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KATIE MAE McCONNELL

Surfing the biggest waves on the planet and giving back along the way.

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BIG WAVE CHAMP​
  • Winner, 2025 La Vaca Gigante Big Wave Women's Division

  • Winner, 2024 Biggest Paddle, Big Wave Challenge

  • Finalist, 2024 Surfer of the Year, Big Wave Challenge

  • Winner, 2024 Biggest Tow, Red Bull Magnitude

  • Winner, 2024 Thriller at Killers Big Wave Contest. Todos Santos, Mexico

  • Winner, Lobos Por Siempre Big Wave Internacional Womenand 20/29 overall, Punta de Lobos, Chile

  • Women's Biggest Paddle Finalist, 2022 XXL Awards

  • 3rd Place & Rookie of the Season, 2021-22 Red Bull Magnitude Women's Big Wave Contest, Hawaii

  • 5th Place, 2022-23 Red Bull Mangnitude

  • Top Female and 20/34 open Santos del Mar Big Wave Internacional, El Buey, Arica, Chile

  • Maverick's Surf Awards finalist for women's Biggest Wave, Ride of the Year and Overall Performer. 2021-22

  • 2nd place women and 7th overall Itacoatiara Big Wave Paddle-in, Brasil, 2022​​

BODYSURFING CHAMP
  • Women's Grand Champ, Oceanside World Bodysurfing Championships 2021

  • 4th Place, Bodysurfing World Tour Finals

  • 2x Team Polynesia World Tour Qualifier

  • 2nd Place Sandy's Challenge, Oahu

  • 2nd Place, Oceanside World Bodysurfing Championships 2022

  • 3rd place, Torneo de Bodysurf Zicatela, Puerto Escondido, Mexico (Open) & Reina del Campeonato

  • Quarterfinalist, Torneo de Bodysurf Zicatela, Puerto Escondido (Open) 2021​​​

SCIENCE, CONSERVATION & EDUCATION

 

  • MS Microbiology w/ Minor in Risk & Uncertainty Quantification in Marine Systems, Oregon State Univerisity

    • Reef Microbiomes of Mo'orea, French Polynesia, a Socioecological System

  • BS Marine Biology, UC Santa Cruz

  • National Geographic Explorer

  • Ambassador, Save the Waves Coalition

  • Ambassador, Finisterre (Certified B Corp)

  • Boardmember, Earth Society Foundation

  • Marine Scientist, YachAid Global (501c3)

  • Naturalist Expedition Diver, National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions

  • Research Diver, United States Antarctic Program

  • Substitute Teacher, Haiku Elementary, Maui

PUBLIC SPEAKING
  • Taller: Ecosistemas de Surf y su Rol en la Conservación Efectiva, CONATUR, 2025, Matanzas, Chile

  • Taller: Ecosistemas de Surf, Parley Escuela del Oceano, Chile

  • Global Wave Conference 2023, Nazaré, Portugal

  • Save the Waves Summit 2022, Santa Cruz, California

  • Western Society of Naturalists, 2019, Ensenada, México

  • Congreso Cienias del Mar, 2018, Valdivia, Chile

 

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©2025 by Katie McConnell.

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