qualify. Like she just got on there like straight away.
00;15;07;04 - 00;15;28;06
Leihani
She have to like wait a couple years. But I want to try to do it like that so I don't have to like be on then like k spending money like. Yeah, because it's a lot of money to spend and I just want to get on there straight away. So when I know I'm ready to surf ten foot pipe and ten foot chopper, then I'll start like trying to qualify and like when I know I'm like as good as the, like, top girls or better.
00;15;28;13 - 00;15;34;03
Leihani
Yeah, that's when I will start. But yeah, I definitely like I do a couple of comparing. Do you hate.
00;15;34;06 - 00;15;46;09
Tappa
Yeah. No you don't you do the main ones. Anyway, now I noticed you've got a little roxie's sticker on your hat there now, now, Roxy, they're really supportive. And isn't Roxy still and with Carissa as well? Is that.
00;15;46;11 - 00;15;47;08
Leihani
No no no.
00;15;47;10 - 00;15;47;26
Tappa
No, but she.
00;15;47;26 - 00;15;50;25
Leihani
Was she about. Yeah. Yeah, she was when she was my idea.
00;15;51;00 - 00;15;53;24
Tappa
So Roxy, they look after Ian and do a bit for you.
00;15;53;24 - 00;16;00;06
Leihani
Yeah. Yeah, they're super supportive. And then really like, really great to me. I'm really, like, proud to be on their team.
00;16;00;08 - 00;16;18;29
Tappa
That's pretty cool. Cool team to be with there as well. Now this beautiful young lady has given me a present. Some of her artwork here. Now that is amazing. Like for those people who are listening, you can't say it, but now it's it's of course the indigenous style island. And can you tell us a bit about your artwork, what you do on that?
00;16;18;29 - 00;16;34;04
Leihani
Yeah. So basically a little story was the very first time I went to South High. I, I couldn't live like I couldn't afford to get there because I, like, I didn't have enough pocket money saved up from Christmas and my birthdays because I spent it on toys anyway.
00;16;34;04 - 00;16;35;06
Tappa
So pocket money.
00;16;35;06 - 00;16;52;03
Leihani
Yeah, yeah. So I was like, okay, I've got to like, figure out a way to get down for someone to go like, oh, like my artwork. Like I'm alright at it and like, people like I've had heaps of they will come out and say, like, you all looks very good. I was like, okay, maybe I could like, sell some and like, like use that money to get there.
00;16;52;10 - 00;17;08;19
Leihani
And then after that I was like, oh, I like really like doing this. Like, not like not for the money, but like just like because I like doing art and yeah, people like I think people kind of like it. So now I'm like, it's like a thing. I just like, I do my artworks and then if people want to buy it, I'll let them be at all.
00;17;08;19 - 00;17;13;00
Leihani
Like, I just give it to people as, like some present. So thank you. Good job.
00;17;13;02 - 00;17;23;20
Tappa
Oh, that that's awesome. That that is really cool. Now, yeah. So is for one that fills in a bit of time, like sometimes when you're a why do you take art stuff when you go right.
00;17;23;20 - 00;17;46;27
Leihani
Yeah. Well not all the time because like of like yeah, yeah. But when I'm at home I do a lot. I just like it just helps me like, I know it just, like, makes me feel really connected. And I. It calms me down, like from all like the how I feel like when I'm surfing, I like, get like kind of like, I don't know, I don't know, I just like, I don't know what the, what is.
00;17;46;29 - 00;17;50;20
Leihani
But then like when I'm doing all it, it just makes me feel calm, I guess.
00;17;50;20 - 00;17;51;01
Tappa
Oh, yeah.
00;17;51;02 - 00;17;59;08
Leihani
Just like I'm calm when I surf, but I'm just, like. Really? Like, I want to stuff really good surf and have, like, a fun. And then just like, doing all it's just calms me down from it all.
00;17;59;16 - 00;18;10;21
Tappa
Now, whether that's in an indigenous style. Did you have anybody show you have an Add or explain to you if you could explain to us what, like what the like normally that I have a little bit of a story, don't they.
00;18;10;21 - 00;18;42;18
Leihani
Yeah, yeah. So my mom taught me how to do it like when I was little, I seen her dates of artwork, and my mom's, like, really good friends. She's really good at doing artwork. And so I seen my mom doing. Then I was like, hey, mom, can you teach me how to do it? Looks so cool. So she taught me a couple of did, like, little designs and like, what the symbols meant and what ones like, like, she told me all the stories and like, so I use, like, all her things, and I, like, create it into my own way and, like, do you like all these different colors that matched
00;18;42;18 - 00;18;52;12
Leihani
what the story behind it is? Like? You'll want there. That one is like all the tides changing and like the ocean because like the colors and the symbols, that's what it means.
00;18;52;15 - 00;18;55;28
Tappa
That's really cool. Thank you for that too. I'm sorry. Stacked. That's. Yeah.
00;18;56;01 - 00;18;57;11
Leihani
I really have you all.
00;18;57;13 - 00;19;05;06
Tappa
That's unreal. Yeah, that's really cool. And I love the colors to the blue. There. Now you were mentioning stab. Hi. Before you went to stab. Hi this year in Japan was it.
00;19;05;06 - 00;19;06;23
Leihani
Yeah. Japan. And Sydney.
00;19;06;25 - 00;19;14;16
Tappa
So how was it competing at stab Art? Because that's like like, you know, that's against some girls that are a lot older than you too. So. So how was that?
00;19;14;20 - 00;19;31;28
Leihani
Yeah, it's there's a lot of pressure in it. The one in Japan, in the final, I was on my last wave and I hadn't landed anything. And then I was like, okay, like, I've got a landslide of I don't want to come loss. And I didn't want to come loss. So I had to I was like really nervous.
00;19;31;28 - 00;19;51;16
Leihani
I was like, oh my God. But my dad was like, okay, I believe in you. You can do this. And then I was like, really calm. And then I, I end up landing an aura and then I like ended up coming second to eight walla and then in the one in Sydney, I came third and I landed the best backhand there I've ever landed.
00;19;51;16 - 00;20;01;29
Leihani
I think it just the like the state on it felt so good and I felt like I was really high. And I like the climb at the end that I did to make I feel like, yeah, let's go, let's do this.
00;20;02;02 - 00;20;10;17
Tappa
Yeah. So when did you start first doing aerials? What? What did any. Is there any surfer that inspired you to go to the air?
00;20;10;20 - 00;20;31;22
Leihani
My dad's like pretty good at as he was like the kind of guy that did ads and, but I'm trying to think, who was that at first? And, I think it was like when I seen the first lady birds, I seen Aaron and Katie and yeah, I do. And I was like, oh my God. Like, imagine if I was one of those lady like, how cool would it be?
00;20;31;22 - 00;20;47;15
Leihani
And there you are. I know now I, I'm like, my dream came true and yeah, I've. Yeah, ever since that first lady birds I was like I want to try to as. But I landed my first air when I was even 9 or 10. It was just a little strange. No, no, no, it was when I was nine.
00;20;47;18 - 00;20;49;28
Leihani
No. Yeah. No I yeah.
00;20;50;00 - 00;20;57;19
Tappa
Oh my God. Those guys out there that are in their mid 20s gone. Oh I can't though I know what she did one at nine. Yeah. She didn't want at nine.
00;20;57;21 - 00;20;59;12
Leihani
It was only like that big though.
00;20;59;14 - 00;21;15;18
Tappa
It was just like oh I need one like that. Once I was at rainbow and one of the hazards dropped in behind me, and then I there's Tampa Bay, so I tried why not? I did a master got it, and I actually fell off after I landed because I was laughing so hard. But yeah, that's it. I only do this by mistake.
00;21;15;24 - 00;21;29;09
Tappa
Oh, and probably haven't done one for a long time, but, yes, I the lady bird. So that's that's pretty cool to be amongst that. All these women and and who do you see is the best women aerialists out there at the moment?
00;21;29;12 - 00;21;32;08
Leihani
I don't know. Sierra miller a really good.
00;21;32;11 - 00;21;33;25
Tappa
That was amazing, isn't she?
00;21;33;25 - 00;21;49;10
Leihani
Yeah. Yeah, I feel like, I don't know, like either one of, like, those two because they both can, like, do the really good rotations and like, get so hot. Like, I would probably say Sierra because she can do all the different like grabs and like that Mila can't. But she's got.
00;21;49;10 - 00;21;50;08
Tappa
A pretty good teacher though.
00;21;50;08 - 00;21;56;05
Leihani
And she. Yeah. And I say, you know, like the flip the other day I was like, oh my God, was that flip? Yeah, yeah.
00;21;56;06 - 00;21;57;23
Tappa
So that's stuff you aspire to do.
00;21;57;26 - 00;22;06;17
Leihani
Yeah, yeah. My goal is to kind of flip before I turn 14. Haha. Yeah I, I've had a couple of like kind of close ones, but I haven't landed any yet.
00;22;06;22 - 00;22;15;03
Tappa
Well and like do you find like is it just like the the wife pulls a really good to practice the is in. Is that the place you probably like to go more.
00;22;15;06 - 00;22;36;16
Leihani
Yeah. I learned how to do like as in the ocean though, like that's how I had to learn. But definitely the wife would be so much like easier to learn because you just get the same section every time. And like, it depends like how many like, like waves you book or sessions you book. Yeah. But yeah, it's definitely the like a lot easier to land them, you know, you know, I feel.
00;22;36;19 - 00;22;47;27
Tappa
I get what you're talking about like the pressure in the wave pool because it's different to in the surf because you know that we've it and you now you gotta get because everyone off surfed away pulls weed. It's kind of like pressure. Just when you stand up on the Y.
00;22;47;28 - 00;22;59;15
Leihani
Yeah. And you know that everyone's staring at you, like waiting for you to do something good. And if you don't do something good, they're like, oh, I guess. But then, like, it depends how good your attempt is. But it's better if you land, right?
00;22;59;15 - 00;23;16;22
Tappa
Yeah. Well, next one you are in the Surfing Australia, Olympic program. So they try like picking at young athletes to head them towards the Olympics. Now you're in that program, are you aiming for any Olympics in particular?
00;23;16;25 - 00;23;37;24
Leihani
I mean, any Olympics is good. It's like the Olympics. That's the pinnacle of sport, I guess. But, I want to go to, like, because, like, it's in, like, I don't know, like, like, my, like, first light on. My name is Alma Rogers. First letter is I. So, like, I guess, probably more Brisbane because I'll be a little bit older and hopefully a little bit better.
00;23;37;24 - 00;23;47;21
Leihani
And, maybe on the tour. So I have a bit of practice against those girls that will be probably at the Olympics, but I don't know. Any Olympics is good.
00;23;47;23 - 00;23;54;22
Tappa
Yeah. What happens with the Surfing Australia, Olympic program? What what what do they do there? Like what's part of that being in that, in that group.
00;23;54;29 - 00;24;15;20
Leihani
So, there's a couple of coaches you can choose. So my coach is Chelsea and basically I do like some stuff at the beach with her, but, like, she just like coaches me and like, gives me some tips and feedback on how I'm going and, like, what I can do to get even better. And then they have, like, stuff in the gym.
00;24;15;20 - 00;24;32;13
Leihani
So they have trainers there that like, will help you out and get you stronger physios, nutritionist or mindfulness, like people like the psychologists and like, yeah they have it's really great there. They have all these like really cool and really good people.
00;24;32;16 - 00;24;45;21
Tappa
That that's really good at that. I do that now. Do you do do you find you do much strength training in the gym because you're is still growing obviously. Yeah. You know I told the May already and she said I'm not a great achievement or overcome. All my kids have but.
00;24;45;21 - 00;25;05;14
Leihani
Yeah yeah yeah I do. I do a lot of like training in the gym. I must say a big thank you to Paulie for helping me, get stronger. And if it wasn't for him, I would have. Only one like that works because when I injured my knee, he, like, got me back, to like or like, like my normal surfing.
00;25;05;17 - 00;25;22;28
Leihani
And then he's helped me, after my injury as well. To try to get stronger and get, like, better at surfing as well, because the stuff in the gym I feel like helps in the ocean as well because like if you need to have stronger legs to land and air or stronger ankles, then, yeah, he really helped me with all that like kind of stuff.
00;25;23;06 - 00;25;30;07
Leihani
So thank you to Polly. But yeah, I do like training maybe three times a week. And then I do, I fell in like some of the.
00;25;30;08 - 00;25;31;26
Tappa
People I felt.
00;25;31;28 - 00;25;33;20
Leihani
Only two days a like.
00;25;33;22 - 00;25;35;16
Tappa
You're you're very tall for your age.
00;25;35;16 - 00;25;46;27
Leihani
Yeah. Yeah, I did I see, like, footy, like AFL because I just do, torch and like, a little bit of training with my brother because he's really good. He's he's the next Dustin.
00;25;46;29 - 00;25;50;08
Tappa
Oh, slight look at all the habits in like that. She's a man. Yeah.
00;25;50;09 - 00;26;02;03
Leihani
Tigers fan. Yeah. We both go from the same team. So every time the gang's on we always messaging, each other being like, oh, do you see that goal? That guy kicked in like, oh, damn, I wish we had a one. The game. It's. Yeah, it's really funny.
00;26;02;05 - 00;26;05;22
Tappa
It's cool to tell. I guess supporters watch out because I call her a little tiger because.
00;26;05;22 - 00;26;07;06
Leihani
She is a little. Yeah, yeah.
00;26;07;13 - 00;26;10;04
Tappa
You want to be good till I get a bit younger. Yeah.
00;26;10;06 - 00;26;11;21
Leihani
Until I like.
00;26;11;23 - 00;26;17;19
Tappa
And now we've got the big awards night coming up. You're up for our award at the, Surfing Australia Hall of Fame awards as well.
00;26;17;19 - 00;26;26;27
Leihani
Yeah, I'm a little bit nervous, so. Because if, like, if I somehow won, I have to do a speech and I get kind of nervous speaking in front of large crowds.
00;26;26;29 - 00;26;29;18
Tappa
You do pretty well. Who are you up against?
00;26;29;20 - 00;26;31;23
Leihani
I'm up against Mila Brown and Charlie Lee.
00;26;31;29 - 00;26;38;08
Tappa
Oh, I know Charlie two, Chicago and Mila. They both. I ripped two sides. Pretty good company in there with.
00;26;38;09 - 00;26;39;18
Leihani
Yeah, they're so good.
00;26;39;20 - 00;26;43;15
Tappa
That's an honor, though, to be to be considered at that at only 13 as well.
00;26;43;18 - 00;26;44;08
Leihani
Yeah.
00;26;44;11 - 00;26;47;27
Tappa
What they millis what 1718 or something.
00;26;47;27 - 00;26;49;18
Leihani
Yeah. 18 I think Charlie.
00;26;49;18 - 00;26;51;08
Tappa
1616.
00;26;51;08 - 00;26;51;24
Leihani
Yeah. Yes.
00;26;51;24 - 00;26;54;10
Tappa
I you're the baby of marching playing. He's left at that.
00;26;54;14 - 00;26;55;11
Leihani
Yeah.
00;26;55;13 - 00;26;58;25
Tappa
But that should be I getting frogged up for it. Getting all dressed.
00;26;58;25 - 00;27;14;08
Leihani
Up. Yeah I got my nails done and I went looking for a dress. Just before. And then like the day, of the, like the awards night, and I'm going to the hairdressers and getting my makeup done. I know, it's so funny. I've never done selling, like, really for. No.
00;27;14;11 - 00;27;35;24
Tappa
Oh, that's cool. So you'll be all dressed up and. Yeah, that's really cool. Yeah. I have to say that more. I have to go to the red carpet and check it out now. Your future. Like what? Are there any things that you're looking to do, like in the future? As in, like, like maneuvers and that that you that you haven't done before besides flips, is it again to do a flip by 14?
00;27;35;24 - 00;27;41;09
Tappa
Is there any other things that you like? You've seen other sports, you think maybe you could do that?
00;27;41;12 - 00;28;02;14
Leihani
I don't know. I feel like I've always thought of, like, trying to create my own, like, maneuver or er. But I'm still not too sure. I'm still, like, trying to think of one, so not yet. But I've seen, like, Zach do, some of the craziest, like, tweaked out and like, weird scrubs and different rotations. And I'm like, one of the ones that I want to land is a single flip.
00;28;02;17 - 00;28;02;21
Leihani
Is.
00;28;02;21 - 00;28;04;05
Tappa
That when I flip the ball while they're.
00;28;04;05 - 00;28;17;02
Leihani
In the air? Yeah, it's a superman. And then like, it's like a, an Ollie at the bottom, like you do a Superman, and then you, like, flip your board and you go to try to land. It's really confusing. I he's the only one that's ever landed. One I think. I'm pretty sure.
00;28;17;05 - 00;28;19;14
Tappa
Yeah, I think I've seen that on, one of his videos.
00;28;19;14 - 00;28;20;28
Leihani
Yeah. And.
00;28;21;01 - 00;28;25;17
Tappa
And, where are your favorite places to surf? Like, obviously broken.
00;28;25;17 - 00;28;36;20
Leihani
Yeah. Broken. Definitely on Lenox Point. I love it there. And then, yeah, maybe somewhere around here, the Goldie like Snapple Diva I like.
00;28;36;22 - 00;28;40;24
Tappa
What's a favorite place you've traveled to like overseas destination?
00;28;40;27 - 00;28;48;28
Leihani
Obviously Hawaii is my, like, favorite. Koalas is my favorite, like, surf spot in the whole world. Where's that, koala?
00;28;48;28 - 00;28;49;16
Tappa
Where's that?
00;28;49;16 - 00;28;52;00
Leihani
So it's on the South Shore.
00;28;52;03 - 00;28;52;15
Tappa
Oh, yeah.
00;28;52;15 - 00;29;07;07
Leihani
And yeah, it's like why crucial issue is on the South Shore. So when I go there she like she loves surfing there as well. So I do like stuff with her and her dad and like some of the other kids he coaches as well. And that's my favorite places. Us.
00;29;07;09 - 00;29;09;00
Tappa
Oh what is it, a right or left?
00;29;09;03 - 00;29;24;23
Leihani
It's a like an iPhone pic, so it's like right and left. Oh, wow. And then like, sometimes barrels. And then on the right there's a really good section as well. And the wall is always blurry. There's always like really like pretty looking fish. Like they've got all these cool colors in the race, like really pretty. And it's what.
00;29;24;25 - 00;29;27;29
Leihani
Yeah. It's always blue. Yeah. It's my favorite place to stuff.
00;29;27;29 - 00;29;30;03
Tappa
And when he got to Hawaii next.
00;29;30;06 - 00;29;46;01
Leihani
We're trying to go out there next year. Yeah. If we can like, find enough money and get enough money. Yeah. I love going there, and I feel like it helps me a lot with, like, the, like the, bigger wide stuff as well. And because it's so much more powerful than here. Yeah. So it really helps me.
00;29;46;01 - 00;29;48;02
Leihani
But yeah, hopefully next year.
00;29;48;04 - 00;29;55;25
Tappa
Oh that's awesome. You've got a lot going on. And yes, I went what how are will you be when you get to get on tour when you're ready.
00;29;55;25 - 00;30;06;13
Leihani
Is it. Yeah. I don't know I hope I like can start college. Why not? I hope I can like, be on the tour, like when I'm 18, around like that age.
00;30;06;17 - 00;30;07;17
Tappa
Not as young as Aaron.
00;30;07;23 - 00;30;24;07
Leihani
No, no, I don't want to be on there, like, touring, because I don't want to get burnt out. Yeah, and, like, just, not surf ever again, like, because, like, you know, like when you, like, do it to young, you can sometimes get bored of it. I want to just do it forever. So, like, I'm okay to take the long game.
00;30;24;12 - 00;30;38;15
Tappa
Well, that's like Steph Gilmore. She finished grade 12 and did a formal and everything because of this. Like, I reckon Steph could have won a couple of titles earlier, but I think you say is what a beautiful all round person she is. That that that's sort of been a help I think.
00;30;38;15 - 00;30;39;24
Leihani
Yeah for sure. Yeah.
00;30;40;01 - 00;30;41;22
Tappa
And you got a school day?
00;30;41;25 - 00;31;00;20
Leihani
Yeah. I go to school at Hillcrest Christian College. I had to like, go there because like, my normal, like, my bar in high school, like, kicked me out because, like, I was missing too many days because I was like, yeah, yeah. And I was traveling, like, quite a bit lost all this year. So like.
00;31;00;20 - 00;31;15;19
Leihani
And I wasn't like, yeah, that wasn't giving me enough schoolwork. So I had to like, find somewhere else. And then, Hillcrest, like, were like, we can, like you like, want to go to school? We can do, the, like, online stuff. So I go there now, and they're so, like, they're really great.
00;31;15;24 - 00;31;18;17
Tappa
So that's just like, when you're away, you've got to do a little bit of study.
00;31;18;17 - 00;31;27;12
Leihani
And so yeah, I do it at night though. So like when I'm like calming down, I can do my schoolwork and not have to worry about it during the day.
00;31;27;19 - 00;31;31;07
Tappa
But that takes a bit of dedication. You've got to dedicate yourself to that.
00;31;31;08 - 00;31;49;02
Leihani
Yeah, yeah. Because, like, I, I think that I'm not too sure yet what I want to do. Like, if I don't make Collin Pro stuff, I think I want to be a doctor, though, because I'm really intrigued to know, like the bones and the muscles and things like that. Like the, the thing I want to do, like, out of all the, like, doctor kind of things is a heart surgeon.
00;31;49;02 - 00;31;52;19
Leihani
I'm just really, like, fascinated with heart. So I don't know why.
00;31;52;21 - 00;32;01;16
Tappa
Wow, that that is cool. Now, there's one thing I've left out, and I forgot you do a lot of charity stuff and help people out. And I think you like this one. What's the kindness.
00;32;01;16 - 00;32;25;28
Leihani
Project? Yeah, yeah. What are you doing there? So basically, I do it every year, and it's for kids that don't have a lawn and, they don't, like, get a lot for Christmas, and they need help with getting things like school stuff for the, like, year. So basically I went there yesterday to came out and got all the stuff and I packed the bags this morning and we have nine girls and nine boys.
00;32;25;28 - 00;32;47;13
Leihani
So there's 18 bags in total for all the different kids. And, you like, get stuff that they all need, like for school. And then I added, like a little, like a fidget toy for them because I like, I use them as well when I'm doing school because I can get sometimes like a little bit angry. So you pack all the bags of the stuff and then you take it back to the Kindness Project and they will, give it to all the kids that need it.
00;32;47;15 - 00;32;58;05
Leihani
And we, we're trying to get like other people to do it because it's, I feel like it's a really great thing to be giving back to, the community and helping out people that don't have a lot now.
00;32;58;05 - 00;33;04;09
Tappa
Well, how can people get onto the Kindness Project? You know, had a just go online and Google a kindness project?
00;33;04;09 - 00;33;15;04
Leihani
Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty sure you Google like they have an Instagram account. Yeah. So you can go on the Instagram and message them. Otherwise I'm pretty sure they had like a website on Google or something like that. Yeah.
00;33;15;06 - 00;33;33;25
Tappa
Well you're multitasking. You want to be a doctor? One of my favorite bands, right? Yeah. Third, when the lead guitarist, he's an airline and Air Force pilot and, and a, a trauma ward surgeon as well. Wow. So I there's nothing you can't do, young lady. Lahyani. Oh, I am so impressed. Future doctor, future world champion and a definitely a champion young lady.
00;33;33;27 - 00;33;35;13
Tappa
Thanks for coming on the green Room. Thank you.
00;33;35;13 - 00;33;37;28
Leihani
So much.
00;33;38;00 - 00;33;57;28
Tappa
You guys, for catching the waves. You, Happy birthday pop. Thanks for tuning into the green room. Hey, thanks. Would you like to get your name in the Green Room podcast? Well, we are looking for sponsors, so if you want to get a sponsorship, check it out at Pod Fire. Lots of people can hear about your product on one of the best podcasts around the green room.
00;33;57;28 - 00;34;18;00
Tappa
So, check it out. Pod fire. Thanks for tuning into the green Room. A big thank you to our guests for sharing their stories and insights. And pod Fire for bringing this podcast to life. Don't forget to subscribe, like, leave a review and share the green room with your friends. We'll catch you next time for more conversations with the legends of Surf and beyond.
00;34;18;03 - 00;34;20;05
Tappa
Until then, catch you in the waves.