Frieda Zamba

Born: 1964
From: Flagler Beach, FL
Known for: Youngest surfer to win a pro tour championship at 19

Bio:

Frieda Zamba began surfing at age 12. She accidently became a surfer at the age of 16 when she entered a competition and won and cashed the check. In 1982, she won the Mazda Surfsport Pro in Solana Beach, California and at 17 became the youngest female tour contest winner. She is also the first person from Florida to win the pro tour championship. She finished in 1982 ranked sixth with was the lowest ranking of her career. The next year she placed second right after Kim Mearig. In 1984, she won 5 of 10 events while all the other women on tour had no more than one so she won the championship in 1984. All together she won 4 events. Despite her great success on the tour, Frieda still had a difficult time finding financial support for her to continue to surf. She retired in 1988 after the world championship because there was not enough financial support for female surfers. She went on to return to her beginnings in Florida. Frieda was known for her aggressive surfing style and goofy stance. She is in the Surfing Hall of Fame.

One of the things that set Zamba apart from other surfers is that she didn't participate in regional or national events growing up. So, she became a pro instantly when she won her first tour event and cashed the check.

In 1994, Frieda Zamba was in the first movie about women surfers called Surfer Girl. She was in the movie aside Wendy Botha, Pam Burridge, and Jodie Cooper and others. The movie was filmed off the coast of Fiji. She now works as a sales rep for Spy Sunglasses.

http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/surfaz.cfm?id=952

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