Overview
Olivia Jenkins is a professional kiteboarder originally from Plymouth, UK, now based on the North Shore of Maui, Hawaii. She is known as a true “waterwoman” who not only kitesurfs but also excels in wing foiling and prone surfing.
Holding a master’s degree in public health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, she is also an active public health advocate and model. As a cancer survivor who overcame Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, she returned to the ocean with an indomitable spirit.
Career
With a childhood background in gymnastics and trampolining, she began kiteboarding at the age of 12. She quickly made a name for herself in freestyle competition on a twin-tip, winning the British Junior Championships twice and also securing a victory at the European Junior Championships. She competed full-time on the PKRA freestyle world tour, achieving an overall world ranking of 11th in 2008. In 2017, she placed 5th overall in the Kite Park League (KPL), showcasing her world-class talent across a wide range of disciplines.
Later, after being discovered by Patri Mclaughlin, she fully transitioned to wave riding and moved to Maui full-time. Mentored by legends such as Jesse Richman, Sky Solbach, and Niccolo Porcella, her wave-riding skills flourished.
Sponsors & Affiliations
She is heavily supported by her main sponsors Duotone, Fanatic, and ION. During her historic project to cross the International Date Line, she also received backing from companies like Garmin.
Personality & Relationships
In her personal life, her partner is renowned big wave surfer Ian Walsh. She has cited Jalou Langeree and Moona Whyte as female riders who inspired her in kiteboarding.
Contributing significantly to the empowerment of female riders, she starred as a main cast member in the documentary film “118 Feet of Freedom,” where she, along with Jalou Langeree and Johanna-Catharina Edin, traveled by sailboat in search of legendary waves in Madagascar.
Quotes & Anecdotes
The Female World Record and Unprecedented Takeoff at “Jaws”
At Maui’s monster wave “Peahi” (commonly known as Jaws), she kited a 40-foot face, holding the world record for the largest wave ever ridden by a woman kiting. She is one of only three women in history to kite Jaws (another being Gisela Pulido), and she remains the only woman to have successfully taken off from behind the peak on a set wave.
The First Person to Cross the International Date Line
On August 14, 2022, she successfully kitesurfed across the treacherous 72-kilometer stretch of ocean between Samoa and American Samoa, crossing the International Date Line. By doing so, she became the first person in the world to travel “from today to tomorrow” via kiteboard. This epic endeavor was documented by BBC StoryWorks in the film “Crossing the Line.”
Battling Cancer and Returning to the Ocean in Maui
In May 2024, at the age of 30, she was diagnosed with Stage 2A Nodular Sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It was discovered by chance during a pre-surgery exam for chronic back pain, and she had no prior symptoms. Not wanting to show her painful struggle in Maui, her “happy place,” she temporarily relocated to Los Angeles with Ian for treatment. Although she suffered deeply from being strictly forbidden to enter the ocean, Ian’s devoted support helped her find peace in land-based activities like hiking. Her first surf session post-treatment was in terrible closeout conditions, but just sliding sideways on a small wave on a longboard brought her unprecedented pure joy, granting her a profound appreciation for life’s smallest moments.
The Essence of a Big Wave Charger Who Loves Fear
“I love the feeling of fear! Somehow I even look for it and try to surf bigger and bigger waves.”
The Relentless Pursuit of the Wave’s Pocket
“Every wave I work on getting deeper into the pocket of the wave.”
Competition Results
British Junior Championships: 1st Place (Two-time winner)
European Junior Championships: 1st Place
2008: PKRA Freestyle World Tour – 11th Overall
2017: KPL (Kite Park League) – 5th Overall
2018: GKA Dakhla (Wave) – 5th Place (An impressive feat, climbing up the double elimination ladder in her first-ever GKA tour event)
Search Aliases: Olivia Jenkins, OliviaJenkins