Laura Lee Ching

Laura Lee Ching, also known as Laura Blears, Laura Blears Ching and Laura Blears Cody (born December 25, 1950) is an American surfer.

Laura Lee Ching
Personal information
BornLaura Blears
(1950-12-25) December 25, 1950
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
ResidenceHonolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Surfing career
Years active1970s–1980s

Early life

On December 25, 1950, Laura was born. Her father was Lord James Blears (died 2016), a professional wrestler and amateur surfer. Her mother was Leonora "Lee" Adelaina (died 2007). Laura had three siblings, Jimmy (also a champion surfer; died 2011), Clinton, and Carol.[1]

Career

Laura won the 1972 Makaha Invitational and became the first woman to compete in the Smirnoff World Pro-Am Surfing Championships in 1973.[1][2] She was the world number one female surfer in 1973.[1] She also appeared on What's My Line? and ABC's Wide World of Sports' Challenge of the Sexes.[3]

Recognition

Laura appeared in a six page pictorial for Playboy magazine in its July, 1975 issue. Her pictorial was shot at Yokohama Bay, while surfing nude on a Lightning Bolt surfboard.

In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Laura's name and picture.[4]

In 2022 she received the restaurant Kimo's Maui's first Pioneers of Surfing Award.[5]

References
  1. "Laura Ching". Thesuperstars.org. 1950-12-25. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
  2. "'Superstar' Laura Ching Posed Nude For Magazine". Sarasota Journal. Sarasota. December 20, 1974. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  3. Bezane, Norm (May 19, 2011). "Legendary Laura now Lahaina's own". Lahaina News.
  4. Wulf, Steve (2015-03-23). "Supersisters: Original Roster". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
  5. "Kimo's inaugural Pioneers of Surfing Award issued to former professional surfer | Maui Now".
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