By Andrea Swayne
Bella Kenworthy, 8, of Dana Point, had a big weekend Jan. 17 and 18 bringing home trophies in two different sports. On Saturday, Jan. 17 she took fifth in girls 14U competition at the Vans Girls Combi Pool Classic skate contest at Vans Skatepark in Orange. She then followed that up Jan. 18 with a win in the Micro Grom Girls U10 division at the Western Surfing Association Championship Tour, Event No. 6 at Oceanside Harbor’s South Jetty.
Competing against older girls at Vans was a “fun, nice experience and a challenge,” she said. “I practiced like every day to get ready for it.”
When asked what secret weapons she deployed in the pool, Bella said she really felt like her laybacks, frontside grinds and backside airs are what did it.
“My backside airs were high, my ollie was out of the coping and I had a quick fast layback,” she said.
She then took her board riding skills to the water at the WSA for her third win of the season, further cementing her No. 1 ranking.
“I tried to do lots of hits off the top, a couple hit the lips, a couple turns and a lot of snaps,” Bella said of her winning surf final, adding that she thinks that back-to-back skating and surfing helps her to excel in both.
“There are a lot of tricks you can do on your skateboard and surfboard and surfing helps with your skateboarding style and skating helps with your surfing style,” Bella said. “I like both because it’s fun to fly in the air and go fast.”
When asked what her goals and wishes for her two favorite sports are, she said she would just like to continue to do well in both.
“In surfing I want to win a season title at the WSA West Coast Championships,” she said. “And in skating I am really hoping that we get a skatepark in my home town soon.”
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