Laura Louise "Lakey" Peterson (born September 30, 1994) is an American professional surfer. She has been ranked as high as No. 1 by the World Surf League,ASP North America Profiles the highest professional level of women's surfing, and #6 on the ASP Women's World Ranking.Presidio Sports In 2009, Peterson landed the first-ever aerial in NSSA women's competition history and won the title.National Scholastic Surfing Association
Early life In 2000, when Peterson was just five years old, her parents, David and Sue, rounded up their youngest child and her two older siblings—Whitney, then 13, and Parker, 10—and set out on a year-long, around-the-world adventure. It was during this trip that Peterson learned to surf. For three months, the Petersons set up shop in Manly Beach, Australia, where their littlest member instantly earned the nickname "Lakey Legend" from the locals for effortlessly catching wave after wave on her boogie board. However, once returning home to the US, Peterson did not continue surfing. Resuming at the age of 12, she qualified for the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women's World Championship Tour by 16, and began her rookie year on tour in the 2012 season a year later.
Career 2018 World Championship Tour For the 2018 World Surf League Championship Tour Peterson ranked second overall behind Australian surfer Stephanie Gilmore.Jhaveri, Hemal (November 30, 2018). "Surfer Stephanie Gilmore shares the one piece of advice that made her a world champion". USA Today. Retrieved July 12, 2021."2018 Women's Championship Tour Rankings". World Surf League. November 27, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2021. Peterson was the highest ranked female American surfer for the year's world championship tour.
2019 World Championship Tour In the 2019 World Surf league Championship Tour, Peterson ranked third overall behind the Carissa Moore and Caroline Marks."2019 Women's Championship Tour Rankings". World Surf League. December 2, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
2020 Summer Olympics
Peterson finished third out of female competitors for the United States at the qualifying event for the 2020 Summer Olympics, the 2019 World Surf League Championship Tour, and only the top two finishers for the country qualified directly for the US Olympic Team."Carissa Moore, Caroline Marks earn U.S. Olympic surfing spots". ESPN. December 1, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2021. Her third place overall finish behind two female American surfers qualified her indirectly for the US Olympic Surf Team as an alternate.Bricker, Tierney (July 10, 2021). "Meet the 6 Surfers Set to Make Waves at the 2020 Olympics". E! Online. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
Highlights A few of Peterson's career highlights thus far include: Surf Career Highlights YearPlacedScoreEventRef20231stCorona Open J-Bay 2019 3rd 55,125 2019 World Surf League Championship Tour 2019 1st Drug Aware Pro Margaret River - Australia 2018 2nd 54,260 2018 World Surf League Championship Tour 2018 1st Roxy Pro Gold Coast - Australia 2018 2nd Oi Rio Women's Pro - Brazil 2018 1st Corona Bali Protected - Bali 2018 2nd Corona Open J Bay - Africa 2017 6th 44,100 2017 World Surf League Championship Tour "2017 Women's Championship Tour Rankings". World Surf League. December 1, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2021. 2017 2nd Roxy Pro Gold Coast - Australia 2017 2nd Roxy Pro - France 2016 16th 21,850 2016 World Surf League Championship Tour "2016 Women's Championship Tour Rankings". World Surf League. December 3, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2021. 2015 6th 47,000 2015 World Surf League Championship Tour "2015 Women's Championship Tour Rankings". World Surf League. December 2, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2021. 2015 3rd Trestles Women Pro – California 2015 2nd Cascais Women's Pro – Portugal 2015 9th Women's Maui Pro – Hawaii 2014 6th 42,300 2014 World Surf League Championship Tour "2014 Women's Championship Tour Rankings". World Surf League. November 27, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2021. 2013 7th 35,400 2013 World Surf League Championship Tour "2013 Women's Championship Tour Rankings". World Surf League. October 5, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2021. 2012 1st US Open Surfing - California
Career victories WCT Wins YearEventVenueCountry2026 Margaret River ProMargaret River, Western Australia 2023 Corona Open J-Bay Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cap 2019Freshwater ProLemoore, California United States 2019 Margaret River ProMargaret River, Western Australia 2018 Corona Bali Protected Keramas Beach, Bali 2018Roxy Pro Gold CoastGold Coast, Queensland
Sponsors Peterson currently is sponsored by sisstrevolution, Blenders Eyewear Channel Islands, and Homegrown Surf Shop. She is featured in a Toyota Tacoma commercial.
In March 2020, Peterson became one of six women athletes to feature on the limited edition packaging of Clif Bars available throughout 2020.
Personal life Peterson dated Australian surfer Thomas Allen for a number of years before becoming engaged on January 21, 2018, near Peterson's hometown in California, with close friends and fellow surfers nearby. They were married on February 2, 2019.
On February 14, 2010, Peterson started her YouTube channel dedicated to sharing her life, travel, and surfing.Peterson, Lakey. "Lakey Peterson - About". YouTube. Retrieved July 10, 2021. She began uploading videos in May 2019 with a first video in vlog format covering life in Bali surrounding a surfing competition.Peterson, Lakey (May 25, 2019). "Lakey Peterson // VLOG #1 // Bali // 05/05/2019". YouTube. Retrieved July 10, 2021. In addition to publishing her own content on YouTube, Peterson is a fan of the videos Hailey Baldwin shares on YouTube.
In 2019, Peterson posed nude for ESPN’s The Body Issue magazine.
Filmography Year Title Portrayal Ref 2011 Leave A Message Herself "Californian Female Surfers: Lakey Peterson" Surfergirls. Retrieved July 12, 2021. 2013 Lakey Peterson: Zero to 100 Herself
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