Roberta Rodger drops in at shipwrecks as boyfriend JP Walker watches. Photo:Mike Vos
Roberta Roger
I met Roberta Rodger on the beach at a right hand point break in the East Cape of Baja. She and her boyfriend JP Walker were posted up under a canopy with a cooler full of cold drinks, an Ipod full of great songs, and a couple of comfortable lounge chairs. I was shooting under the scorching Baja sun without any shade. Roberta offered me a spot underneath their small slice of paradise. It was highly appreciated.
Roberta Rodger came to surfing through snowboarding. Watching her surf, I could see that sometimes she was trying to snowboard down the line. Although the sports look similar on the surface, the techniques involved are very different. I offered her some advice, and being the great athletes she is, she quickly adjusted. JP kept a close eye on Roberta when the waves picked up. He told me that he had almost lost it a while back when he watched her get pounded by a huge set back in California. Roberta didn't want to sit on the beach and watch perfect 6 foot right handers. After convincing JP that she would be fine, she went out and surfed great. Roberta now manages young athletes. Having been through the scene and industry for so long, she has a lot of advice to give for young girls entering into careers in action sports. I asked her what her best piece of advice would be to any female athletes wanting to embark on a career in surfing: "Hmmmmm advice well I'd say keep your head up and don't get caught up in all the hype and party scene. Just work hard and progress your surfing and everything else will follow." Wise words from a woman who has been there and seen it first hand.