photo by Nicole Sanchez
Andrea was born in Brazil and was raised on the small island of Ilhabela. Growing up in her family’s marina, she had been exposed to ocean sports from the time she could walk and always had their full support to be the best competitive athlete that she could be. While in Brazil, she was a top medalist in swimming, biking and windsurfing.
In 1998, Andrea made the decision to follow her dream and moved to Maui to become a professional windsurfer. As she completed college and achieved her competitive goals, Andrea fell in love with the Maui lifestyle and dedicated her life to many other water sports. Today, her passion is surfing big waves and paddling outrigger canoes. She began paddling in 1999 to keep herself physically trained for surfing and windsurfing, and eventually decided to take paddling more seriously.
Andrea competes in every outrigger race from one-man to six-man canoes all year round. She’s won many awards and titles as a paddler, including world recognized competitions of channel crossings like Maui to Molokai, Molokai to Oahu and the Tahitian Race Hawaiki Nui Va’a. For the past three years, Andrea has been a part of the world’s best paddler team, Team Bradley. Winner of five consecutive Na Wahine O Ke Kai, the challenging 42-mile channel crossing women’s canoe race.
In 2005, she added the water sport of Stand Up Paddling (SUP) to her repertoire. That very same year, she crossed the Ka’iwi Channel competing amongst the men. In addition, she was also part of the first female Stand Up team to cross the grueling 32-mile Molokai to Oahu Channel. Andrea is always looking for opportunities to push herself in the ocean, so as SUP emerged as a new water sport, she continued to break into uncharted territory as the water woman in Hawai‘i’.
Putting all these ocean sports aside, Andrea Möller is a Big Wave surfer at heart. Charging 40-foot plus waves at Peahi, also known as “Jaws,” is at the root of Andrea’s passion and is the truest expression of her power as an athlete. Today she’s dedicated to surfing the biggest waves on Maui and throughout the world. She has been Tow-in surfing “Jaws” since 2004 and became the pioneering woman as a jet ski operator, making rescues in high surf conditions, while also surfing left and right waves. What’s even more impressive, Andrea is the only woman to Paddle-in at Jaws.
Andrea’s goal is to take women’s big wave surfing to a higher level and push the limits of her surfing, while excelling as a paddler. She wants to motivate both men and women to tap their potential, while also being a role model to young athletes. In addition, she wants to represent the heart and soul of her sports, all the while
Andrea Möller is a rare breed of an athlete. She’s mentally and physically strong and is built for the challenges of big wave surfing. However, more importantly, Andrea has a heart of gold that’s expressed through her humility and camaraderie with others.
SUP Accomplishments
2011
1st – Olukai race Stand Up Paddling (May14/2011)
1st – Triple Crown- first leg: Maliko to Kahului Harbor (July 3rd/2011)
2010
1st – Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi SOLO Elite Race
Recold holder! 6:00 hrs
1st – Dukes Paddleboard Race
1st – Naish International P. Race
1st – Olukai race Stand Up Paddling
1st – Battle of the Paddle
Hawaii – Long Distance race, 10mi
1st – Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Relay – Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi
1st – Naish International Paddleboard Race
3rd – Battle of the Paddle Dana Point, CA – Long Distance race, 10mi
2009
1st – Dukes Paddleboard Race
1st – Naish International Paddleboard Race
1st – Olukai race Stand Up Paddling
2nd – Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi SOLO Elite Race
4th – Battle of the Paddle
, Dana Point CA,
2008
1st – Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Relay – Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi
1st
1st – Naish International P. Race
2007
1st – Quicksilver Edition Paddleboard Relay – Molokai to Oahu Channel, 32mi 1st
1st – Naish International Paddleboard Race
2005 to 2007
First and Only female team crossing the 32-mile Molokai to Oahu Channel on a SUP board. Being role model to athletes.
http://www.supthemag.com/2011-sup-awards/vote/top-3-female-paddlers