By Kaea Latronic – Hawaiʻi has long been a cradle for surfing prodigies—youthful talents who announce themselves early, rewrite expectations, and shape the sport’s future. Think of Coco Ho, charging through HASA heats before most kids her age had mastered their bottom turn, climbing into NSSA finals at 12, and qualifying for the World Tour at 17 where she clinched Rookie of the Year. Or Carissa Moore, who stacked eleven NSSA National titles and an ISA World Junior Championship by 14 before storming the Championship Tour to claim multiple world crowns. Malia Manuel broke through the sport’s glass ceiling at just 14, stunning the world as the youngest ever U.S. Open Champion. Even Lani Doherty showed how Hawaiʻi’s next generation could dominate, claiming both the Junior and Women’s divisions in one sweep at 15.
Each of these surfers carried the same rare mix: fearlessness, refined skill far beyond their years, and an inner drive that propelled them toward the world surfing mainstage. They weren’t just talented groms—they were markers of a generational pulse, signaling Hawaiʻi’s position as the heartbeat of women’s surfing.
Now, another signal is flashing. At 16, Chesney Guinotte is stepping into that same current. She represents a new wave of surfers who aren’t just following in those footsteps but carving out their own and throwing spray in the process. Guinotte already carries herself with the polish of a professional, even while juggling the schoolwork, travel, and turbulence of teenage life. I caught up with her just as she was boarding a flight, and even in those quick exchanges her mix of professionalism, stoke, and clear-eyed ambition was evident.
She’s not just cutting her teeth on local sessions. For any teenager, rubbing rails at Pipeline with world-class inspirations would be a dream; for Chesney, it was a signpost that she belongs in those lineups. Her goals confirm it. She even frames one of her biggest ambitions not in trophies, but in mastery: to be known as an epic Pipe surfer. The break she now calls her favorite, famously challenging Sunset Beach truly says something about her trajectory. Sunset has long been a benchmark of power, positioning, and courage, and Guinotte is already finding joy in hitting its heavy sections.
In Chesney Guinotte, you see the familiar spark that has kept Hawaiʻi at the center of women’s surfing—but you also see something fresh: a teen with poise, ambition, and perspective, ready to write her own chapter in the story of women’s sports.
KL: When did you start surfing?
CG: I started surfing when I was seven.
KL: Who taught you?
CG: My dad is military so was gone a lot and during the summer when I was out of school my mom would drop me off on her way to work to Barber’s Point beach. One of my aunties was a lifeguard there and she taught me how to surf.
KL: Who do you like to paddle out with for free surfing sessions?
CG: Any of my friends.
KL: Best/most memorable day surfing, so far:
CG: Probably sharing heats with Caity [Simmers], Moana [Jones-Wong], and Zoë [McDougall] at the Vans Pipe masters. That was a super cool experience and I was stoked to be able to share a line-up with some of the women who inspire me at one of the best waves in the world.
KL: Tell me a little about your favorite spot
CG: My favorite spot is Sunset. Sunset can definitely be a very challenging wave but I think that’s what makes it so much fun for me. Hitting a big section is always fun too.
KL: What spot do you consider your home break? What about it keeps you going back?
CG: My home break is Rocky Point. I live right there so it’s easy for me to go out and check it whenever I want. Rockies is also just such a rippable wave and allows for a little bit of everything.
KL: Why do you compete?
CG: I compete because I would consider myself a super competitive person and I really enjoy being able to work towards something and to be able to have the satisfaction of winning after putting in work feels awesome.
KL: What are your goals, and dreams for the near future? And the big picture?
CG: For the near future I have some regional QS’s coming up so I would like to come out of the season with some good results and hopefully even some wins. I’m also looking forward to getting some bigger barrels at Pipe this winter. For the big picture, obviously like to win a couple world titles and some gold medals. I think being an epic Pipe surfer is also one of my biggest goals. I’m also working towards graduating high school with my Associates Degree and would later like to go to law school.
KL: That’s totally badass. Who inspires you?
CG: John John is definitely someone that is a big inspiration for me, I think his style is unmatched. I also really look up to Coco Ho not only because of her style but because of everything she also does out of the water.
KL: That’s fantastic, haha, I attended SBES with John John. What would you say is your best trait? What about your worst?
CG: I’d like to say I have a good sense of humor.
I think my worst is that I’m super stubborn, but I also think that can be a good thing sometimes because I feel confident to stand my ground when I feel strongly about something.
KL: Tell me about your routine before a contest
CG: I like to show up a few hours early to watch the waves and make sure all of my equipment is ready. I’ll listen to some music while I do a stretch to warm up. And then I’ll grab my jersey and paddle out.
KL: How would you describe your personal clothing style?
CG: I think I’m pretty out-there sometimes with what I wear haha. Definitely like animal prints. I think the most important part about my style is the jewelry I wear. I love gold.
KL: I’ve worked as a jeweler for 10 years, I can appreciate that… Favorite maneuver?
CG: I like getting barreled.
KL: Why is it your favorite maneuver?
CG: Because I don’t think there is any other feeling like getting barreled and it’s such an accomplishing feeling when you make it out.
KL: What amps you up, gets you fired up?
CG: Big waves, barrels, surf trips, and winning.
KL: What kinda music do you like to jam?
CG: I’m really into R&B and alternative music. Steve Lacy and Gorillaz are probably my favorite artists.
KL: Share favorite post surf grinds
CG: Nothing is better than an Arizona [iced tea] after a surf and Pūpūkea Grill’s spicy ahi hand roll.
KL: Would you share what grounds you, what brings you back to center?
CG: My family and losing a comp, haha.
KL: Words of advice to a grom who wants to start competing?
CG: Don’t take it too serious at first, just have fun and surf with friends.
Let’s be honest: I’m at least twice Chesney’s age, yet hearing her speak about stubbornness as both a flaw and a strength struck me as wisdom well beyond her sixteen years. That kind of self-awareness—paired with her drive to compete, her joy in free surfing—is rare in anyone still in high school.
What makes Guinotte compelling isn’t just her surfing résumé. It’s a balance of competitive fire with maturity beyond her years, I especially admired the way she reframed setbacks. For Chesney, losing isn’t failure; it’s perspective, balance. She laughs at how losing a contest keeps her grounded, defeat flipped into fuel. To embrace loss as a grounding experience, or as the kids say, to take an L…. You know what, I said I’d be honest: I truly don’t know what the kids say. What I do know is that her outlook, combined with ambition to be an epic Pipe surfer, and her genuine love for surfing, makes it clear she’s not just another promising grom. She’s part of a new generation of athletes from Hawai’i carrying the torch with both excellence and integrity.
It was a privilege to glimpse her mindset, her humor, and her heart. And it leaves me excited for the horizon ahead. Chesney Guinotte is just one of many young surfers reshaping the future of the sport, and here at FreeSurf Magazine we’re committed to shining a light on these rising stars. Stay tuned—there are more stories of brilliance, grit, and stoke to come.
Original Post from this site