Bio & Career Highlights

Personal Profile

Rochelle Ballard is one of the most influential women surfers of our time. She paved the way for young women and helped lift the sport to a whole new level.

Rochelle started surfing when she was 10 years old, but had developed a love for the ocean even before she could walk. She once said that she almost feels more comfortable underwater than she does on land. With an incredible record of wins and accomplishments in her career, we can see why.

Rochelle inspired and lead a surf camp for girls, running for 6 years in Hawaii, founded in 2001. They were sponsored by O’Neill, and carried on to the East and West Coast. All to share her experience and spend time with the youth in inspiring girls to enjoy the ocean and create the desires of their hearts. She has served on multiple advisory boards over the years, currently on the ISA Athlete Advisory, was on the Board of Directors, along with Kelly Slater and Jack Johnson for the Save the North Shore Paumalu Project in 2006. She received the Surfrider Foundation Award for the surfer’s contribution of the Hawaii Chapter 2006. The Get Real Girl Doll Advisory Board along with other marquee athletes of various sports. She served on the ASP board for 5 years. Founded IWS and was a key representative in creating women-only events and boosting prize money for the sport. Through the surf camps was able to create The Island Girl Jr Pro for the Hawaiian girls to grow their competitive skill and earn a spot in the Triple Crown of Surfing. Rochelle feels that to have the opportunity to share her passion and energy to our environment and surfing; to see positive changes and more opportunity is just as rewarding as riding a great wave.

Additionally, Rochelle is the only surfer to score two Perfect 10′s in a single heat and earned the first cover of a women’s surf magazine. Highest prize purse in a single ASP specialty event (OP Boat Challenge). She’s also been featured in numerous magazines and in the 1998 book “Women Who Win – Stories of Triumph in Sports and in Life” by Christina Lessa, along with multiple media exposures, she has been featured in the center spread of Time Magazine after Blue Crush hit the box office. She surfed as a stunt double in the 2002 hit movie Blue Crush. There is no question that Rochelle is accomplished at the top of her sport and is the complete package. A true ambassador of surfing.