Dan's Papers - June 5, 2009 - Lisa Anderson, World Class Surfer, Visits Montauk

She basically invented the concept of the professional female surfer. Lisa Andersen, four time professional world surfing champion, mother, inspiration and legend, found a very unconventional way to success: a surfboard and a dream.

Sitting on the Quiksilver bus with Andersen was like sitting with surfing royalty. The perpetually in shape Andersen, with blonde hair and the perfect surfer tan, was snuggled into her black Roxy parka to defend against the Montauk rain last week. You can see the history of her remarkable life in her deep blue eyes, from her decision at age 16 to run away to Huntington Beach, California to pursue her surfing dream, to being on the cover of Surfer Magazine in 1995 with a headline that read "Lisa Andersen Surfs Better Than You," to four consecutive World Championship Titles between 1994 and 1997.

She's charming and relaxed, like most surfers, and surprisingly humble for being one of the most important people to ever ride a wave. Asked how it felt to be responsible for women in professional surfing being taken seriously, she said, "I'm not responsible for it. There are countless other people and other girls that have made surfing what it is today."

Andersen has been traveling throughout Montauk with an entourage of big name wave riders, visiting local surf shops, signing autographs and acting as an ambassador to the popular girl's surfing line, Roxy.

"The first time I came here was about three or four years ago for a surf contest. It was sort of a talent search for some local girls in the area. It was a lot of fun and we did notice a few girls here, in particular Quincy Davis who surfs in Puerto Rico in the wintertime and here in the summer. We also did a surf camp for newspaper and magazine editors so that they could experience the surfing lifestyle," she said.

For a woman who's seen just about every beautiful beach and place in the entire world, Montauk was on Andersen's favorites list - coming from her that's really saying something. "For me the whole area is just incredible. I'm a nature person, and being able to have the country feel and then the beach is just awesome. I'm a dreamer and am settled in California, but I was just telling the bus driver how I could easily live here and be happy."

Andersen is traveling with Quiksilver team riders Mark Healy, Peter Mel and Balaram Stack. With a major sponsor behind them and surfing medals to boot, the group is living a life that's pretty much what every surfer in Montauk dreams about. "Riding around on a bus with a bunch of your friends to go surfing is pretty fun," she said.

Becoming a legend is never easy however, but one surefire way to achieve that is to win at every level of competition. When Andersen first entered surfing contests, she'd win every one and it wasn't unusual for her to be compared to men in the sport, something never heard of in the late '80s. Chicks who can surf? I mean really surf? Impossible. But Andersen never backed down, somewhat of a hallmark of her personality. Her autobiography is appropriately titled, Fearlessness: The Story of Lisa Andersen.

When she first entered the competition arena, Andersen won 35 National Scholastic Surfing Association trophies in 8 months and then the U.S. Championships at Sebastien Inlet in 1987. The surfing world absolutely loved her and her face was everywhere. Winning most of everything she competed in was important, but having beach girl looks and a lean body didn't hurt either. In 1990 Andersen was a pro and rose quickly in the ranks, becoming the "it" girl of the ASP Tour in 1994, winning the World Championships.

When the Roxy Surfwear line was launched in 1990, Andersen was an obvious fit for the company and quickly became their face. Today, Roxy is synonymous with females that surf as much as Andersen is. The lifestyle brand brings in roughly $750 million in sales each year.

Although it was a brief visit to Montauk, it was a powerful one for her fans, who packed surf shops in Montauk like Air and Speed, and flocked down to Ditch Plains beach for a chance at a picture and an autograph. Montauk will certainly miss her, but it won't be the last time it sees her.