Blue crush: A Roxy global athlete hits Cloud 9

MANILA, Philippines - If Nelson Mandela and Serena Williams hung out at sea together (and dare I say it, wore a wetsuit while serving up some banana pancake realness), then they’d probably be breaking waves and going gnarly with Roxy global ambassador Philippa Anderson. Not that she’s a former president or anything like her idol Mandela, though like her other idol Serena, she is an athlete (ranked 17 in the Association of Surfing Professionals or ASP). Instead, like both of them, the 21-year-old Philippa thrives on a challenge. “Upon seeing the other girls surfing in Australia, it kind of pushed me to be as good as them,” she shares about how she got into the sport and converted her hobby which started when she was just nine years old into a passion and profession.

In 2008, Philippa joined Roxy’s roster of lady mavericks whose ranks include Sally Fitzgibbons, Torah Bright, Rosy Hodge, newbie Stephanie Gilmore, and the iconic Lisa Andersen who became the very first member of the Roxy Team. “I am so privileged and blessed to still be representing such an amazing brand,” she says. “Roxy is not only just a surf brand, but a family that looks after me, pushes me and helps me to achieve my dreams of one day becoming a professional surfer.”

Philippa was last in the Philippines (notice the glaring alliteration) when she joined the Roxy Siargao International Surfing cup in which she bagged third place. It was an experience, she says, that enabled the Cloud 9 surfing spot in the Philippines, a place in her list of favorite surfing spots around the world. “My first trip to Siargao was really exciting which is usually how it is when you’re packing your bags and you’re going somewhere with fellow surfers.” She says she liked the waves so much and hopefully others can come and experience it someday. Gnarly!

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Roxy is a lifestyle brand, offering productions for every aspect of the active girl. From handbag to Henley, wetsuit to tide watch, the key ingredient of its products is that inimitable Roxy spirit the screams “daring, confident, naturally beautiful, fun and alive.” Roxy is distributed by the Primer group of companies and is available in select boutiques and stores nationwide. For more info, visit www.roxy.com.