What do you do when the thing you love could literally kill you?
This week, Julie and Abby welcome Katie McConnell, one of the top big wave surfers on the planet, an athlete who paddles (or gets towed) into towering walls of water where timing, calm, and judgment are the difference between getting out… or not. Katie explains what a “big wave” really is, the physics and chaos behind places like Nazaré, and why chasing swells is part science, part instinct, and part spiritual relationship with the sea.
Then the conversation turns to a different kind of fight: Katie’s mission to change the system for women in big wave surfing, from uneven invites and costly last-minute travel windows to building a future where women aren’t “included” as an afterthought, but centered in the story. Extreme sport. Ocean obsession. Equality push. Puny humans, giant waves.
Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com
Keep the Party Going:
Follow Katie: https://www.instagram.com/keiti_mar/
Learn more about Katie: https://www.surfwithkatie.com/
Watch 100ft Wave Documentary Series: https://www.hbomax.com/shows/100-foot-wave/34e489ad-2eca-4078-adb6-6d2b521b407e
Follow more big wave surfing, follow:@bigwavechallenge @thebigwavealliance @womensbigwavecollective
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00:00 — Begin
00:38 — Welcome + Julie & Abby Talk Surf Experiences
12:24 — Katie McConnell Intro
14:06 — How Katie Got Into Surfing
17:00 — What Counts as a “Big Wave” + Paddle vs Tow
20:18 — Biggest Waves Katie’s Surfed
20:50 — Why Nazaré Creates Monsters
23:09 — What It Feels Like to Ride One
24:26 — Fear + Risk Management
27:20 — The Fight for Women’s Equality in Big Wave Surfing
32:16 — Making a Living + Sponsorship Reality
33:15 — How the Party People Can Help
36:52 — Closing Thanks + Future of Women’s Big Wave Surfing
39:05 — Post-Interview Debrief: “How Do They Live Like This?”
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