Ishita Malaviya

Aloha!

Anytime she’s away from the sea, Ishita is like a fish out of water. Born and raised in the coastal city of Mumbai she was introduced to the ocean at a young age. Growing up, she always dreamed of traveling to California and learning to surf. Never did she imagine that she would one day not only start surfing in India but also go on to become India’s first female surfer!While studying Journalism in Manipal University, it was in 2007 that Ishita started surfing- a time when surfing in India was practically unheard of. Bit by the surf bug, Ishita and her friend Tushar sold whatever they could to buy their first surfboard which they shared for the first two years of their surf lives. By age 22, they both daringly gave up the city life and moved to a fishing village and Co-Founded The Shaka Surf Club - one of the premiere surf schools in India. Breaking out of old traditions and forging her own path, Ishita is pioneering surfing for women in India. A Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2019 Honoree in Sports and Entertainment, Ishita is a prominent role model for women around the world.