Every surfer has a story and this is the latest installment of our Surf ATL Community Spotlight series where we will feature surfers and those part of the surf culture in the Atlanta area. Check out our previous spotlights on Thomas Roginsky, Spencer Broome, Anthony Kennedy, Nick Bramwell, the Merlo Family, Mike Dobbs, Kristian Erik Bjerke, Jamie Eichler, Doug Paul, Brandon Spivia, Robert Hanson, Liam Spoon, Eric Ilustrisimo, Susan Bond, Jason Smith, Garrett Gilfillan, Silvia Saey, Scott Mennicke, Tammie Dalrymple, Wes Espinosa, Peter Gudbrandsen, Kelby Graham, Kayvon Nazarian, Abigail Pierce, Clark Campbell, Katy Harrison, and Sam Burrafato.
Introduce yourself! (Maggie’s Mom, Patty, shared her story with us!)
Maggie Maziarz; 9 years old and in 4th grade. Smart, sweet, kind, and LOVES adventure! Loves nature and loves exploring!
Do you ocean surf, wake surf, river surf, paddle surf?
Maggie ocean surfs, wakeboards, and stand up paddleboards.
How did you get into surfing?
Maggie’s dad, Mark, grew up in Puerto Rico surfing and her mom, Patty, started surfing and paddleboarding in 2009 in Oahu, Hawaii.
Maggie loved the water and was a fish even as a baby. Maggie lived the first three years of her life in Oahu, Hawaii. Maggie caught her first wave riding tandem with her Mom in Waikiki at 18 months in 2014.
When our family got military orders to Savannah, Georgia we were so thankful to be on the coast where we could still enjoy our water sports at Tybee Island, GA, and intercoastal waters surrounding Savannah and Richmond Hill, GA.
Maggie loves her surf instructor at Tybee Island, GA Mr. Yamada Atsushi, AKA “Hot Sushi” in Tybee Island, GA.
Where and how often do you surf?
Here in Savannah, GA as long as it's warm and the water temps are warm Maggie is always doing something in the water! As long as the weather permits, and water temperatures are favorable….Maggie is in the water! In the offseason, Maggie participates in Cub Scouts.
What is your favorite thing about surfing?
The excitement, that surfer stoke, feeling when you catch that wave!…and just being out in nature in general…sun on your face seeing dolphins, and splashing around having a fun time!
What are your hopes for the Atlanta surfing community in the future?
Spreading the surf ATL surfer stoke to the GA coastline.
Any surfers in the Atlanta or Georgia community who should be spotlighted/catch your eye?
Definitely Mr. Hot Sushi! Everyone knows him in Tybee Island and loves his surf school….he also does Surfers Healing and teaches autistic children surfing https://www.facebook.com/go4surf
