Life on a board takes her far from home, but Sofia Mulanovich keeps Peru in her heart.
October 8, 2009, 2:57 PM
By: Mary Buckheit
Red Bull
Sofia, que bueno!
Sofia Mulanovich is beloved in her homeland and beyond for her far-reaching significance in the world of professional surfing. So, it is somehow appropriate that she proudly hails from Lima, Peru, known as El Pulpo ("The Octopus") for its stretch and sprawl.
Born in the Pacific Ocean beach town of Punta Hermosa, a district in the Lima province, Mulanovich was the first Peruvian surfer to win an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour event and the first South American (man or woman) to win the world title. At age 24, Mulanovich was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame in 2007. Two years later, she earned inclusion in the "Globalised Heroes" exhibit at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, which recognizes iconic athletes from around the world. She is featured there alongside athletic luminaries such as Carl Lewis, Zinedine Zidane, Roger Federer, Tony Hawk, David Beckham and Tiger Woods. Mulanovich is the only contemporary surfer in the display. (Surfing is not an Olympic sport.)
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Contributors
Jon Coen
Jon is from New Jersey and continues to reside there with his wife and dog—which means occasional empty barrels and the occasional session in the snow.The state isn't as dirty as people might think, but he'll let them keep believing that.
Jake Howard
Jake lives, writes, and surfs in San Clemente, California. He spent his formative gremlin years surfing points north of San Francisco, and for the last 10 years has been contently surviving behind the Orange Curtain.
Kimball Taylor
Author of Return by Water, as well as books on Jeffreys Bay and Pipeline, Kimball drives a red hot Camero, and back in the '70s, he used to party with your Dad.
Daniel Ikaika Ito
Daniel surfs like a hippie, but dresses like a homie. The Native Hawaiian originally hails from Hilo, but now resides in Honolulu. He enjoys twin-fins, new sneakers and being ESPN's "Cuz On The Scene" in the 50th State.
Jason Kenworthy
About as majestic as a turkey vulture, when he's not shlepping his lens around the world or looking for road kill, Jason can be found at home in Dana Point tending to his growing brood.
