Anna Gudauskas at home for XTRATUF Boots

I first met Anna on a surf trip in Norway. At the time, she was in an era of life that involved traveling all over the world, frequently chasing waves in cold places like Alaska and Iceland and starring in major photo campaigns around the globe. Since that trip, Anna has gracefully entered a new chapter of life that’s changed this quite a bit, motherhood.

These days, Anna spends much of her time at home in Ojai, where she raises her daughter, Heidi, and lives a more locally centered life. She gardens most of the fruits and veggies that her family eats (Heidi picks them right off the trees), raises ducks, surfs local breaks with her whole family, frequents nearby swimming holes, and a whole lot more. Although different, Anna’s life is equally as inspiring and interesting today as it was when I first met her in Norway.

Watching Anna from afar has reminded me that life ebbs and flows - sometimes happiness comes from far flung travels and sometimes it comes from closer to home. Over time, priorities and interests evolve, and leaning into these shifts is how we continue to grow.