By Jake Howard
Taking to the water when she was but a wee tadpole at 4 years old, Harper Olenik is now rolling into the fourth grade at St. Edwards and has been charging harder than ever. She just finished her first WSA season ranking fourth by the end, and is also supported by the good people at O’Neill.
“The thing that inspires me about surfing is that anytime I’m going surfing, I know that all I have to do is have fun,” Harper tells the San Clemente Times, adding: “My favorite thing is surfing with my friends, because it is really fun.”
Harper Olenik. Photo: Courtesy of the Olenik Family
As the old saying goes, the best surfer in the water is the one having the most fun.
Though she learned to surf at Doheny with her dad, Harper today is likely to be found in the water at Middles and Church.
Looking up to icons of the sport such as Carissa Moore, Bethany Hamilton, Stephanie Gilmore and Johanne Defay, Harper also adds local rising star Eden Walla to her list of favorite surfers.
“I look up to them, because they all surf really good, and they are good people,” she explains.
If you have a candidate for Grom of the Week, we want to know. Send an email to jakehoward1@gmail.com.
Harper Olenik. Photo: Courtesy of the Olenik Family