Passion Peeps - Mercedes Maidana

Published: Jan. 9, 2012, 8 p.m.

b'At age 21, Mercedes Maidana from Argentina went through a terrible dark period in her life. A friend took her on a chance trip to a beach in Brazil, where Mercedes realized surfing was her true passion. Though her friends and family said she was crazy, she left her business behind and started backpacking around the world in pursuit of better waves. Mercedes followed her dream all the way to Hawaii, which she now calls her beloved home, and goes big-wave surfing every day.'