Rachael Tilly - Beauty, Youth & Being A Champion

It's not everyday that you hear of someone who seems to have it all covered and from an early age.

We like the idea of old souls. That old souls kind of hit the ground running and seem to achieve these great things from an early age. What you also need, it turns out is focus, dedication, a hunger for success, oh, and a lot of raw talent.

When we heard about a seventeen year old from San Clemente, USA that had just won the World Longboard Championships in China called Rachael Tilly, we thought we would find out more.

So seven months down the line after her big win, now that the dust has settled, let's catch up with Rachael and get her take on the world, what it means to be world champ and maybe get a little advice.

SB: Hey Rachael, thanks for sparing us the time here at the Bunker, where is your local or favourite place to surf every morning?

Rachael: My local spot is San Onofre, San Clemente. I really love this spot because it has many different peaks that offer a variety of waves. It’s also a great spot for preparing for contests because I can usually find a wave there that is similar to the competition site.

SB: How long did it take to sink in that you are the Women's World Longboard Champion?

Rachael: I think it’s finally sinking in now. I spent the first 6 months of this year finishing high school so I never got to fully focus on surfing and my accomplishment. Now that I have completed school and am surfing/traveling full time, I’m feeling more of the benefits of it all. It has been awesome traveling and meeting new people who tell me they watched me win the title online, it’s a really cool feeling.

SB: Having reached the top at 17 years old, did you have a ‘where do I go from here?’ type feeling?

Rachael: It has only encouraged me to keep working it to match it! It has been such an incredible feeling of being the title holder that it has motivated me to keep working hard to win another title and hold on to that feeling. It was my goal to become the youngest world champion since I was 10 years old and now that I reached that goal, I’m set to make a new goal to win another one.

SB: Without doubt you are someone that a lot of young competitive surfers now look up to all over the world. Do you have any advice for them?

Rachael: Make goals and work hard toward them! By making goals, it helps you stay focused and clear minded on what all the hard work is for. During the hard times of loses and sacrifices that seem pointless, just know it’s all for the big picture and it does pay off in the end. I know I experienced that growing up when I couldn’t go to a certain sleepover or school event. I remember I had to miss my 8th grade school dance to compete in Hawaii and I was devastated, but that contest is what helped me qualify onto the world tour and then missing the dance didn’t even matter to me anymore!

SB: How much are things like training and self belief important to being successful in surfing?

Rachael: It’s a HUGE factor to it all. Ultimately, it's you waking up before the sun rises and paddling out in less than ideal conditions. Support from friends and family is really important but without believing in yourself, you won’t go as far as your potential.

SB: How much longer do you have left at school, do you have any plans for later in life?

Rachael: I just finished high school in June where I was attending San Clemente High School full time. I plan on eventually going to college to become a nurse, but until then, I’m taking a year off to travel for surfing and competing.

SB: We know you spend a lot of time in the shaping bay and have a lot to do with your boards, how important is it to be dialed into this side of things?

Rachael: I think it is a big reason for my success. Working with Josh Martin of Martin Shapes has helped me come to a new level of understanding of my equipment. Josh and I have a great surf/shaper relationship and are constantly working to improve my boards. I now have a specific understanding of my boards where I know exactly what to change and improve based on flex, thickness, and rails. It is also really fun to see the boards as pure foam first and then be riding them in the water a couple weeks later.

SB: What is your favourite wave in the world and you favourite ever surfboard.

Rachael: I absolutely love surfing Double Island in Australia. The whole experience of surfing there is nothing like what we have in California. You have to first drive on the beach for about 45 minutes and when you finally come around the corner and see the peeling rights, it feels like a surfer’s dream. My favorite board right now is a full balsa wood board Josh and I made. It’s shape is my Travelette model and riding a full wood board is like nothing else. It is a complete different feeling than riding foam - you just feel really connected to all of the earth’s elements. I also got to be apart of the making from start to finish with picking out the planks of wood to gluing it together!

SB: Lastly but most difficult, can you describe how it made you feel the first time you caught a wave or got barreled?

Rachael: The first time I caught a wave I would say it kinda felt like floating on a cloud or something. I know that sounds really cheesy but there is not much that can be compared to it. You are completely in tune to the ocean - something much bigger and powerful than one could fully grasp. You feel the wind in your face, see how the wave is changing in front of you, and hear the wave crashing around you. All your senses are completely in sync. It’s something like none other and I definitely encourage everyone to push themselves into the water and experience it for themselves.

SB: Thanks a lot for the chat Rachael, with out doubt one of the most inspiring humans on the planet. It is clear then that sacrifices and self belief are paramount if you want to be the best, then there is the skill, the ability to handle you losses, knowing your equipment inside out and doing all that whilst going to high school and navigating life at a tender age.

Here is a little clip of Rachael having fun at Rainbow Bay and it does look like fun.

The idea that some people hit the ground running from birth is seeming pretty accurate right now. We think that Rachael has a long string of titles left in her if that is what she chooses . Fingers crossed.