Kennelly was at that event, too, although her run was cut short when a wipeout sent her to the hospital. The historic invitation came on the heels of another history-making moment, the first-ever women's big-wave contest on the WSL's Big Wave Tour (BWT).
It is the first time that a woman has been included on the invitee list for the prestigious big wave contest. This little cavern at Teahupo'o last year scored Keala a Big Wave Award for best tube - WSLīut this winter, Kennelly achieved yet another first: She was invited to the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau as an alternate. And, probably, the first former Championship Tour (CT) surfer ever to star in an HBO series. First woman to win a Big Wave Award for the year's best tube. By any measure, Keala Kennelly has achieved a slew of firsts: First woman known to have surfed Teahupo'o.
