At the Age of 92 Marina Waters is Still Hangin' Ten

If you happen to be on the beach some morning, watching the surfers ride the waves, you might notice one wearing a bright purple wet suit. She may not be the best surfer out there; she may not be the flashiest; but Marina Waters is probably the most experienced. At the age of 92, Marina Waters has been surfing the Bay Head waves for almost 80 years.

"I was 12 when my dad took me surfing the first time," Marina recalls. "He was a really good surfer and I was really scared I would disappoint him." Luckily she took to surfing like a fish to water. "By the end of the first day, I was able to ride a wave all the way in. By the end of the week, my parents couldn't keep me off the waves." 

Marina has become something of a local celebrity. Bay Head residents have seen her through the years teaching her children to surf, and later her grandchildren. For most of the those years she has worn her signature purple wetsuit. "I figured it would make it easier for someone to spot me if I ever got in trouble, plus I think it's kind of stylish."

Younger surfers are amazed when they see her on her board. They affectionately call her Granny Marina. "Granny is a righteous surfer lady," said 19 year old Woody Crest, who also started surfing when he was 12. "The first time I saw Granny on her board, with her long white hair flying behind her, I thought it was some sort of sea witch, man. But now I know Granny is ok. Us younger guys keep an eye on her 'cause these days she's looking kinda brittle, but somehow she picks up that board and hobbles to the ocean."

Nothing keeps Marina off the waves, not even when she lost her husband 10 years ago. "We were on as trip to Australia, and Wade fell off of his board. The next thing you know he was surrounded by sharks. They completely devoured him in just a few minutes. It was awful! The only thing that got me through it was that I caught some really great waves during the next few days before going home."

Marina has no plans to stop surfing any time soon. "I'll keep riding the waves until one day, the undertow takes me away and I'll be with my dear Wade again." Until that day, Bay Head will still get to enjoy seeing Granny Marina in her purple wet suit hangin' ten.


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