Karina Petroni: Gumption

Karina Petroni: Gumption

Author: Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich - surf stories & ocean adventures November 3, 2022 Duration: 1:28:52

What happens when you lose it all? After a successful, 14 year professional surfing career, Karina Petroni discovered that all of her earnings and assets had suspiciously vaporised.

Karina was born and raised in the Panama Canal Zone, but is known as one of The East Coast's surf prodigies.  In 2006, the  New York Times called her one of the “scions of Florida's recent surfing tradition."

Karina’s promise for professional surfing, combined with her family’s investment in managing her career, was so great that she was earning a living from surfing as a ten year old. Karina went on to compete on the World Championship Tour for more than a decade, holding the top spot on the leaderboard for a spell in 2008, and in 2009 Karina featured in the Academy Award winning documentary The Cove.  

Karina now happily resides in the Caribbean with her husband Dave, where she sails, surfs, freedives, and assists with marine salvage operations. 




Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich

Sound Engineer: Ben Alexander

Soundtrack By: Shannon Sol Carroll

Additional music by Wave Brain  - Dave, Neal Purchase Jr. and Christian Barker 

Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast

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Photo Credit: Carl Rosen

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Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave Rastovich

Sound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander

Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll

Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander

Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast 

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There’s a particular kind of life shaped by time spent in and around the ocean, one that blends saltwater with a deeper perspective. Hosted by lifelong surfers and storytellers Lauren L. Hill and Dave Rastovich, the Waterpeople Podcast explores exactly that. Each conversation is less an interview and more a shared dive with guides who know the water intimately-from scientists and activists to adventurers and artists. You’ll hear firsthand accounts that stretch beyond simple adventure tales, touching on how a connection to the sea informs everything from ecological stewardship and community building to the pure, playful joy of a wave. This podcast serves as a meeting point for a far-flung tribe, weaving together themes of inclusivity, humour, and what it means to live thoughtfully along the coast. It’s about the stories that emerge when people are truly at home in the aquatic world, offering listeners a sense of place and connection within a global ocean community. Tune in for genuine, meandering talks that feel like sitting around after a long day in the swell, where the topics are as vast and shifting as the sea itself.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 133

Waterpeople Podcast
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