When you first meet Veronica Kay, the 1st thing that strikes you is how tall she is. Veronica stands 5’11”; tall even by male standards. Perhaps more striking about Veronica is her energy and passion for surfing. Every movement, every expression, and every word out of her mouth makes you understand just how much she loves riding waves. But, she’s laid back and reserved and chooses those words and expressions wisely, never really bombarding you with more than is necessary, which is fitting considering her surfing style is mated perfectly with her personality. 1 solid turn or deep carve on a wave accomplishes just as much if not more than 5 quick snaps. When asked whether she prefers shortboarding or longboarding, Veronica simply replies , “I just love surfing.” From the 1st wave she rode all the way to the beach less than a decade ago to the last wave she caught down at Beacon’s earlier in the week, her love of surfing has grown.

Criticized, or rather labeled, by many of her peers for the path she chose as a model and free-surfer, Veronica is unfairly compared to her peers that chose a different path; a more traditional path down the tournament circuit where one’s progress and talent can easily be quantified by ratings or judges with scorecards. She’s seen as someone who couldn’t/wouldn’t compete at the elite competitive levels but VK is the first to tell you that’s not true and that the burning is always there .

“When I was competing, I was such a fierce competitor…This year I made the decision to get back into the WQS events because I feel that I owe it to myself and to those around me that don’t have the opportunity and the resources or wherewithal to go on tour; I want to finally apply myself. I don’t want to be 40 and think back and wonder what would have happened if I didn’t try.”

After all, Veronica Kay was kicking ass from the 1st contest she entered all the way up to being tops in the NSSA, twice. But is the tournament path really the place for a surfer like VK?

“My dream when I first started surfing was to surf the finest waves in the world with the best surfers in the world. All of the sudden being with Roxy and Quiksilver there I was in G-Land when I was 17 with Kelly Slater…this is pretty much why I was working so hard. Although I was a fierce competitor, I admired the guys that would get a lot of speed into 2 big turns instead of 5 little ones, so pursuing the free surfing was more conducive to where I wanted to go with my surfing. Also, the opportunities with Quiksilver were too great to pass up. The Crossing was coming to fruition and they came to me and they were like ‘do you wanna go on The Crossing?’ So do I go on tour groveling or go on the maiden voyage of the Crossing up to Papua New Guinea ?”

Perhaps it’s unfair to label VK for the path she chose; perhaps its jealousy or envy. After all, friend and fellow Roxy-girl Sofia Mulanovich told Veronica, “the best surfer is the happiest surfer” and could anything make you happier than getting slotted in G-Land with Kelly or being on the maiden voyage of The Quiksilver Crossing? Yeah, I couldn’t think of anything either.

Veronica travels on average an unfathomable 11 months out of the year away from her home in Encinitas leaving her little precious time to spend at home with her friends and family. Beacons is still VK’s home break, but where Veronica has been and where she’s going is enough to make anyone green with envy.

Any fun trips planned in the future?

Yeah! I’m flying to France at the end of the week for the Roxy Surf Jam. Then I come home. Then I go back to Australia and then to South Africa . Then I’ll go to Florida to help Lisa Anderson with her surf camp. I might be going to Brazil and then we’re going to Peru , Sofia ’s [Mulanovich] home, to see Machu Picchu.

Do you find it hard being on the road so much away from your home and family?

Yeah. I have to remind myself that I have a home here. I’ve been so fortunate with the families and friends I’ve met around the world. Even leaving Australia , a part of me felt like I was leaving home and I find it hard to leave those people behind. I start getting home sick and when I get home I forget just how beautiful my home is. There’s so much here…someday I’d love to do a trip and get in a camper van and travel around the US .

What’s the funnest wave; the one that sticks out the most in your mind?

Oh gosh! I’ll never forget this wave I caught when I was 17 years old in G-Land. I took off just after launching pads, at money-trees. I didn’t even know what I was doing, I just knew I took off really late, bottom turned and next thing I knew the whole thing just barreled over me. It was at least double overhead and I was just standing there; I didn’t grab my rail or anything. I was in the barrel and kicked out at Speedies and my jaw was like…I was just stunned. The boys were in the channel screaming and I’d never heard them scream so loud. I guess they were paddling out and they were like ‘who’s that dude?! and then they were like, ‘oh my God it’s Veronica!!’ and still to this day I’ll never forget that wave.

Antarctica: not your typical boat trip

Where’s the 1 place you’ve never been but what to go?

Antarctica . I’m dying to go there; it’s the end of the earth!!