“Everyone’s Partying, And She’s At The Table Doing Her Schoolwork On Toilet Paper”

Behind soft words and gentle expressions, Ainara Aymat quietly disguises the extent of her potent intellectuality. 

That is, until she absolutely steamrolls you in a “friendly” game of chess — known as xakea in Basque.

We’ve had Ainara along for many a Stab venture — both as a Stab High judge and a Stab Highway contender — and each time she has amazed us with her unique cocktail of sharp rail game, sharper intelligence, and lucid humility.

As Vans’ European Team Manager Mikel Urgoitia puts it, “she’s good at surfing, but she doesn’t speak too loud.”

Surfing’s finest code of honor.

Above, our good friend Sam Moody and the crew at Db have collected a handful of beautiful ruminations on the life of the Basque Country goof — including her aptitude for biomechanics and her inclination towards solitude. Once you’ve gotten acquainted with Ainara, you can watch her ripping here, here, and here.

Enjoy.