History
Chuck and Ana Barend opened LIVING WATER SURF CO in 2009 with a vision to help young and old North East surfers maximize their surfing potential and have a whole lot of Fun!
The Barend’s have over 50 years of surfing experience between them and are excited to share their vast knowledge of surfing and surf gear with New England surfers.
Ana, originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, started surfing at age 12. Ana was Brazil’s National surfing champion twice! Ana’s sponsors wanted to send her to compete and surf around the world. Ana competed in ASP World Tour (Asociation of Surfing Professionals) events in Hawaii, Australia, South Africa, North and South America, Europe and the Caribean. Ana had a reputation for being an excellent big wave surfer in Brasil and on Oahu’s North Shore especially at her favorite wave, Sunset.
Chuck also began surfing at age 12 but in Ormond Beach, Florida. After highschool Chuck moved to San Diego, CA and worked at the Nectar surfboards surf shop and also repaired surfboards at the Nectar factory. Chuck had some success competing in Florida and CA yet preferred exploring the Baja Mexico Penninsula for surf or lengthy trips to Australia. Chuck then moved to Oahu’s North Shore working as a tree trimmer and surfboard repairman for Bill Barnfield’s surfboard factory in Haleiwa.
Chuck and Ana met on the North Shore of Oahu in 1991. They became fast friends in and out of the water. Chuck would bring Ana fresh coconuts from the coco trees he trimmed. Brazilian girls love to drink fresh coconut water after surfing! They shared epic surf together on the North Shore esp at Sunset Beach. Chuck and all the guys were blown away how the little Ana could keep up with the boys!
Chuck, a romantic surfer, would pick many tropical flowers for his ”friend” Ana. Hawaii has amazing flowers growing everywhere! Chuck had marriage in mind and joined the Coast Guard in Honolulu asking for anything in Hawaii. Unexpectedly, he was stationed on another island, Martha’s Vineyard! The Coast Guard sent over Chuck’s full Hawaiian quiver of ”magic” JC Hawaii surfboards to MV. JC-John Carper and Chuck had become longtime surf buddies and close friends over the years. Ana and Chuck always loved going to Saturday nights at the Carper’s house. A big potluck meal for the traveling surfers from all over the world, a time of Bible study and worship, the house would be overflowing, popping at the seams!!
Ana stopped competing and went to a Bible College in CA. To make a long story short, they got married when Ana graduated and the Coast Guard had them stationed on Martha’s Vineyard and later in Newport, RI. Chuck went on to become a Helicopter Rescue Swimmer in the Coast Guard and they were then stationed back in Hawaii. They plugged right back in living at Sunset Beach and thought they would live back on the North Shore forever. But when their twins, Edward and Maria, turned 3 they decided to raise the little keikis in New England and here we are in Little Compton, RI.
After riding JC surfboards for over 15 years Chuck began working for JC, WEST wetsuits, PRO-LITE accessories, and a few other surf companies providing surf gear to surfshops all over New England. Chuck then began dreaming of having his own shop. Well, Living Water Surf Co. was born out of this dream and a desire to serve people and share our deep knowledge of surfing and help you find great, high performance, equipment.
We have been working with the New England youth, coaching them in competitions, and teaching surf camps. Bringing local surfer kids to surf contests it was only natural for Ana to show them how to do it and begin competing again. Ana has won numerous North EastWomen’s contests as well as making some history winning Men’s events! most notably Ana is the 4 x Ladies East Coast Champion in Shortboard and 3 x Ladies East Coast Longboard Champion. Ana is honored to be selected for the 2009, 2010, and 2011 ESA All STar Team and assists in coaching the young ESA All Star Team members. Ana is ”Living her dream” to work with the East Coast’s most talented young surfers!
Chuck also started competing again and he won the Senior Men’s division at the North East Championships in Montauk, NY 2007, and Hampton, NH 2010.
Chuck began competing again and has won numerous contests in the North East but he Barend’s have been traveling to North Carolina each September for the East Coast Championships and the last two years have had cranking surf due to a Hurricane in 2010 and a north Easter in 2011.
Chuck placed 2nd 3rd place in Shortboard at the East coast championships and 2nd place in the longboard division. Last September 2011 Chuck returned to North Carolina placing 2nd in Shortboard and 1st place in Longboard, East Coast Champion!
Chuck was also selected to be on the 2010 and 2011 ESA All Star Team. Chuck and Ana made a little history being the first husband and wife on the ESA All Star Team together! They are both looking forward to traveling, training, competing, and assisting with coaching the East Coast’s next generation of finest surfers!
Riding waves, enjoying the Ocean is a great gift, and enjoying the friends we’ve made and shared along the way is a real blessing! Stop in, say hello, and check out all the great gear at Living Water Surf Co we are happy to serve you.
Mahalo,
Chuck and Ana Barend
Chuck’s cell 401 662-9291
e-mail: chuckana@verizon.net
The Barend’s back on the North Shore of Oahu
(Ana and Chuck with little Ed and Maria)