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Holly Beck
Holly Beck
00:49

Holly Beck

International Womens Surfing

Palos Verdes, CA USA

"When I was young, it was an escape, and it was a rebellious thing. It was like, 'I can get away from my mom and what she wants me to be."

Career Roadmap

Holly's work combines: Action Sports, Travel, and Being Physically Active

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Day In The Life

Pro Surfer

I'm a professional surfer and I run surf, yoga, and adventure retreats for women primarily in Nicaragua.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Psychology, General

    University of California-San Diego

  • Graduate Degree

    Marketing/Marketing Management, General

    University of California-San Diego

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    Grew up horseback riding and dancing because her mom was "super old-fashioned"; Holly, in contrast, was a "super tomboy."

  • 2.

    Learned to boogie board; at age 12, wanted to start surfing but her mom discouraged her.

  • 3.

    Her mom told her she'd never "get a boyfriend" if she was out there competing against all of the boys.

  • 4.

    Says she never wanted to be "one of a million girls on the beach," she wanted to be out there competing.

  • 5.

    Whether she's out surfing or in competitions, she says she does sometimes takes heat for competing against the boys.

  • 6.

    In high school, beat five or six of her male classmates in a competition; they retaliated by throwing water balloons at her.

  • 7.

    When she was young, says surfing was a way she "defined herself" as a separate entity from what her mother wanted her to be.

  • 8.

    Says, "enjoy every moment; in 20 years you'll be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did."