Lakey Peterson was destined to spend her life in the water when her mother Sue (a former Olympic swimmer) competed in the Santa Barbara Triathlon while 8 months pregnant with her. Lakey was born one month after the race on September 30th, 1994.
She has two older siblings, Whitney and Parker, who she absolutely adores. There is little doubt that her mother gave her an edge in water sports and her siblings give her the drive to compete, but her ingenuity, boldness on the waves, and in life come from within. She has been a National champion in three sports.
Travel and family have always been a big part of Lakey’s life. When she was five years old, Lakey and her family took a trip around the world. It was on that trip, while in Australia, that Lakey first fell in love with the sport of surfing. Learning how to stand up on her boogie board, Lakey was dubbed “Lakey Surf Legend” by the Aussies.
It wasn’t only surfing that Lakey tried out when growing up. She enjoyed football, basketball, soccer, water polo, Jr. Guards, and tennis. However it was not until age 11 that she began to surf competitively. By the age of 12, Lakey was crowned the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Western States Champion for girls 14 and under.
Then in 2009 when she was 14, Lakey won the NSSA Open Women’s National Title, by completing the first ever aerial maneuver in NSSA history. In 2010 Lakey defended her National Title, winning for the second year in a row. Lakey has since been named the 2010-11 ASP North American Regional Champion for women and junior women division. Lakey, now 16, also had the chance to compete against the top-17 women surfers in the world as a wild card entry in the 2011 U.S. Open Of Surfing – a Women’s World Tour event. Lakey won six consecutive heats earning her way to the final, where she was runner-up in the biggest surf event in the world. Lakey completed her season by winning every event in the North American Junior Pro series. She is now ranked No. 7 in the world.
Lakey’s interests not only lie with surfing. She recently raised $15,000 by showcasing the Nike film “Leave A Message” that she and five other of the top female surfers in the world revealing the progression of women’s surfing. The money went to H4o (Hands 4 Others) To build fresh-water wells in 3rd world countries. Lakey is also a spokesperson the SCA (Student Conservation Association), which is the largest volunteer organization for students in high school and college, to help keep our national parks and trails pristine.
Lakey appreciates her opportunity and lifestyle, but most of all enjoys her family, friends, and dog (Hagrid).