Age: 25
Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, FL/ Cardiff, CA
Currently: Nomadic- San Diego-based
Suits: I honestly can't think of one I don’t like! But the Royale Board Short might be #1!
Belania, Lido, Arianne, Darla, Dara, Bobbie + Phoebe bikini, Rosita, Valentina
This trip came at the end of a long sailing trip for me and added on to a year of travel and discovery. The women I met on this trip were a wonderful taste of home and adventurous spirit. It felt serendipitous to round things off on such a high note with people learning similar life lessons- that the universe will work in your favor if you open your heart to it and follow what feels right.
1. What was your favorite session from the trip?
Lulu and I were pining for a chance at front-side barrel riding and had an epic session at Dog Reef about midway through the trip. It was a perfect, playful size and clean conditions, and I got to watch Lulu get fully drained over and over again. And I got a couple of visions myself.
2. Most of us arrived as strangers on short notice. Looking back, what surprised you most about the experience and the connections that came out of it?
I was very pleasantly surprised by how vulnerable and genuine everyone on this trip was, and it made sense that we all became fast friends. In surfing, especially on brand trips, there can be a bit of an ego factor that makes it hard to connect on a deeper level with your peers. But this crew was a special one!
The crew (left) Lulu Erkeneff, Sophia Arky, Emily Puy, and Kira (right) on their way out to surf.
3. What is something you'll take away from your time surfing with Tika?
Firstly, what a rad trailblazer she is for women’s surfing in Indonesia. I have traveled to some of the more remote places in that country, and it is not exactly welcoming for women to surf. But she had a rad community of women getting out there and paving the way for the next generation.
Second, what a privilege it is to be from a place like Southern California and a family that got me into surfing at a young age. I didn’t have to worry about where to get a surfboard or wax or anything I needed- I was gifted surfing from a young age. It is something she has worked for, which makes it that much more rewarding.
(Left) Lulu, Kira And Tika (right) on the beautiful beaches in Mentawai.
4. What is one thing this trip taught you about surfing, travel, community, or yourself?
That we are so much more similar than we are different! Even in places that seem so foreign, the principles of humanity are underlying- the desire to connect, to laugh, and to play.
5. What is something about the Vaya experience that exceeded your expectations?
Vaya does a great job of balancing the feeling of being on the other side of the planet with the feeling of being at home. Just a couple of days into the trip, we fell into a routine that felt like we’d been doing it for a lifetime. The people at Vaya make you feel so welcome, and the whole experience, from the cabanas to the food to the people we met, was beautiful.
Kira and Lulu arriving at the cabana at Vaya Mentawai.
6. If someone won this trip tomorrow, what would you tell them to be most excited about?
The friends you will make along the way, and the new perspective on surfing and life you will have! Staying at a place like Vaya is a great reminder to slow down and appreciate your surroundings. Take time to be present and savor every moment!
7. When you look back on your life, do you notice any recurring themes, lessons, or patterns? Did any of them show up during this trip?
My recurring theme this past year has been trusting the process. Life can be more rewarding than you could ever imagine if you live with an open heart and open mind- and if you treat the detours like bonus rounds. The journey getting to Vaya was long, but it gave us time to bond as a unit and learn more about each other, and see new places. You may not know exactly where you want to end up, but you can make little decisions every day that take you in the right direction. The culmination of these things can be greater than any goal you would set for yourself!
8. When you look back on this trip, what do you think it was trying to give you?
Like any trip, this one gave me a small taste of what getting out of your comfort zone and exploring different parts of the world has to offer. The friendships I made will last a lifetime, along with the perspective and the memories of how stoked we all were to be there. It has given me another reason to keep setting course towards the horizon, not to discover what’s at the end but to enjoy the journey getting there.
Thank you to Kira for being such a brilliant, funny, and caring member of this team! You've become a lifelong frined and inspiration!
Want to see more of Kira Crage?
WATCH KIRA'S EDIT
