Kim Mearig – Interview
Describe your earliest surfing memory.
I’ll never forget my first wave. It was at Sandspit. No one surfed it back then. It’s a fast breaking wave, so I had to learn to stand up fast. I rode that first wave all the way to the beach. That was between 6th and 7th grade. I think 1975.
What led you to competition?
I guess I was talked into it. Al Merrick noticed me and started paying for my contest entry fees and giving me free boards when I was about 14. He helped me get sponsored by O’Neil wetsuits too. I was dominating the various local contest organizations, but things really happened when I hit the NSSA and got to travel the world to different contests. After that, I entered a bunch of pro/am events and started beating professionals like Lynne Boyer, Liz Benavidez, and Debbie Beacham, so I knew I was on to something. My parents were behind me because the NSSA made sure I kept my grades up. Also, surfing contests took up a lot of time and kept me away from drugs. It really gave me a goal. Once I got full sponsorship and realized I could make a better living than most of my friends, I knew it was for me.
Did competition ever clash with your mellow disposition?
It got to me later. People demanded more time. Sure I was shy, but it was a conscious decision to get away from it. I always loved getting away from the scene and surfing secluded waves like the Ranch here at home. But don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing like winning an event and standing on the podium in front of all those people. It’s a high that lasts for weeks.
Who were your inspirations as a surfer?
Lynne Boyer was my earliest inspiration. I remember doing a collage in art class on someone I looked up to. I did mine on Lynne. I was inspired when I saw a picture of her holding up a trophy or doing a huge turn. Back in those days there wasn’t as much access to video, so I really remember those images. Rell Sun was amazing too. But it was strange that first year on tour during pre-contest meetings. I was star struck. I was surrounded by my childhood heroes. The guys were all there too like Shaun Tomson and Mark Richards.
Who was your greatest rival?
Frieda Zamba. We came on at the same time and went at it the most. I remember seeing her the first time. She was so radical, trying things that were so difficult. We used to say that whenever she stops falling, she’ll be really good (laughs). But I beat her to win my first title and then came a close second to her a few years later. We were different from the last generation. We were doing lay backs and 360’s, really mastering our skills in smaller waves. Me in California and Frieda in Florida, we didn’t have access to giant waves like Oberg and Boyer.
What role did Al Merrick and Tom Curren have in your surfing career/ development?
Al Merrick was a mellow guy and was always there at the contests. He was my first sponsor. He organized Channel Islands team work outs and was a really hands on shaper. As for Tom, I have known him since junior high school. His success was a real inspiration for sure. You won’t believe this, my daughter dates his son. I call it an “industry experiment.” (laughs)
Tom mentioned in an interview that Al became a father figure, kind of a spiritual mentor.
Well, Tom’s dad left pretty early so I think he had a little different relationship. He was really looking for that connection.
For a female professional surfer, what was life like on tour in the 80’s?
For me, it was fine. I had full sponsorship and got to stay in pretty nice accommodations along the way. I traveled with my friend Alisa Swarzstein and we had a blast. Other girls who didn’t have the backing really had to scrape by and it was rough. So I can’t complain. I was stressing a bit that first year when I finished 18th and Hang Ten dropped me. But I saved my money from the that year and put it towards the next season. I went on tour without a sponsor, won 4 events, a car, and the world title. That was a good year.
What was your worst memory of those days?
My last run for the title, we went to Australia to finish the year and I was the dark horse, still in the race but behind. I was ranked third and had to win all the Australian finals to win the title. I won Bells, came in 2nd in the next event. Wendy Botha was freaking and didn’t even show to watch the last event. In the finals against Toni Sawyer, I had it all won in the dying seconds. The countdown started and Toni got a wave and the score to win just before the horn. I had never lost to Toni. I don’t know if it was political or anything, but regardless, I remember the cameras in my face and someone asking, “How does it feel to lose the world title?”
How do you look back and make sense of your surfing career from your present life?
I used to really like the attention, but not anymore. Strangely, I think I am more popular now than I was then and I don’t like being recognized. Looking back, I think I should have kept competing after my son was born. When I came back to win the OP Pro after retiring, I realized that I wasn’t just using my talent anymore. I went out with a plan and was really relaxed. I was more mature and could have done really well on the new high performance equipment.
Why did you quit the tour?
I got bored near the end. Going to the same places over and over again. I was using those last few years like a vacation. My husband would meet me in Australia and we would go to Bali or New Zealand on the way home. I had already proven myself and had reached my goals. I asked myself, do I need to keep doing this? But I was still getting paid, so I kept going for a while. I got a bonus from OP if I stayed in the top 5. I finished 5th my last two years (laughs). OP supported me for a while after I quit, but I got pregnant three months after leaving the tour. I thought I might start a surf school in a nice hotel like Margo did, but I never really made the move.
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