Monada Kancepolsky - Surf Instructor/Blogger/Model

When and where did you start surfing?
I have been surfing for as long as I can remember. My whole family surfs. My grandfather Topsea was the first Israeli to get a surfboard from Dorian Paskowitz. My dad was a pro surfer for the larger part of his younger life, so I kind of grew into it. He tells me he used to take me on his board when I was still a baby. 

What is it that you love about surfing and the surf lifestyle?
I feel really connected to the ocean, to the wild life, to nature. Surfing's not just a hobby or a sport to me, it's a way of life, and it's my way of expressing myself. I think there's something really spiritual about surfing, you tend to develop this really sharp intuition and increased sensitivity towards things you normally wouldn't have noticed.

What are the waves like in Israel?
They are pretty good actually, but we don't get them as often as other surf destinations do. When a good swell comes, there willl be like 3 days of 2 to 4 feet waves. Winter brings bigger ones though, just a couple of weeks ago there was some 6 to 9 ft swell.

Do you have a session that stands out as your most memorable?
Yes. I was in Arugam bay, Sri Lanka a few years ago. One morning, I woke up really early and I could feel the waves were going to be awesome even before I got to the beach. Something in the air just said it. Apparently I was right, as soon as I got the beach I could see perfect 4 ft barrels. That was the day I went behind the curtain the first time. There's no feeling you can compare to that. Not a chance.

What boards are you currently riding?
I have a 5"11 FTS board that I really like. My uncle shaped it, he has a brand here called Intersurf Surfboards.

What kind of education have you had?
I have a formal education, a BA in creative writing, and I'm a certified surfing instructor. More importantly, I was educated by my family. I was raised to live a healthy and active lifestyle where I was taught to love and respect the ocean, the animals, the people, and the environment.

What inspired you to create the Surf Lifestyle blog?
I've been keeping a journal ever since I was 8. I love writing, and I love sharing things that are important to me with other people. I started following a yoga instructor from the Caribbean that keeps a yoga lifestyle blog which inspired me to do my own. It's been really crazy ever since. The continually growing audience and positive comments motivate to keep writing about what I love.     

What is the surf scene like in Israel?
The surf scene here keeps growing all the time. More and more people want to start surfing and become a part of the community. As an instructor, I've had the pleasure of watching the younger generation (some of which were my students) develop into some of the best surfers in Israel today. 

What is the best thing about being a surf instructor?
Definitely being in a position to influence. Surfing is something that changes people's lives. When I surf I become a much happier person, so for me to see other people becoming so happy because of something I helped them achieve, that gives me purpose. 

What are some of your other interests/passions out of the water?
I love practicing yoga, traveling, skating, and snowboarding… I'm 100% vegan and it's something I'm very proud of and passionate about.

What / who inspires you in life?
My dad. I don't know how he manages to keep a successful business, raise 5 kids, and still go surfing every now and then. He has it all, and he's such a good person. I love him.

What can we expect to see from you in 2015?
This year I'm taking a group of my surf students to a surf trip to the Maldive islands. I've wanted to start working abroad for a long time, and now it's finally happening so I'm really excited. Hopefully I'll keep traveling, writing and getting involved with many cool new projects like this one.

Where can we find you online? 

Posted by: Troy Roennfeldt, on February 2, 2015
Categories: Interviews

Tweet