FITNESS PROFILE
Fitness essential part of Chaminade student's day

Here's the first in an occasional series putting Hawai'i's fitness-conscious people in the spotlight.

By Paula Rath
Advertiser STaff Writer

Jamie Ballenger

Age: 20.

Occupation: Full-time student at Chaminade University, majoring in environmental studies with a minor in fine art; works part-time at Powder Edge.

Height/Weight: 5 feet 3 inches, 106 pounds.

Workouts: I surf almost every day, but when the surf is small, I like to swim, free dive, paddle canoe, kayak, bodysurf and trail run.

Good foods/bad foods: I don't eat any meat from the land, such as chicken, steak, pork etc. I only eat fish. I love Thai, Italian, Mexican and Indian foods. I also eat a lot of veggies, fruits and tofu. I do not eat too many dairy products. My bad food habit is linked to chocolate.

My biggest motivator: The ocean itself, because I feel a connection every time I enter it. I feel it is making me push myself harder every time.

What I wear to work out: When I'm in the water, I only wear Water Girl, a sister company of Patagonia, because the fit is made for an active woman and the quality is high so it will last. Water Girl only uses organic cottons. When I'm on land working out, I wear Patagonia. They have a great variety in women's sports tops and bottoms that function well when I'm training hard.

My favorite body part: Would have to be my heart. My heart keeps me going and in return I must treat it right by exercising and eating healthy foods.

What saves my sanity: Playing in the ocean. The feeling of plunging into the water lets all the days' worries melt away.

My next challenge: Working with my surfboard shaper, Travis Reynolds, on new shapes and fin combinations, resulting in my own personal models, ranging from short to long boards suited for anyone in my size range who's looking for a smooth, classic ride.

Advice for those in the same boat: Anyone who is working on surfboard design should keep an open mind and not be afraid to ride boards of all shapes and sizes and from all eras. Also, remember that knowledge is power, so stay in school and don't give up.