In this YA memoir, pro surfer Maya Gabeira tells the awe-inspiring true story of her journey from unstoppable teenager to the Guinness World Record–holding legend she is today
Who am I, beyond the board? Surf legend Maya Gabeira is famous for her nerve. Her surfing journey began at the age of fourteen and reached a high when she set (and later broke) a Guinness World Record for highest wave conquered by any big wave surfer—man or woman—after bouncing back from a near-fatal accident. Gabeira has been heralded as one of the top surfers of her generation. But who is the ferocious personality beyond the board? What are the stories behind the relationships and challenges that shaped her into the indomitable surfer, women’s rights advocate, and champion for mental health awareness she is today?
For the first time ever, Maya looks back on her formative years: the romances, career highs, vulnerabilities, and setbacks that defined her at an early age. At seventeen, she left her home in Rio de Janeiro in order to chase waves around the world, toting a single backpack and waiting tables to get by. Maya carved her own path as a teen, defining her own remarkable narrative: that of a vulnerable, passionate, and driven young woman who learned never to flinch—even in the face of death.
Title alpha Beyond the Board: The Untold Story of the World's Most Daring Big Wave Surfer
Category Biography High Plus
Pages Count 336
Genre Nonfiction
Topics Surfers. Surfing. Brazil. Contests. Ocean. Travel. Children of divorced parents. Sports and recreation.
Trim Size 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2025-06-09
JLG Release Date Sep 2025
Minimum grade 9
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
Biography High Plus (Grades 9 & Up)
Biography High Plus
Biography High Plus (Grades 9 & Up)
For Grades 9 & Up
This 14 book collections offers young adult readers fascinating biographies and compelling personal stories that provide a view into history or perspective on the issues of our times.
Crime: Punishment/Execution,Discrimination: Reference/Discussion,Discrimination: Religious,Discrimination: Sexism,Discrimination: Sexuality,Language: Moderate Language,Sexual Content: Contact Between Adult and Minor,Sexual Content: Mild Sexual Content/Themes,Violence: Gun Violence,Violence: Suicide,Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War