Laura Lee Ching
| Laura Lee Ching | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | Laura Blears December 25, 1950 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Residence | Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Surfing career | |
| Years active | 1970s–1980s |
Laura Lee Ching, also known as Laura Blears, Laura Blears Ching and Laura Blears Cody (born December 25, 1950) is an American surfer.
Early life[edit]
On December 25, 1950, Laura was born. Her father was Lord James Blears (died 2016), a professional wrestler and amateur surfer. Her mother was Leonora "Lee" Adelaina (died 2007). Laura had three siblings, Jimmy (also a champion surfer; died 2011), Clinton, and Carol.[1]
Career[edit]
Laura won the 1972 Makaha Invitational and became the first woman to compete in the Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships in 1973.[1][2] She was the world number one female surfer in 1973.[1] She also appeared on What's My Line? and ABC's Wide World of Sports' Challenge of the Sexes.[3]
Recognition[edit]
Laura appeared in a six page pictorial for Playboy magazine in its July, 1975 issue. Her pictorial was shot at Keawaʻula Beach (popularly known as Yokohama Beach), while surfing nude on a Lightning Bolt surfboard.
In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Laura's name and picture.[4]
In 2022 she received the restaurant Kimo's Maui's first Pioneers of Surfing Award.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Laura Ching". Thesuperstars.org. 1950-12-25. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
- ^ "'Superstar' Laura Ching Posed Nude For Magazine". Sarasota Journal. Sarasota. December 20, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Bezane, Norm (May 19, 2011). "Legendary Laura now Lahaina's own". Lahaina News.
- ^ Wulf, Steve (2015-03-23). "Supersisters: Original Roster". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
- ^ "Kimo's inaugural Pioneers of Surfing Award issued to former professional surfer | Maui Now".