Skye Dominguez is only 17 but is already making waves in the surfing community. She moved to Charleston from California when she was 8 years old and is now a junior at Lucy Beckham High School. Her parents met in San Diego and bonded over waves, which means surfing has always been part of her family life. It wasn’t until she hit Charleston’s rippling waves that Skye found her own style. She rode her first contest, Gromfest 2017, at just 8 years old, and her love for the sport and competitive surfing was born.
Skye is stepping into bigger arenas these days as her career grows. She competes in WSL QS events, USA Nationals and USA Prime competitions, constantly pushing herself to ride harder, charge bigger waves and nail powerful maneuvers. “No matter the conditions, I always have fun,” she says. “Surfing is my happy place. And yeah, it’s awesome when I can show the boys my age that I can hang with them—or even outdo them.”
This year has been huge for Skye. She represented South Carolina in Hawaii with the ESA All Star Girls, won the Open Women’s Pro Shortboard at Folly Beach Wahine Classic and became the first-ever sponsored surfer for FBW. With her sights on the Junior National Team and eventually surfing for a college NSSA team out West, Skye isn’t just riding waves—she’s building a future and inspiring everyone who watches her do it.
By Cari Lawson