 |
|
|
|
|
LISSA
ROSS
Our newest Sheila comes to us originally from Byron
Bay, Australia. A local at El Porto, Lissa Ross,
has lived in the area for ten years. She was inspired
to become a resident ten years ago when she accompanied
some friends on the World Tour. Lissa has been surfing
for over 20 years and was inspired to get off her
sponge and onto a board one day at Byron Bay. "I
was paddling out in some heavy shore pound and looked
up after hearing a female voice yelling guys off
her wave. The surf was big and this girl was handling
the crowd and dominating." That girl was Rell
Sunn . It was at that moment that Lissa was determined
to surf. During her days in Australia learning to
surf, she much like other girls in the water, received
a lot of flack by the local Aussie crowd. One young
girl, who was a good little surfer, would always
give her tips and inspire her confidence. That "little
girl" was Pauline Menzcer. With this combo
of mentors it's no wonder Lissa can carve it up.
She has competed in Pro Am events and dedicated
her life to surfing.
Lissa is also an accomplished film maker and spent
several months traveling on tour with the top 16
women to produce the recently released "TROPICAL
MADNESS". This is a film dedicated to the women
of pro surfing. Not just another video, she focuses
on what it's like to be on tour . " Ten years
ago girls were camping in tents because they did
not get paid the salaries that the guys did. Now
days you have some girls making big dollars but
there are still girls that rip who are not getting
the big sponsors because they aren't photogenic
enough." Lissa explained that she is for all
women in surfing, not just a chosen few like some
of the high dollar sponsors. In TROPICAL MADNESS
you'll see some great surf from Tahiti, Maui and
the North Shore.
Lissa's best surf trip (she's been everywhere) was
to Broken Head, OZ with Pauline and Michele Donate."We
had overhead barrels the whole time with just the
three of us (when was the last time any of us could
say that?).
When asked is she ever surfed Baja, she stated "yes
once, I was not a legal alien at the time an was
caught at the border coming back. I was detained
and interigated by the Mexican Police. I had to
stay overnight until someone could come down to
get me. The next day when they let me go I walked
back to the border and they didn't even ask me my
citizenship, I walked right through". What
a shocker, only in Mex.
As our interview came to a close I realized I had
been with an Aussie because she was so genuine and
down to earth. In closing Lissa wanted to recognize
Stickman for the great boards he shapes, the beloved
Chris Bystrom for his contribution to surf films,
Rell Sunn (you know why) and Margo Oberg. You can
find her film on video in your local surf shop or
contact us off our merchandise page and we'll send
you one for $19.95, plus S&H.
by Lance Kane
Back
to Sheila page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
