Makua Rothman

Last updated

Makua Rothman at Bagram Airfield in 2019 Makua Rothman in 2019.jpg
Makua Rothman at Bagram Airfield in 2019

Makuakai (Makua) Rothman (born June 17, 1984) is an American big wave rider, professional surfer [1] and musician. On February 28, 2015, he was crowned the 2015 Big Wave World Champion in the World Surf League's (WSL) first sanctioned Big Wave World Tour (BWWT). [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that on January 16, 2021, Rothman rode what it called "the biggest wave ever ridden in Hawaii", estimated to be 100 feet tall, at Jaws on the island of Maui. [7]

Life and career

Makuakai (Makua) Rothman is Jewish, [8] born to an American Portuguese father and a Hawaiian mother, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. He attended Kahuku High School in Kahuku, Hawaii, playing soccer, football, baseball, karate, and water polo. [9] [10] [11]

An accomplished professional big wave surfer and aspiring musician, Rothman was crowned the 2015 Big Wave World Champion. [12] Rothman achieved a milestone in surfing at age 18 when he won the 2003 Billabong XXL Award for riding a 66-foot wave at Jaws on November 26, 2002 (the largest wave known to be surfed anywhere in the world that winter). [13]

Rothman credits his surfing ability in large part to his father, Eddie Rothman. [14] As a child, Rothman suffered from asthma, making surfing a personally difficult and dangerous pursuit. His father decided to involve him in various sports such as soccer, baseball, football, and water polo as strenuous workouts seemed to help relieve his asthma. Rothman later attributed his physical stamina and dedication to these pursuits. [15] [16]

Before he was 10 years old, Rothman was surfing some of Hawaii's most notable and biggest waves, including Pipeline and Sunset Beach. When he was eight, he surfed 12-foot Waimea waves, an unusual feat for a young boy, one that helped prepare him for his later big-wave accomplishments. By the time he was 13, Rothman was known as a promising young surfer in the surfing community. Surrounded by accomplished older surfers such as Sunny Garcia, Myles Padaca, Johnny Boy Gomes, and Dane Kealoha, Rothman learned how to dive, surf, farm, and hunt. He credits these men as role models who instilled values of leadership and respect.

Music career

Makua Rothman performing on a USO tour at Ramstein Air Base in 2019 VCJCS 2019 USO Tour 190330-D-SW162-1439-2 (32560929287).jpg
Makua Rothman performing on a USO tour at Ramstein Air Base in 2019

Rothman had not considered music as a career until 2012, when his friend Rob Garcia told him that people should hear his music. On the verge of leaving for a trip to Indonesia, Rothman decided to cancel the trip to work on his music. A few months later, he released his first EP, Makanale Road. [17] Since then, he’s released a full-length album in 2013, Sound Wave, [17] [18] and toured all over the US, headlining small shows and opening for artists such as Matisyahu, Sublime w/Rome, Common Kings, The Wailers, Steel Pulse, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, and Donavon Frankenreiter. [19] Sound Wave debuted as the #1 Billboard World Album on iTunes and peaked as the #1 Billboard Reggae Album on December 28, 2013. [20] [21]

In 2017, Rothman guest performed on Goldfinger's album The Knife , playing ukeke on "Liftoff". [22] He has also partnered with Hawaiian youth organizations to create programs for local youth at-risk. [23]

Siblings

Makua has two younger brothers, and a younger sister. [16]

Koa Rothman, the middle brother of the Rothman siblings and ten years younger than Makua, is also an accomplished big wave pro surfer who first surfed big waves (Hawaiian system) at age 17. [16] [24] In 2014, at the age of 21, he won both the Best Tube Award from his ride at Teahupoo and the Billabong XXL Wipeout of the Year Award with his feat also at Teahupoo and on the same wave. [24] [25] [26] [27]

Rothman and his siblings have a Hawaii-based bagel business. [28]

Current sponsors

Contests and tours

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Slater</span> American surfer (born 1972)

Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer, best known for being crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, and holds 56 Championship Tour victories. He won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year four-times. Slater is also the oldest surfer still active on the World Surf League, winning his 8th Billabong Pipeline Masters title at age 49.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big wave surfing</span> Surfing waves at least 20 ft high

Big wave surfing is a discipline within surfing in which experienced surfers paddle into, or are towed into, waves which are at least 20 feet high, on surf boards known as "guns" or towboards. Sizes of the board needed to successfully surf these waves vary by the size of the wave as well as the technique the surfer uses to reach the wave. A larger, longer board allows a rider to paddle fast enough to catch the wave and has the advantage of being more stable, but it also limits maneuverability and surfing speed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sofía Mulánovich</span> Peruvian surfer (born 1983)

Sofía Mulánovich Aljovín is a Peruvian surfer. She is a 3-time World Surfing Champion, 1 WSL and 2 ISA world championships,. She is the first Peruvian surfer ever to win a World Surf League World Championship Tour event and the first Latin American woman ever to win the World Title, which she did in 2004 In 2004, she won three out of the six World Championship Tour events, and finished the season as Absolute World Champion. Sofia is the only one Latin-american surfer to win 2 ISA World Championships. Sofia won the ISA Championships, 2004 in Salinas-Ecuador and 2019 in Miyazaki-Japan. Her main sponsor is Roxy.

Patrick Shane Dorian, or "Shane", is an American surfer from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He spent 11 years touring on the World Championship Tour as a professional surfer. Dorian quit competition surfing in 2003 to focus on big waves. He is currently a big wave surfer and one of the best in the world at big wave riding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Surf League</span> Governing body for professional surfers

The World Surf League (WSL) is the governing body for professional surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world's best talent in a variety of progressive formats. The World Surf League was originally known as the International Professional Surfing founded by Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick in 1976. IPS created the first world circuit of pro surfing events. In 1983 the Association of Surfing Pros took over management of the world circuit. In 2013, the ASP was acquired by ZoSea, backed by Paul Speaker, Terry Hardy, and Dirk Ziff. At the start of the 2015 season, the ASP changed its name to the World Surf League. Sophie Goldschmidt was appointed as WSL CEO on 19 July 2017. Paul Speaker had stepped down as CEO on 11 January 2017, and Dirk Ziff acted as the interim WSL CEO until Goldschmidt's appointment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punta Galea</span>

Punta Galea is a cape in Biscay, Basque Country, that stands in the limit of Getxo and Sopelana. Together with Punta Lucero delimits the area of the Abra bay and the Estuary of Bilbao.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peahi, Hawaii</span> Big Wave Surf beach in Hawaii

Peʻahi is a place on the north shore of the island of Maui in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It has lent its name to a big wave surfing break, also known as Jaws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keala Kennelly</span> American surfer and actor

Keala Kennelly is a professional surfer, DJ, and actress from Kauai, Hawaii. After spending a decade ranked in the top 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), Kennelly took a break from the tour in 2007 to explore her passions for acting and music, including a recurring role as a surfer in the 2007 series John from Cincinnati. She continues to DJ and compete as a big wave surfer.

Grant "Twiggy" Baker is a South African professional surfer. He is a 3-time world surfing champion, ocean conservationist and entrepreneur

The O'Neill World Cup of Surfing is a prestigious event in professional surfing held annually at Pūpūkea on Oahu in Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Parsons (surfer)</span> American professional surfer and surfing coach

Mike Parsons is an American professional surfer and surfing coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John John Florence</span> American professional surfer (born 1992)

John "John John" Alexander Florence is an American professional surfer. He is considered one of the most dominant pipe surfers of his era and won back-to-back world titles on the 2016 World Surf League and 2017 World Surf League Men's Championship Tour. He is the first Hawaii-born surfer to win back-to-back world titles since the late Andy Irons. Florence qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in surfing's debut, as well as qualified for the Paris Olympic Games.

Peter Mel, is an American professional surfer. Mel began his surfing life in Capitola, California before moving on to Santa Cruz. He is known as a 'big wave' surfer and son of John Mel, a four time surfing National Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Long (surfer)</span> American surfer (born 1983)

Greg Long is an American surfer from San Clemente, California. He has won the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational, in memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay, the Red Bull Titans of Mavericks event held at Mavericks in Northern California, and the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event held at Dungeons in Hout Bay, South Africa. Additionally, he is the most decorated surfer in the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. He is widely regarded as one of the best big wave surfers in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Rowley</span> Australian surfer (born 1979)

Jeff Rowley is a professional big wave surfer from Torquay, Victoria, Australia. He grew up at Bells Beach, a popular surf location in regional Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adriano de Souza</span> Brazilian surfer

Adriano "Mineirinho" de Souza is a Brazilian professional surfer and also the 2015 WSL World Champion. He has been competing on the World Surf League Men's World Tour since 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Enever</span> Australian professional surfer

Laura Enever is an Australian professional surfer. Enever was the ASP Women's World Junior Champion in 2009. She made her professional debut in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriel Medina</span> Brazilian professional surfer (born 1993)

Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira is a Brazilian professional surfer. He won the 2014, 2018 and 2021 WSL World Championships, and has the second-most World Titles, behind Kelly Slater. In two appearances at the Olympic surfing tournament, Medina won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Ricardo dos Santos was a Brazilian surfer. Dos Santos reached the quarterfinals at the 2012 Billabong Pro event in Tahiti in defeating among others Kelly Slater. At the aforementioned Tahitian tourney he was also presented with the Andy Irons award, bestowed upon the event's most determined competitor. He reached a career high Association of Surfing Professionals QS ranking of 62 in 2011.

References

  1. ↑ "Makua Rothman da hui hawaii interview". Surfermag.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Makua Rothman crowned 2014/2015 Big Wave Tour champion". surfermag.com . March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ "2014 Big Wave Tour". worldsurfleague.com . Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Rothman's Breakout Year". worldsurfleague.com. February 20, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Congratulations Rothman, Big Wave Tour Champ". worldsurfleague.com. February 28, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ "MAKUA ROTHMAN CLAIMS WSL BIG WAVE WORLD TOUR TITLE". surfline.com . February 28, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ Mindy Pennybacker, By; pm (January 23, 2021). "Hawaii surfer Makua Rothman masters an estimated 100-foot wave at Jaws off Maui". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  8. ↑ Seth Rogovoy (March 18, 2019). "The Secret Jewish History Of Hawaii". The Forward.
  9. ↑ Alee Thompson. "Kahuku Surf Club keeps reigning at sport of kings". Kahukuhigh.org.
  10. ↑ Cory Estioko (March 8, 2004). "Sweet Leilani; A student body leader displays a winning attitude as she excels at academics and athletics". archives.starbulletin.com.
  11. ↑ "Inside big wave world champion surfer Makua Rothman's life". Hawaii Magazine. November 23, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Makua Rothman crowned 2014/2015 Big Wave Tour champion". Surfer Today. March 2, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Makua Makes History". surfermag. April 18, 2003. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  14. ↑ Silken, Lindsey. "Shmoozin' with Makua Kai Rothman A Jewish-Hawaiian Professional Surfer". InterfaithFamily. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  15. ↑ Melekian, Brad (March 2004). "Surfer Interview: Makua Rothman". Surfer . Vol. 45, no. 3. Archived from the original on August 14, 2004. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 Flemister, Beau (February 17, 2015). "All We Are Is Space Dust". surfermag. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Makua Rothman". iTunes . Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Makua Rothman". Mountain Apple Company Hawai'i . Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Makua". Free Surf Magazine. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Makua Rothman Music". rvca . April 1, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Reggae Albums - 2013 Archive". Billboard . Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Credits for The Knife". allmusic . All Media Network . Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Makua Rothman | Island Empire Records / Mensch House Records". Island Empire / Mensch House Records. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Koa Rothman recounts XXL Teahupoo Tube of the Year". Surfersvillage Global Surf News. May 14, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Recap from the Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards". World Surf League. Anaheim, California. May 2, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  26. ↑ "A Few Barrels: The year that was for Koa Rothman". May 8, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Greatest Wipeouts: Koa Rothman". surfline. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Exclusive: Makua Rothman on His Biggest Jaws' Wave Ever". Surfline. January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.