2009 Team Rider Profile: Marietta Hitzemann
Which boardsports do you participate in now and when did you start?
I took my first surfing lesson in 2003 but didn’t really get into it until the Spring of 2006 and it's still new to me. I also did some skateboarding long, long ago as a teenager.
Which would you like to learn and why?
I’d really like to improve my surfing.
Describe your first surfing session
My first surfing session wasn’t great. I took a group lesson on Maui but didn’t have the right footwear and my booties kept tripping me whenever I tried to pop up. So I’d have to say my first real surf session was the CCW Surf Clinic in June of 2006. I paddled into and caught waves on my own steam that day and felt that pure joy that keeps us coming back for more.
Where and why did you start
I started in surfing in Wellfleet, on Cape Cod. My husband and I are both from the Midwest and when I first thought about surfing it was in terms of our nephews and nieces. We wanted them to learn. So we got wetsuits, boards of all shapes and sizes, and so on. Somehow, though, they never got as into it as we thought they should. And finally I realized, “wait a minute, 'I’m' the one who wants to learn how to surf.” And I’ve been working on it ever since.
Think of a great water sesh you’ve had recently. How did you feel after?
Happy, quiet inside, tired.
Ever compete? Wanna try?
No and no. But I love to watch the videos of them!
Wahine Wisdom for newbies:
Make time for fun.
Favorite non-wahine activities:
Rollerblading, ice skating, swimming, x-country skiing, reading.
Where have you traveled to wind, kite, or wave surf?
I’ve been to Maui twice to surf.
Describe the best trip you’ve taken in the last 3 years (doesn’t have to be water related).
Ya, this was more than three years ago now, but we haven't done much off-Cape in several years so I'm still going to mention the long weekend with friends at Baxter State Park in Maine. We hiked Katahdin and were able to complete the Knife Edge trail. The weather was sunny and clear, visibility was amazing, and the views were just spectacular. It took us all day to hike the whole thing and wow were we in pain the next day but it was worth it. The combination of good friends, beautiful mountains, the adrenaline rush from the Knife Edge, camp fires, grilled meat and cold beer after an exhausting day... it was just all good...
Name a few wahines who have influenced you.
The commitment to these sports by Des and Liz is really inspiring. It helps to see how even super busy people manage to fit surfing or windsurfing into their lives – how they manage to make it a priority.
Why are you stoked about the CCW?
Because it’s a group of people who tend to see life in terms of possibilities rather than obstacles. Many of the women in this group have picked up these sports later in their lives – and that means this is a group who has learned how to keep play and fun at the top of their priority lists. It’s a very welcoming group and I think the mission statement says it all.
Your personal water goals for 2009?
I need more time on the water in order to improve my surfing, so that's my only goal: to get out there! Oh, and to get our sail boat in the water this year, too.