"That girl just rode the biggest wave of the day, it really showed me and everyone else something," said event judge Bernie Baker, describing his impression of the 'test' day of the North Shore Tow-In Championships at Avalanche, off Haleiwa. Baker continued, "There was a solid 20 feet of face on that wave. Her name is Malia and she teams with her brother..."

"Malia Kamisugi", I asked? "Yeah, that's it," Baker countered, "Why, do you know her?" "Since the 10th grade," I replied. I was left with a smile on my face. The thought of Malia driving down the face of that massive wave and stealing the show made me really happy. I imagined the confidence involved in being in that situation and the intensity of focus needed to pull it off. While I didn’t predict that she would do it, I could have--Malia's ability to charge something like that comes as no surprise to me!

While we met for this interview, I was instantly reminded of the strength of presence that speaks so loudly of Maila's love for adventure and the complete confidence she has in her ability to pull it off.

At Punahou School, I saw the confidence in her clarity, her calmness, and her drive to learn, to understand and to achieve as a student athlete. Thus, it's no surprise that she went on to balance her Medical studies and career as an Orthodontist with her success in kayaking and paddling on a very high level.

While windsurfing at Diamond Head, I saw firsthand the "calmness" in action. On a day when the wind and surf were out of control, I saw her smile at the prospects. She simply rigged her equipment and charged out into the line-up. Standing up above the beach, I watched with respect as she handled the most adverse conditions. She was focused and relaxed and the smile never left her face. Malia simply charged in and out through surf that was closing out the horizon and with wind that was up to 35 knots. Thus, it's no surprise that she teams with brother Cully to charge the waves on the outer reef.

Malia as an ocean athlete has learned how to operate with acceptance in extreme situations, to be present, and to FEEL and EXPRESS a wide range of emotions as positive actions. She is the product of a very supportive family, an excellent education, "National Team" coaching in kayaking, several crossings of the Molokai Channel in all kinds of equipment and all conditions and she has internalized all of this support and experience into confidence. In short, she charges… pushes through any resistance and expresses complete confidence, poise, strength and style. Thus, it's no surprise that she has been able to find the rationale and strength to perform so close to the edge.

While Malia participates and competes in an arena previously reserved for the likes of Laird, Kenny, Buzzy, "them," she is one of the select few that live to challenge the ocean on her terms and ride the biggest and maddest wave ever. She has not been hardened by this experience or success. And, while tow-in surfing requires incredible mental toughness and focus, she does not have an edge AND she is not out to prove a point. Pushed to describe the "why" of what she does she says, "I definitely know my limits and I just love being out in the ocean when the waves are this big… plus, I get to spend this time with my brother."

Malia has the humility to know her limits and the sensitivity to be "team". She has been tested by the ocean on the outer reef. She has experienced the inevitable--her share of nasty wipe-outs. As she demonstrated at Avalanche, she has the ability to be towed into a really big wave and stay calm, focus on where she is on the wave and put herself in the best possible position to maintain speed and make it. "In all honesty," Malia pauses to analyze her thoughts, "I trust my brother completely and when I get into the wave, I just go!"

When I asked brother Cully about that wave "of the day," he replied, "The conditions were really choppy. The team that we were competing against ran into some chop and their rider went down. I had to swerve to miss them, and I actually put Malia way deeper into this wave than I had intended. She stayed calm and pulled it off. I was really proud of her!"

In tow-in surfing, you both must be eager to drive the boat for your partner. She has trained herself to focus on getting her brother in the right position while maintaining an awareness of where they are, and more important where everyone else is relative to the waves and each other. In this "way more than extreme" environment, she is able to relax, stay positive, feel the right action and maintain her commitment to the safety of the team.

Again brother Culley weighs in, "Our family has always been real close, we grew up sharing adventures and as a result, we learned to rely on one another. To help Malia adjust on the bigger days, I have her surf first, that way she is prepared for the action, especially when she drives the ski."

Malia has the confidence, intensity, strength, athletic ability, humility and sensitivity to operate on the edge and be safe. Her husband, Mike Pietsch says it best, "Whether it's surfing, tow-in surfing, diving, paddling or orthodontics, Malia's one hundred percent present and calculated. She knows her strengths and her clear focus enables her to approach anything in a confident manner. Malia's passion and respect for the ocean is very pure and real. She lives life to the fullest under her own terms."