Name: Tiarah Blanco aka Tia or Ti-Ti
Age: 16
Hometown: San Clemente, CA
Sport: surfing – goofy foot
Home break: Lowers
Places I’ve surfed: California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Australia and Mexico
Ethnicity: Filipino (mostly) with a bit of Italian, German, Irish, French, American Indian
GPA: I average a 4.0
About me: I was originally born in Puerto Rico. I’m a vegan and I love the ocean. I shortboard, longboard and SUP. I started competing in 2008. I now compete in the NSSA Open, NSSA Explorer, WSA, and Scholastic Surfing Series. I was also one of the 19 girls chosen to compete in Surfing America Prime and I made it to the USA National Championships in 2010 for shortboadrding.
Goals: I have SO MANY goals! I would love to make it to NSSA Nationals and/or the State Championships. Eventually, I’d like to make it to the finals or win one of them someday (baby steps). I would also like to teach physically and mentally challenged kids how to surf. And in the long run I would like to have a career in the surfing industry making my own line of clothes and bathing suits.
Inspirations: First and foremost my parents they inspire me every day. However, I really look up to Carissa Moore, Coco Ho and Bethany Hamilton. They’re great and humble surfers. When I am older I want to be a good role model just like they are to me.
Motto: ‘Always do your best at whatever you do because that will make the difference between good and great.’