Where did you grow up and where do you call home now?I am born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. I am such a huge fan of these sisters, and the opportunity to point my lens at them as they live and grow was the thrill of a lifetime. And so, to visit them at their home, to spend time with the family, to explore nature and the sea with them, all the while chasing swells and watching these women charge bigger and bigger surf, has been utterly moving. Watching them knock on the door of Teahupo’o one-by-one, Vahine leading the way into some of the heaviest waves I’ve ever seen women surf, is enthralling.

Their bond is nothing short of magic these young women are woven into each other’s growth and success. Vahine, Heimiti, and Kohai exude the vibrancy of life, and do it together. Loving parents Andrew and Hina have raised three young women who are pushing women’s surfing while gracefully sharing their Tahitian lifestyle with the world.

Over the years of visiting what I’d reckon to be the most beautiful place in the world, I’ve also met some outstanding characters, forged by the power of their connection with the land and sea. Recently, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of getting to know the Fierro family. My obsession with Tahiti started one decade ago, during a week-long visit for a lifestyle shoot at the age of twenty. The mountains, sea, dense jungle and perfect waves made their case in a matter of seconds, and I was hooked, paving the way for me to return at every opportunity possible.

Skin deep surfing movie