SIVE MATA’UTIA-JARRARD
First Female Representing American Samoa Qualifying For The World Surf League Championship Tour in Longboarding
Not only is she Miss Samoa Hawaii 2022-2023, a year later Sivelia Mata’utia – Jarrard creates HERstory by becoming the first female representing American Samoa qualifying for the World Surf League Championship Tour in Longboarding. In the professional surfing community, qualifying for the World Surf League Championship Tour is very competitive and not easy to accomplish. Jarrad qualified at the Local Motion Surf Into Summer At Home In The Hawaiian Islands Longboard competition at the pristine Ala Moana Bowls.
From upon qualifying for the championship tour, Jarrard’s next goal is to place well and move up in rankings in the upcoming series so she can can be in the running for a world title! With this accomplishment being a stepping stone into her professional surfing career,
Sive joins her older sister Lucy Jarrard in making currents within the surfing community by representing American Samoa in a sport originated in the Polynesian islands.
A few years ago in 2021, older sister Lucy Mata’utia – Jarrard, became the first Samoan female surfer to represent American Samoa in the International Surfing Association, and was a contender for the 2021 Summer Olympics and competed in the trials for this summer’s 2024 Olympics.
Coming from a water family and always living near the water, the Mata’utia – Jarrard sister surfers were raised in Carlsbad, California and currently reside in Oahu, Hawaii. They continue to pay homage to their roots and where they come from, channeling their heritage when they are competing.
What Makes Surfing Special as a Polynesian?
“(Surfing)It’s super special because we have an undeniable connection to the ocean and that’s what we are – we are ocean people, we are navigators! The ocean was our first home and to go back and share that connection with the ocean is everything! The most important thing is to be in the water and to share the connection with our culture and to keep it going so it is never lost.”
Any advice for any young athletes or aspiring surfers?
“You can keep dreaming and having all these thoughts, but your dream will never become reality if you keep dreaming, you actually have to do it and make it happen! I have a list and these are my goals – I’m just trying to set goals and not chase dreams. I try to chase my goals!”
