Anastasia Ashley

Wednesday - January 04, 2012
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Photo courtesy Airwalk

When you’re hot, you’re hot and for Anastasia Ashley that expression could be viewed as much literally as it can be figuratively. The 24-year-old pro surfer and model continues to gain international fame, and for those younger or older, she is becoming a refreshing role model for our community. Since being named the Association of Surfing Professionals Hawaiian Triple Crown Rookie of the Year in 2003, Ashley has focused on strengthening her surfing skills and tactics with workouts in and out of the water.

“I usually train in the gym. I’ve definitely become a stronger surfer and have added a lot more power in my surfing,” says Ashley, who was featured on MidWeek‘s cover Dec. 22, 2010. She touches on the differences between surfing competitively and recreationally.

“Surfing in contests has a bit of pressure that I love, but free surfing allows me to push myself past what I would do in a contest. Some of the biggest challenges are definitely getting quality waves during a contest,” adds Ashley. She is currently training for the Pipeline Pro 2012, which kicks off in March.

Aside from her competitive surfing schedule, Ashley stays busy with modeling, and has been a name brand face for Airwalk’s global marketing campaign for the past five years, as well as Rusty Surfboards. This past year Ashley also joined an elite list of women when she was highlighted in a non-nude feature in Playboy magazine.

Since she was a child, Ashley has always held an affection for the rights of animals and preservation of our natural environment. She continues to work with PETA, and in conjunction with Surfrider Foundation Oahu chapter, she and Airwalk sponsor an annual beach cleanup at North Shore’s Sunset Beach Park.

“I love doing the beach cleanup because it makes me feel great to be a part of the community and give back to Hawaii,” she says. “I think it’s great how much awareness there is in the world right now. I think there is a need for my generation and the next to lend a hand on different issues.”