Bella, doing her thing. Photo: @JRKenworthy
Bella Kenworthy was destined to be a surfer. The daughter of legendary surf photographer Jason Kenworthy, Bella grew up in the Pacific Ocean around San Clemente, Calif. Her earliest memories date back to her kindergarten days when her dad took her to Doheny State Beach to surf before school.
“My dad got me and my siblings into surfing,” says Bella. “He would go surf and I would come to the beach and catch waves on the beach when he would come in.”
Bella grew up surrounded by the world’s best surfers. Her dad regularly travelled for his work and oftentimes, Bella would accompany him on his trips. Carissa Moore, Coco Ho, Kolohe Andino, and Andy Irons were a part of her life since infancy.
“She thought everyone was a surfing world champ when she was little,” jokes Jason. “She grew up with all these pro surfers — it’s not like she tripped and fell into surfing. She’s grown up into this.”
By the time she was five, Bella was able to surf on her own. At seven, she started competing in local surf competitions.
Bella with her quiver. Photo: @JRKenworthy
Around the same time, the Southern California native began skateboarding in addition to surfing. Jason regularly took her brother to the skatepark and she grew tired of being left behind.
“Skateboarding really helps my surfing because I learned Ollie’s and 360’s on a skateboard and it made it easier to learn airs surfing,” says Bella. “In skateboarding, you get a lot of repetition which you don’t really get in the ocean surfing. Surfing has helped my skating because it’s given my skateboarding a better style.”
As Bella got more into skateboarding, she noticed that there weren’t many girls at the skateparks. In an effort to help girls feel included and inspired, Bella helped found the Pink Helmet Posse, which offers skate products designed specifically for girls.
Since she started surfing and skating, Bella has proven over and over that she has no problem keeping up with the boys. In skateboarding, she’s won Exposure twice and has finished in the top 12 at the Vans Park Series World Championships. For surfing, she already has five NSSA National Titles under her belt. Bella won four of the titles on the same day, making her the first person to ever win four titles in one NSSA Nationals event.
Five-time NSSA National champ. Photo: @JRKenworhty
“Winning four NSSA National Titles was definitely one of my biggest accomplishments and it felt amazing to reach my goal,” says Bella. “It was exciting because each time I won one I didn’t think I’d be able to win the next. No one, male or female, has ever won four. It was crazy.”
At just 15, Bell certainly has a bright future. She’s homeschooled, which allows her to travel and focus on her surfing and skateboarding. She has her sights set on qualifying for the CT and dreams of someday winning a world title.
“I hope to live my life doing what I love and inspiring people along the way,” says Bella. “My long-term surfing goals are to travel the world going on surf trips with my friends and winning comps and world titles.”
