Here’s a delightful video of twenty year old Kauai native and surfing prodigy Kiana Fores chilling out and having fun on her home island, and more importantly catching a tonne of waves in a manner which shows just why there is such a buzz around her in the surfing world.

Kiana has been in and out of the ocean ever since she was a babe in arms. Her father, a committed longboarder, would look for small waves which he could surf whilst holding her up by her wetsuit with his teeth. She began longboarding on her own at seven, and by the age of nine was already getting to grips with the shortboard. She’s been a surfing devotee ever since, and never misses an opportunity to hit the waves.

Outside of surfing Kiana takes a huge interest in all aspects of the ocean, and is a keen participant in other aquatic sports such as sailing and canoe paddling. She is also an accomplished photographer, focussing on – you guessed it – seascapes, and is involved as a volunteer in Kauai Ocean Recreational Experience (K.O.R.E.), an organisation which helps people with disabilities to get out and enjoy the ocean.

Currently Kiana is studying for a degree in Communications and Sustainability at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California. But while a full time career as a professional surfer might have to wait just a little while yet, her sponsors O’Neill see enormous potential in her, and with three wins in the Under 18 Girls Shortboard category at the Hawaii State Championships already under her belt, plus numerous other accolades, it’s easy to understand why.