So what was your last surf session.   Tell us about it?

When I started this interview my last sesh was friday morning at Pipes. The surf was small and glassy and I paddled out with my friends Leah and Lizzy. We had a full on spaz out for the first half of the session. All of us catching wave after wave, laughing our heads off in between sets.  Next thing you know most of the crowd either went in or paddled to another peak. We must have scared them off with our shredding abilities and enthusiasm. I credit the enthusiasm to the home made espresso I had just before paddling out. 

Now that its three days later, my real last session was monday at tourmoline.... worst idea ever

Where did you grow up surfing and what is your favorite memory about the area?

I grew up surfing in Pacific Beach. My favorite memories from when I was a kid were always summertime. Before I realized PB was a total zoo during the summer months I loved it because I could spend the entire day either surfing tourmoline and hanging in the parking lot with my older sister and her friends who I looked up to or hanging between my dad's skate shop and crystal pier. As I got older and realized what a scene it was I took full advantage of it. When I was a teenager I would get water balloons and throw them at tourists on the beach from the cliff at the end of Felspar. As cruel as that seems to me now, as a kid I really got a kick out of it.  Most of the time though I just spent entire days surfing and hanging on the beach at the bottom of the stairs there. 

What are some of your thoughts on surfing in the San Diego as in the waves, locals, and the general scene.    

San Diego has a variety of waves, some of which are world class ones. We have point breaks, reefs, and beach breaks. I'm lucky to have grown  up when I did and not now. when I was younger it was crowded. Now the crowds can get so out of control that I hesitate to paddle out sometimes. The good thing is that at most of the spots I choose to surf I usually know a few faces in the water so its easier to get waves without pissing people off. Its funny how your friends are stoked to see you get waves as you are them, but randoms you don't know are often times the opposite.   In general, the surf scene in San Diego is just like most places in the world. When its good, its crowded. There are friendly locals and there are jerks. When you go to that one spot you will always see the same guy gabbing in the lot, no matter what the surf is like. And most of us who surf center our lives around the ocean.

How old were you when you first starting riding waves?   What did you start with Long-boards, Short-boards?

I remember riding waves when I was 6 or 7. I started surfing on my dad's shortboards which were like longboards to me at that age. When I was 9 I started riding a 9'0" almost every time I surfed. 

What was your first surfboard and how did you get it? 

Who is currently your shaper?  Tell us about what forms the respect you have for them  or their shapes?

right now I ride for Donald Takayama. He has the best longboards in his line if you wan to noseride and surf smooth. Donald himself is a bit of a living legend and I'm glad to be riding his boards. I love to drop by his shop in Oceanside to see what he is up to as often as I can. He's always working on some kind of interesting project like his hand shaped redwood boards. 

Now I have seen your Dad, Pablo Smith, out in Pacific Beach just styling on the waves?  Tell us about your relationship with your pops?

my dad is a classic surfer. he wakes up every morning and the first thing he does is head to the beach or make a call to get the surf report. I think we are very similar in a lot of ways. I'm stoked to have a good relationship with him. I know a lot of people who don't like there parents and some who don't know there parents. I love both of mine and I'm blessed to have been raised the way that I was. Family is one of the most important things in life for me.

While growing up which Pro or Soul Surfer had the biggest influence on forming your style?  Who did you just watch and study and say, “ I am surf like that person!”

well, I grew up watching loads of good surfers at my local spots. skip fry definitely had an influence on me. I used to and still enjoy watching him slide across the waves with flawless style. there are a handful of unknowns like Felipe Becarra, Barney Sullivan, and guys like that who I used want to be as good as. Surfing windansea I have been surrounded by guys who ride all types of baords with style. Style is one of the most important things I think in surfing.  A few of my favorite surfers in the world are Bonga Perkins, Kai Salas, and CJ Nelson

So what was the first contest you entered?  What was your motivation?

the first contest I entered was the Women's World Famous at PB drive when I was in 5th grade.  a friend of my sister told me about it and said I should enter so I did. 

You have just won another ASP World Title.  Was this year harder, easier than the year you won your first?  More competitive or less?

I think this last title was just as hard to clutch as the first.  The competition was definitely tougher this year but I had nothing to lose this time around so I just took every heat as it came and gave all I had.

Being on ASP Tour for so long and also riding for Roxy you must have traveled to so many places.  Can you list them all?

well... California as far north as SF, Baja, Hawaii, Fiji, Australia, Costa Rica, France, Samoa, Maldives, Mainland Mexico, Florida, Morocco, New York, Tahiti, Michigan, Chicago, a NASCAR, 

What was the absolute all time best trip?

there is never a worst or best trip. every one has its highs and lows. I've had the worst experiences in some of my best trips and some of the best experiences of my life on the worst surf trips ever.