Visual Stories

VIDEO: Alaska surfer girl relishes Turnagain Arm boretide

When 22-year-old Hailey Driver moved to Girdwood four years ago, she brought her snowboard, intending to sharpen her skills on frozen water. But this summer she discovered surfing on the Turnagain Arm bore tide, and her enthusiasm for riding liquid water has never waned.

"At the beginning of last summer, I fell in love with paddleboarding on flat water -- something about there being no boat walls and you can look straight into the water. I brought my first paddleboard ... but flat water was getting a little boring." Before long, "I spent pretty much all my money on getting the right gear, because the board I started out on was not meant to be a surfboard and I don't own any neoprene," Driver said.

That wasn't cheap. In addition to a top-of-the-line 10-foot-6-inch board, she needed a board bag, paddle, wetsuit, and a rack for her car. "I wanted it all," she said.

Come winter, the wetsuit didn't feel quite warm or thick enough, so she got a thicker suit "because I knew I wasn't about to stop surfing. I'm going to keep going until there is too much ice in the Arm."

Driver's board comes from Hypr Nalu Surf and Stand Up Paddle Boards in Hawaii, and she was so happy with the company's service that she made two videos for them. "I never thought it would blow up," she said.

Hailey's videos have been featured by numerous news outlets including CNN and Fox News online. Her pastime has become her passion. Since Driver caught her first wave, "I've been back nearly every tide since." When Driver isn't surfing, she manages to stay near the water by working at The Hotel Alyeska's pool.

Driver is one of many daring locals taking on the bore tide, be it by kayak or surfboard.

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