Juli Hernandez is a surfer, skater and California State Parks Lifeguard from Huntington Beach. Describing herself as Cuban and Costa Rican with some Italian and Spanish thrown in, Hernandez has made a name for herself in the Californian surf and skate communities.

Juli started surfing and skating at around seven, and despite both scenes being dominated by boys, quickly gained the respect of her peers. She surfed aggressively, but with beautiful style, and her skating is similar. A charge and attack approach, but still with a low, smooth, flow to it.

Hernandez competed in both disciplines on the junior circuits, with her initial goal to become the first girl ever to surf and skateboard in the US Open of Surfing. Always passionate and outspoken about inspiring girls to start skateboarding and surfing, she created Camp Grommette when she was just 17. That was a camp specifically designed to help improve the abilities of girls in both boardsports.

Not only was it a means to help break the gender roles and give way to a new generation of female rippers, but was also part of her studies for her Senior C.I.B.A.C.S (Center for International Business and Communication Studies.)

Since then she has dedicated her life to her passions of surfing, skating, and snowboarding whilst continuing her career in the public service. The wider surf world outside California may not have heard too much about Hernandez, but this is an athlete with a mission to have fun and inspire. Give her a chance to make some waves, you can guarantee she’ll wring the water out of any opportunity that comes her way.

Instagram: @julipenelope