PT chats with New Jersey Legend Ben Gravy (fb)

Christel Roever Saylor - Florida Christel Roever Saylor was born in Cocoa Beach and graduated from Cocoa Beach High School in 1981, where she was a standout student. Roever eventually relocated to New Smyrna Beach, learning to swim with the sharks. Roever had a stellar competitive career in the 1980s. She won the Junior Women’s division at the NSSA Nationals in 1982 and was the ESA Junior Women’s Easterns Champion in 1983, 1984 and 1985! She took her second NSSA National title in 1986 and then helped the U.S. win the Gold Medal at the ISA World Surfing Championship in England later that year. As a professional, Roever won three Sundek Classic events, and the Caribbean Cup held in Puerto Rico in 1987. More than a talented surfer, Roever graduated 5th in her high school class and was a four-time winner of the ESA Marsh Scholarship Award. She earned her university degree from the Florida Institute of Technology and her master’s degree in Math from the University of Central Florida. A short detour after college found her as a professional sand sculptor. Roever was so good that Sea World offered her a full-time job. She participated in the World Sand Sculpting Championship three times. Eventually, Roever returned to academia becoming a Math Professor at Daytona State College, and she continues to surf in New Smyrna Beach, participating in competitive surfing events. Christel was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame 2014. #SurfingLegend#FloridaSurfCulture#WomenInSurfing#AcademicAthlete#NewSmyrnaBeach#SurfHistory#InspiringWomen (fb)