Nancy Emerson
Courtesy of Nancy Emerson
Nancy Emerson, born in Hollywood, California and raised in Pacific Palisades & Malibu California, is an accomplished competitive surfer, who’s career has spanned decades, not only in competition, but in film and business as well. Nancy has always been a kid at heart and loves to have fun. She incorporates her fun into amazing projects with no dust left under her feet, always on the move creating and doing, balancing her career whilst allowing her to mix business with travel and pleasure.
In 1973 Nancy started the Nancy Emerson School of Surfing which is still running today and has earned her first-class reputation internationally for her learn to surf philosophy, matching skills with safety. Since 1983 Nancy has opened surf schools and clinics in Chiba, Japan, Malibu, California, Honolulu, Hawaii, Namotu, Fiji, and Australia.
Nancy has created a workshop for women – “Kai Nalu @ One” (Ocean and Waves at One.) This workshop is designed for groups or individuals to overcome fear (pool, ocean waves or larger waves) incorporating breathing in and out of the water, swimming techniques, affirmation and having fun with water.
Today, Nancy lives in Palm Beach, on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia while continuing to travel the world. In August, 2000, she was granted Distinguished Talent Permanent Residency by the Australian Government. Nancy became a dual citizen to Australia & USA in 2005.
Competition History/Highlights:
Nancy Emerson either won or was placed in the top 3 positions in over forty contests as an amateur from 1966-1969
1976: Lancers World Cup Pro Class Trials, Hawaii, 1st place
1977:
Lancer’s World Cup, Sunset Beach, Hawaii, 11th place
Stubbies Women’s, Australia 9th place
Bells Beach, Australia 5th place
Coke Classic, Australia, 9th place
First Annual Maui Bold Meet, Maui, Hawaii 1st place
Smirnoff World Pro-Am, Hawaii 3rd place
1978:
IPS International Professional World Circuit Rating: #8
Stubbies Women’s International, Australia 5th place
Bells Beach, Australia, 5th place
Coke Classic, Australia 3rd place
1979:
IPS International Professional World Circuit Rating: #6
’79 Super Surfing Chiba Pro, Japan, 3rd place
Offshore Women’s Masters Pro, Hawaii, 2nd place
World Team Surfing – Hawaii Team, 1st place
1982:
OP Pro, California, 9th place
Mauri Pro, Japan, 7th place
1983:
OP Pro, California, 9th place
Paradise Pro, Hawaii, 5th place
1984:
Annual World Unity Pro, Maui 2nd place
Op America Series, Florida 9th place
Op Pro, California, 9th place
1985:
1st Annual Oceanside Longboard Classic, 1st place
WISA Church Pro, California, 2nd place
Michelob at the Stubbies Pro, California, 9th place
Forenza Pro Classic Trial, Hawaii, 2nd place
Forenza/Surfers Alliance Women’s World Cup, Hawaii, 9th place
1986:
Michelob at the Stubbie Pro, California, 5th place
2nd Annual Oceanside Longboard Classic, 2nd place
1st Annual Malibu Classic Longboard, 1st place
Lance Carson Malibu Classic, California 1st place
1st annual Malibu Classic Shortboard, 2nd place
WISA, Pismo, County Line and Church, 1st place
1987:
Katin Memorial Pro-Am Team Challenge, 7th place
3rd Annual Oceanside Longboard Classic, 3rd place
China’s Longboard, Hawaii, 2nd place
WISA Ventura, 1st place
1988:
4th Annual Oceanside Longboard Classic, 1st place
Santa Cruz Longboard Classic, 2nd place
Hobie Longboard Tribute to the Greats, 5th place
Sunset Beach, Swimwear Women’s Pro, 5th place
1996 & 1997:
Oly Longboard Event, Maui, 1st
1998:
Nancy Emerson was inducted Hawaii’s Na Pua O Ke Kai Wahine Surfing Hall of
Fame for the Ocean. (It wasn’t a surfing comp & as was as Jeannie Chesser.)
1999:
Gold Coast Longboard Event, Australia, 2nd place
Noosa Longboard Event, Australia, 2nd place
“Roxy” Shortboard Event, Makaha, Hawaii
2000:
Noosa Festival of Surfing, Australia 5th
2001:
Noosa Festival of Surfing, Australia 7th place
Malfunction Team Challenge, Australia, 3rd place
Inducted into Noosa as Legend, also in 2014
2006-2009, 2011:
Duke Fest Legends
Non-Surfing Highlights
1973-1975 Beach & Pool director for 3 years for the Maui Surf Hotel, Maui
1972 Taught pre-school to 4 & 5 year old’s in Makaha, Hawaii
1975 Graduated with BA in Liberal Arts fro University of Hawaii, majoring in Social Sciences and a minor in Art.
1977-1979 Worked a Coast Engineer for Hawaii Dredging and Construction
1978-1982 Wrote weekly surfing column for 5 years in the Maui News called “Smooth Surfing” as well as stories for Tracks Magazine, Surfing World, Pacific Longboarder and Maui Times.
1983 – Began her own independent film production company “Island Vision Productions” Her company was involved in the making of television commercials for Sony, Diet Coke, Honda and Japan Airlines. Worked on location for China Beach, a television episode for Warner Bros.
Worked in the field of Real Estate for 20 years in Hawaii and in 2004 got her Real Estate on the Gold Coast of Australia too.
Films: and video
1987 – Nancy became a Member of the Screen Actors Guild of USA when hand picked to be the lead’s Stunt Double in the remake of The New Gidget
Show comes back as an aunty for 1987 & 88′.
1995 – Kevin Costner’s Waterworld, Universal Studios – stunts
Member of the Screen Actors Guild
Apperances:
Northshore – Surfing bits & technical advisor to Randall Kleiser
Eye of the tiger: stunts
Super Cross – stunts
Slam Dance – bit part
Surrender – dancer
Night Dancer – stunts surfing
Woo Woo Kid – bit part
Videos:
1999 – Soaking Wet Girls
Hot Dogs and Cool Cats- National Geographic
Television:
April 1999- November 2000 – Discovery Show for Kids
1998 Regis & Kathie Lee Show -two appearances in one week
1997 National Geographic TV – featured story
1992 & 1993 American Adventurer – featured stories
1987-1988 The New Gidget Show- stunt double for Gidget
1987-1988 Moonlighting – bit parts
Cagney & Lacey – bit parts
Hunter – bit parts
1984 On the Tube, Los Angeles featured story
KABC featured surfing story
-CBS featured story, Morning News with Maria Shriver with Nancy opening 1st
Surfing School in Malibu, California 1984-1991. Nancy Closed it as Ocean got to
polluted for her liking.
Photos: 1960s
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