LEILA x SOPHIA: Our Journey

World-class surfer Leila Hurst gives us a lesson on riding life's many waves.

Leila Hurst will be speaking at the U.S. premiere of KEEN's International OCEAN FILM TOUR Volume 3 | Los Angeles on May 10. Click here for tickets.

 

"Every person in this world is given a different set of challenges. Meet my sister Sophia. Her life in particular has been full of challenges. She was born with a walking disability known as Spina Bifida and has endured 29 surgeries in the 27 years of her life. She watched me grow up as an athlete winning surfing competitions from a young age. We had nothing in common- making it hard to relate to each other. What connected us was the fact that we were sisters. But we both shared challenges. Hers being mostly physically and overcoming them mentally and mine being internally with insecurity, societys expectations of women and the pressure to be perfect.

 

Four years ago Sophia and I got connected with an organization that gives paraplegic, quadriplegic, and people with Spina Bifida a chance to experience the feeling of riding a wave. This event changed our lives forever. As sisters and as a family. We learned that we shared struggles and we began to encourage one another to overcome them.

This is what the meaning of life is." --  From Leila Hurst, video by Gage Hingeley

Don't miss Leila Hurst throwing down on waves along the Mexican coast at the KEEN International Ocean Film Tour Volume 3 in the short film "Hola Sunshine."

Get information about the KEEN International Ocean Film Tour Volume 3, presented by Warren Miller Entertinment HERE.