In pursuit of world title and Olympic gold, Kanoa Igarashi looks back with gratitude
When Kanoa Igarashi made his debut on the World Surf League Championship Tour, he was not sure he belonged.
Igarashi was 17 years old — making him the youngest surfer on the tour — and overwhelmed. He was talented but not ready to win an event, let alone compete with the best surfers in the world for the championship.
For a handful of years, Igarashi felt like he should not even be on the tour. He was, in a sense, simply going where the waves took him, without a concrete goal or, admittedly, a lot of belief in himself. He had to grow up in the public eye while dealing with fans, competing in events and in his interactions with the media. There were times when he wondered if he was doing the right thing.
Advertising by Adpathway
