Mercedes Maidana belongs to one of the smallest groups in sports: women who surf big waves. What’s even more incredible is that before a bad break up in her early twenties lead her to a beach retreat with friends, she had never even been on a board before.  Eleven years later, the Buenos Aries-born Maidana is a regular on the big waves of the North Shore, where she moved to pursue the sport. Read what surfing is to her below.

Name: Mercedes Maidana

Age: 32

Where do you live: North Shore, Oahu

Years surfing: 11