Maya Reis Gabeira is a Brazilian big wave surfer. She has received the ESPY award for Best Female Action Sports Athlete and is considered one of the best female surfers in the world as well as one of the most influential female surfers of all time. She has won the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards for four consecutive times (2007 to 2010) in the Best Female Performance category. In 2010, she got the 2010 Teen Choice Award for Best Female Action Sports Star. In 2012, she was awarded the XXL Big Wave Awards for Girls Best Overall Performance for the 5th time.
In February 11, 2020, Maya set a new Guinness World Record for the Largest wave surfed (unlimited) – female. It was held in WSL Nazaré Tow Surf in contest and the wave measured 73.5 feet (22.4 m)
In 2008, she became the first woman to surf the Alaskan Sea. Gabeira also became the first woman to surf California’s Ghost Trees and Tahiti’s Teahupoo.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar did a candid interview with Maya Gabeira, Six times World Champion Big Wave Surfer where she talks about her workout, diet, hair & skincare, and her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
Walk us through your spectacular journey about how and when you were introduced to surfing? Was it your first love at 14 years of age?
Maya Gabeira:
I had my first contact with surf when I was 13 years old, through some school’s friends and a ex-boyfriend. I used to be very focused in Ballet, but when I was 12 I quit dance, and two years latter, I transferred all that focus and passion from dance to surf.
Namita Nayyar:
In 2008 you became the first woman to surf Alaska and in 2009, you won the Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY Award. Being the best involves a lot of dedication and commitment. Share four keys to become a top-line surfer?
Maya Gabeira:
- Dedication
- Practice
- Sacrifices
- Passion
Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life. Your morning begins with.
Maya Gabeira:
My routine is not always the same, but I try to alternate among surf gym, bike and foil. Usually I wake up and go check the sea and analyse the surf conditions. Then I plan my day and decide if I go to surf or practice tow-in or foil. By the afternoon I try to do my out of water trainings.
The exercises training can take between 1h30 and 2h30; it can be at the gym or bike. The training inside water can be fast, taking between 1h and 2h, but sometimes it takes all day, it will depend on surf conditions. I have started to practice kite surf and foil, I end up spending a long time inside water. So, if I’m not surfing, I’m with my foil on waves and if there is strong wind I’m kite surfing. Furthermore, I’m now sailing and I also spend some time on it.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2020 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
Yoga & Pilates exercises essentially comprise your workout routine? Throw some insight on the same. Exercise Therapy you have undertaken to overcome sports injury?
Maya Gabeira:
Yoga and Pilates have been great to practice on my rehab programs. But I also do a lot of physiotherapy with great professionals.
Namita Nayyar:
You like to eat vegetables in the morning. Why? Diet you essentially follow to remain healthy and physically fit? Two supplements that you take.
Maya Gabeira:
Each surfer eats in a different way, I see people who do not want to eat a specific kind of food and some with intolerance. I eat in a natural way, removing industrials or un-naturals products. But what is always present in my diet is a well-prepared broccoli, with a lot of proteins, vegetables and asparagus. I also have many kinds of fruits and nuts in my diet.
Namita Nayyar:
Training in extreme weather conditions can show its toll on hair & skin, Five tips you follow for skin, and hair care?
Maya Gabeira:
I try to use a cap as much as possible, I use leave-in which works as a moisturizer in my hair before I get in the water. In my face I always use a lot of sunscreen and when I leave the water I use mineral water in my face and hair, it helps a lot. But cap, sunscreen and a good leave-in are the best!
Namita Nayyar:
In the current pandemic situation, how do you train while staying at home?
Maya Gabeira:
I am lucky to be in Portugal; here we are now allowed to surf again. I have been doing my gym workout in a private small gym I have in the harbour of Nazare. That space really saved me during quarantine.
Namita Nayyar:
You go to bed past 10 pm, usually sleep at least nine hours per day, and wakes up at 6 am. How significant is a proper sleep pattern for enhanced performance?
Maya Gabeira:
Sleeping is the most important aspect to me. I need nine good hours of sleep to perform well.
Namita Nayyar:
In January 2018, you surfed a 68 ft. high (20.8mts) wave in Nazare, PT, recorded by Guinness World Records as the biggest wave surfed by a female surfer. Share that moment of achievement?
Maya Gabeira:
Being the one who surfed the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman is a dream that came true. Certainly it was the greatest accomplishment of my career, even more because it was in Nazaré, where I have already a history. It was an amazing experience but also challenger. I am extremely glad! I had my doubts that I could do it because I had suffered the accident in 2013 and my recovering process took long time.
Namita Nayyar:
Social media has gained significance nowadays, how do you use it to inspire your audience?
Maya Gabeira:
I like to share things that i see relevance and sometimes I go quite for a while if I don’t have anything to share. I lie to share contents that are true to me.
Namita Nayyar:
Womenfitness.net is committed towards its goal to serve women with the best in health & fitness. Please share a message for our visitors? A note on Women Fitness.
Maya Gabeira:
Outdoor sports are the best way to keep fit. Is fun and healthy.
Namita Nayyar:
You also work with non-profit organization Oceana, to protect the world’s oceans. What has been your contributing role? How does the organization educate to spread awareness?
Maya Gabeira:
They keep me posted on all issues by email, and when we need the public to be aware and help I spread the word and help to reach more people. I have done a few trips as well to learn more about particular ocean issues.
Namita Nayyar:
You have worked with countless brands and companies including Red Bull, TAG Heuer, Mitsubishi, Gucci, Samsung, Lululemon, Renault, Mormaii, Fa, Evoke, Tokoro, Nextel, Billabong, etc. Share your memorable experience working as a model?
Maya Gabeira:
I admire all brands that I have worked with. I’m glad working as a model inspiring new and different audiences, mainly other women, with my history at female surf.
Namita Nayyar:
You have undergone multiple surgeries, including back and nose operations. What has kept you going till now? Share your future dreams & aspirations.
Maya Gabeira:
I had a difficult experience in Nazaré in 2013, and I had to get over a lot of things as traumas and injuries and it made me change as person. I took time till I got my confidence back, I had psychological therapy for many years, however I don’t have it anymore and I am not attached to my accident and my injuries. This time away from surf was important to improve me as a person, athlete, my confidence and performance. All confidence comes from it; you must be prepared to deal with difficult situations, having the skills and knowledge to perform and survive, this is very important. I surf with confidence and awareness, especially in days of big waves.
Nowadays I am hoping we get over this pandemic soon, for sure. My biggest dream is to live in a boat and start to surf on winter in Nazaré and to explore the Mediterranean sea on summer, also practicing other sports that I love such as Foli and Kite surf, anyway I want to open my range of interests enjoying others sports that I like during the summer.
I am also studying to get my sailor license and be a Capitan, these has been my study now. I have studied in USA, had different classes and I am very interested in movies and cinema, but I intend to continue in sports area, mainly.
Maya Gabeira social media presence
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2020 Women Fitness