Tatiana Weston-Webb certainly knows how to get barreled, as she’s shown time and time again on tour. Photo: WSL
Tatiana Weston-Webb is many things. A decorated professional surfer, an Olympian, an actress, and now a mother. When she was younger, surfing was everything. Now her priorities have shifted.
I sat down with Tati to get to know her and hear her story, how motherhood is treating her, and to discuss her comeback to professional surfing.
Talk about your upbringing and how that influenced you as a surfer?
I was born in Brazil but raised on the island of Kauai. The waves influenced my surfing a lot because Kauai is very diverse in its waves and obviously there’s been a lot of professional surfers that have come out of this island. Kauai is a place with great beachbreaks, point breaks, rights, lefts, barrels, fat waves, small waves, big waves, all the above. We’ve been very lucky to grow up on this island and be able to have diversity in our waves and also I like heavier waves because of growing up here.
How did you get the opportunity to play Bethany Hamilton in the film Soul Surfer?
Because of one of the producers. He saw me surfing at the Haleiwa contest and saw that I had white hair and I was a goofy footer. And then he was like, “Oh this is probably a perfect fit.” So he came up to me and asked if I wanted to do it. And at that time I had already known Bethany and been her friend. And so I think Bethany’s family also suggested me. Good fit. To this day I’m still really good friends with Bethany. It was a crazy experience to have at the age of 14 to be one of the main roles as second-set stunt double.
You have arguably the strongest backhand on tour, how did that happen?
Thank you. I feel very grateful that you think that. Now there’s so many good girls with amazing backhands. I think Caroline (Marks) obviously is one of them. Molly (Picklum) is incredible as well. Going left. That being said I think I got a lot of practice being from here in Kauai.There’s a point break called Hanalei. And it’s where I grew up surfing. Everyday after school. And yeah that definitely shaped my backside surfing growing up.
How has the tour changed since you joined in 2015?
Yeah it seems like the format changes almost every year but I feel like right now, the tour is in a really, really great place. Sometimes it’s hard for me to keep up especially this last year because my mind has been occupied in mother world. But I think the format right now is really interesting and it’s super fun to watch. All the new rookies and so many women on tour.
What did the Olympics mean to you as a Brazilian and as a surfer? How was it taking home silver in Tahiti and being the first female surfer from Brazil to win an Olympic medal?
The Olympics were something that I always dreamt about as a young surfer. It was really important for me to achieve my obvious goal of making and qualifying for the Olympics. And then obviously after that goal having another goal be winning a medal. And having achieved those, especially in Tahiti, was something so special, representing Brazil and being one of the first female athletes from Brazil to do that in surfing has been just a dream come true. I had crazy recognition in Brazil. A lot of people realize and remember that I got the silver for surfing. And yeah, it was a dream come true really. There is no other words I can describe it with, other than something I worked so hard for and when it came true it was a dream.
What was it like learning the ropes in waves of consequence? Was it any harder as a woman?
I feel like waves of consequence have always been something I’ve been very passionate about, especially growing up in Hawaii and having an older brother that always pushed me. He pushed me beyond the boundaries of what some girls were used to. I think the other girl that for me was crazy good at pushing boundaries was Keala Kennelly. And I loved watching her, especially in Blue Crush. So it was always my dream to get a really big barrel. Some type of big wave that is not obviously like a big wave but it’s like a heavy wave. And having Tahiti on tour after many years of me advocating for it was a dream come true.
And then once I got that 10 at Tahiti, that was another crazy dream come true. A wave like that was looming in the back of my mind. One I needed to get to solidify that aspect of my career.
I’d say it was really hard as a girl trying to push the boundaries with waves of consequence. I remember being told various times by people that I shouldn’t be out or that they didn’t want to waste a wave or a set wave on a female. So to have the respect in female surfing that it does today is crazy and I’m really really grateful for it.
Favorite memory from the tour?
It has to be getting my 10 at Tahiti. Or making the final five with Carissa and having that three heat battle. The surf off. It was a really fun opportunity. And at that moment I was really devastated obviously to lose a world title but looking back I’m so proud of the performance that I had and getting second in the world. It’s a huge feat and even though you’re not a world champion, you’re close to it. I am proud of myself for making such a strong effort.
Gnarliest wipeout from the tour?
I definitely had some gnarly ones at Tahiti. Hitting the reef and stuff but I think all of those were full of adrenaline. I think the gnarliest wipeouts are when you don’t expect it. There were some really heavy years in Portugal and that cold water makes the wipeouts even worse. There’s one in Fiji that I had in 2024. I almost went face first into the reef but somehow I got so lucky. It was my heat against Brisa (Hennessy). I think in the quarters or something like that. Yeah it was gnarly.
How about the best wave of your life? Walk us through the experience.
The best wave of my life was definitely at Tahiti. It was a pinnacle moment for my career and I was so scared because I remember the waves were getting gnarlier and bigger. Once I got my six I turned around and was getting worked on the inside and I had priority and then Ross (Williams) said as soon as I was paddling past, “Sit like meters further out. There’s bigger waves that you can catch.” And so when I sat in my spot I literally took 10 strokes further out and then as soon as I sat on my board the big, blue wall came towards me. And I was like “Okay, here we go.” I made the drop then did the bottom turn into the barrel. The rest, you know when you’re going to make the barrel when you pull in because sometimes it’s just so big and it’s like kind of impossible. I felt like there was no way I was going to fall after I made the drop and pulled in. So, once I came out, I was just really proud of myself and beyond baffled that it worked like that, especially after Ross was like “Sit further out, catch a bigger wave.”
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Congratulations on motherhood. What are your goals as a professional surfer now, as a mom?
It’s really hard to create goals right now especially being so fresh after birth. I definitely miss surfing like crazy and now that l’m watching the Gold Coast and the waves are firing, it’s definitely putting a little fire under my butt to want to be able to compete again. Especially when you get firing waves. I have simple goals right now as far as myself and my performance. I want to figure out my boards, get my body back in shape and be able to learn how to compete again.
Do you plan on making a comeback? How about for the next Olympics?
My goal as a mother is to be the best possible mother I can. Being a surfer, the world revolves so much around you and what you want and your time for everything. And if there’s a swell you can go and etcetera, etcetera. If you need a rest day you can rest. Or if you need to train, you can train at any moment. But now as a mom obviously your time is 100 percent dedicated to your child. It’s just such a crazy thing that you’re like, “Hey what do I do? Do I do dishes? Do I fold clothes? Do I clean the house? Or do I make food? Or do I go train? Do I do my physical rehab? Do I do like anything else? Do I do my nails or brush my hair or take a shower?” So there’s not a whole lot of time when you have a baby that’s so young. So I imagine with age it’s going to get easier. Or not. I’ve heard from many people that once they’re in the toddler years it’s even harder. But that being said, I’m exclusively breastfeeding right now and that’s a crazy amount of effort.
I left the tour because I was having burnout as an athlete. Ten years of non-stop hard work. And my psychologist said that it was not very healthy for me to keep going. I made that decision with my family and my team. I sat with (my husband) Jesse (Mendes). We had a quick conversation about the way things were going. We tried to have a baby and the first try, it just happened so it was meant to be. It was the best decision we’ve ever made. The best thing that could ever have happened to us. And as far as my comeback, definitely coming back in 2027. Really excited that I have a full year to train and get back to 100 percent health and physical shape. And then also get back into surfing a lot. As far as the next Olympics goes, definitely would love to qualify but I’m not putting any extra pressure myself as far as that goes ‘cuz I feel like I need to take it one step at a time.
