I grew up in Alameda, CA, and started swimming competitively at age 7. My whole family swam, but I enjoyed it the most. I was on both medley and freestyle relays that were ranked top ten in the nation for 9–10 year-old girls. During a team trip to Hawaii as a 12-year-old, I tied the Hawaiian record for the 50 meter freestyle. I won my first open water swim at 13 and qualified for three National Junior Olympic meets as a teen. At one of those meets in Lincoln, Nebraska, I broke the 200 I.M. record.

I was our high school swim team captain and MVP my senior year. Although I didn’t know it until years later, I held school records in a few events, with my 100 freestyle time standing for 10 years.

I studied art at UCSB and traded competitive swimming for ocean swimming and surfing. My husband wants to make sure you know that I caught my first wave riding tandem with him! Soon after college, I married (yes, to that surfer guy) and started working as a textile artist. Within three years of marriage, we had two daughters. I co-founded a children’s clothing company called “Shrimps.” After a few years, I chose to step back from the business to focus on raising my kids and volunteered in the school arts program for many years.

In my youth, I lifeguarded at pools and taught swim lessons in various places. I also coached a small handicapped swim team at UCSB — one of my swimmers even went on to the Handicapped Olympics. In 1996, I began coaching for the El Segundo Swim Team where my daughters swam, and in 2000, I joined Surfside.

In 2006, after years of Pier-to-Pier swim races, I wondered if I could swim the Catalina Channel. In fall 2007, I began the swim late at night, swam through darkness, and touched land at what’s now Terranea Resort. I finished in the morning — and coached the “C” group that night!

Time sure flies! 2020 marked my 20th year with Surfside. I feel very fortunate to be part of this team, helping kids do what I’ve loved my whole life. Watching their growth and success is deeply rewarding. Thank you for the opportunity to coach your kids!