by Carlee Wallace

Maya Gabeira might be the most badass woman in professional surfing, but her real business, you could argue, is making history. Not only is the 28-year-old Brazilian big wave surfer tackling waves that no other woman has, she’s an inspirational athlete out of the water who possesses an admirable outlook on living in the moment. Conquering recent injuries, back-to-back surgeries and a major comeback from a 2013 near-drowning incident in Nazaré, Portugal during one of the most extreme swells ever surfed, she’s finally back in the water and doing what she loves most. Maya is powerful, independent and inspiring, and during our recent trip to the North Shore of Oahu our team spent three incredible days with her.