ProSurfer Lakey Peterson, 805 Beer, and the U.S. Open Surfing 2024
Firestone Walker Brewing Company’s 805 Beer is the official craft beer partner of the World Surf League North America. At the U.S. Open Surfing Competition in Huntington Beach, look for the Cold Beer Surf Club podcast by legendary pro surfer and 805 Beer Authentico Conner Coffin. Coffin takes the deep dive with his interviews of surfers and the stories that drive them.
Adding to the roster of 805 Beer’s ambassadors is Montecito’s pro surfer Lakey Peterson. Being an ambassador is not all beer and talk, rather it’s about being part of the 805 Beer’s Athlete Booster Program for emerging surfers to excel in their careers, along with giving a huge shout out to the 805 area’s pro-surfers.
In her press release Peterson said, “Being from the 805 and the Central Coast, I’m proud to represent our community and everyone who supports my journey. Sharing so many of the same values and passions for life, surfing, and creativity, my partnership with 805 Beer feels so natural. I’m excited about the work we’re doing to promote surfing and the California way of life.”
The 805 Beer team reached out to me to interview Peterson; a full circle moment because in June 2007, Montecito Union School reached out to have a news interview with Peterson at her parents’ home in Montecito. While the MJ online does not date back that far, in MJ Issue #13_24, June 14, 2007 I talked with Peterson who, as an MUS 6th grade student, had recently won both the West Coast Surf Championships Explorer Girl Champion, and the Regional Surf Conference Champion in girls 14 and under, where she was the youngest competitor in her class. In 2007, she’d told me, “I like surfing and I want to go Pro. My favorite saying is, ‘Open your life to sports.’” Indeed, she did.
In our interview on August 2, we talked about her competing in the U.S. Open, boards in her quiver, and more.
Q. You are surfing in the U.S. Open ‘24 – what are you most excited for first?
A. It’ll be great for family and friends to be there, and to surf at home. It is obviously an event that I’ve done for a really long time now, kind of our only big event here in California. My friends and family can actually come down and cheer me on live which is always special, instead of doing it through a screen at 2 am when I’m surfing around the world. I’ve had more time off than usual, so I get to compete and work on the things that I want to work on. It’s an event I’d love to win. It’s pressure-free and I feel like I can do really well, enjoy the moment, enjoy the surfing, enjoy the waves.
What’s the surf look like for the U.S. Open ’24?
Right now, everything looks decent. It’s notoriously known for being terrible for this event, but actually there’s a lot of swells coming in for the final weekend – Thursday through Sunday look pretty good. We’ll see how that materializes in the next few days.
What’s your U.S. Open ’24 schedule?
I’m surfing on Friday, Saturday, Sunday [August 9 – 11]. I’m sure I’ll be doing 805 Beer signings and we’re doing a G-Skate model give away, and do some Channel Islands things, catching up with friends and people I don’t usually see.
Are you using a new surfboard to compete in the U.S. Open ’24?
No, not any new boards. I’ve worked with Channel Islands Surf Boards and have a quiver of boards I use at this time of year in California, what I ride when I’m home. It will be like a normal, standard high performance short board, nothing too crazy, but it’s worked for me lately.
What boards are in your quiver?
My quiver is huge because I surf all types of waves, I kind of have a wide range of boards from bigger boards for bigger waves like in Hawaii and smaller boards made of epoxy – a lighter material – for small waves. I have everything I need for every situation. I have the Channel Islands Surf Boards models CI Pro line for my competitions customized for me. I’ve used their G-Skate surfboard, super fun, not high performance, and other fun models in my downtime this year. It’s been a blast.
Are you able to dial in what specs you want on your boards with Channel Islands Surf Boards?
Yeah. My board shaper there is Britt Merrick whom I’ve know my entire life and his family in general. We have a great relationship. He tweaks things, works on things, it is sort of a never-ending thing. He’s incredible to work with, super transparent, and the best in the game. Tweaks are based on my height, weight, and what my strengths are.
I can trust him, he knows me so well, how I surf, what I like, so it’s really been awesome.
What do you think about the surfing Olympics ‘24 choosing Teahupo’o?
It’s def arguably one of the best waves of the world. It’s incredible, a really, really dangerous wave; it’s so shallow.
I think when they selected it, it made sense because on a right day you get the best wave of your life – the formula to show how incredible surfing is and how surfers are. It’s a very high wave and a very strong wave to surf. Hopefully people are watching and enjoying the surfing.
Have you ever surfed there?
Yes, we have a contest there every year called the World Championship Tour, which is cool.
Any thoughts you’d love to share with fellow surfers and your local 805 fans?
I’m so proud to be from SB, our surfing community is so, so rad and obviously there’s been such incredible surfers that come out of our little town like Tom Curren, brothers Connor and Parker Coffin, and Bobby Martinez. There’s just so much talent in our area. I’m so thankful to the entire SB community for the support my entire career.
I love where I’m from, and that’s one of the reasons it’s so rad to work with the 805 Beer brand. It’s all really
very organic.
How did being the 805 Beer ambassador happen?
I went to them, I talked with my managers and thought it would be just a great fit, obviously linked to SB. They have really cool films they released in the past, and storytelling. I love their entire vibe. Being from SB and working with a brand on the Central Coast, it’s an organic fit and they felt the same way. Honestly, they’re a great group of people and it’s been really cool.
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