Paige Alms is a Badass Waterwoman

Paige Alms is now a 3x WSL Big Wave World Champion, and unofficially the Queen of Jaws. This year's competition saw 50 ft waves, and even though some of the pros are carving faces similar to how a regular-sized wave is ridden, the size and power of this wave can not be taken lightly.

Paige was the first female Big Wave Champion in 2016, won the title again in 2017, and has just won her 3rd title at Jaws on her home island of Maui, Hawaii.

Paige moved to Maui when she was 9 years old, and wasted little time getting familiar with Hawaii surf. At 13 she won a US Surfing Federation title. By age 15 she had her first taste of big wave surfing on Maui's outer reef and was instantly hooked. "I was with Chris Vandervoort, who took me out on his borrowed 9-0 and I remember that day like it was yesterday, I was hooked from that day forward."

Also known as Jaws, the Pe'ahi surf break on the north shore of Maui has only been surfed by a handful of women. At 17 Paige was towed into Jaws, and a few years ago she became the first, and still only woman to get barreled at Jaws.

How has Paige managed to be the best female big wave surfer in the world? A lot of hard work. She surfs every day she can, twice if possible. She logs 15-20 hours of strength training and conditioning every week, including exercises like breath-holding while carrying rocks underwater. "Every winter starting in September, I do a six-week “winter prep” program, training 6 days a week—gym training, elevation running, rock running, swim/breath training. I do that sort of thing year around—whenever I’m home, I’m training 5 days a week."

After spending much of the last 2 decades on the water, on Maui and around the world, Paige enjoys sharing her knowledge, especially with other women. Simply by competing and achieving the accomplishments she has, she's paved the way for future female surfers to continue to push the boundaries of what's possible on the water.

Paige has gone a step further and pushed the surfing world to provide equal opportunity, and equal pay, to women in surfing. In 2018, surfing became the first international sport to institute equal pay for male and female athletes. This was implemented by the WSL and pushed by the Committee for Equity in Women's Surfing (CEWS), led in part by Paige.

We applaud Paige for her accomplishments on the water and her achievements off the water, and for being an excellent ambassador of the surfing world. We're humbled and honored to partner with her to create an amazing surf retreat on her home island of Maui, and truly excited for the few lucky enthusiasts that will be able to join her and live the life of a VIP World Champion for a week! As part of her all-inclusive surf trip, guests will receive one-on-one surf coaching on & off the water, training from Paige & her personal trainer at her gym & on the beach, visit a friend’s coconut farm, go on an amazing waterfall hike, and so much more.

Life is epic. Adventure Well!