Age: 16
Occupation: High school student, aspiring pro surfer
Years surfing: 11
Best advice for beginners: “Practice a lot. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away.”
At just 16 years old, Grace Muckenfuss is well on her way to fulfilling her dreams of becoming a top professional surfer.
She’s already considered one of the best surfers on Folly Beach, having won countless local meets since she started competing in 2005. She placed first in the Junior Women’s Shortboard division of the 2011 Governor’s Cup, and at the latest SSC Awards banquet, she swept multiple categories: 1st in Junior Women’s Shortboard Overall, 1st in Women’s Longboard Overall, Wahine of the Year and the coveted Iron Woman award—which goes to the female surfer with the most points in SSC-sanctioned competitions.
Sponsored by Ocean Surf Shop, she was also named to the Eastern Surfing Association’s All-Stars, which consists of 23 of the association’s best male and female surfers, and her success in competition has already taken her to some of the best surfing destinations in the world, including California, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Still, there’s nothing she enjoys more than a casual day of surfing on her home turf.
“I go out on every day that is rideable,” she said. “It’s always different. And it’s always freeing. There are no problems or worries when you’re out there.”