In the world of professional surfing, stars often gain attention not only for their feats on the waves but also for the lives they lead off-board. One such figure is Koa Rothman, a Hawaiian surfer whose name is synonymous with big waves, daring breaks and a deeply rooted surf culture. Yet beyond the surfboard, fans and followers alike are curious about his personal life—especially questions about his romantic relationships. Does Koa Rothman have a girlfriend? Who is she, and how does the relationship fit into his surfing lifestyle? In this article we take a deep dive into the latest available information about Koa Rothman’s girlfriend, how the couple is presented in public, the model/influencer link with Lydia Free, and what this relationship might mean in the broader context of his career and brand in 2025.
Who Is Koa Rothman? Background & Public Profile
Koa Rothman grew up on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, immersed in surf culture and steeped in the legacy of his family’s involvement with the waves. As a professional surfer, he has carved out a reputation for tackling some of the most challenging breaks in the world, representing a generation of Hawaiian zoned-in surf talent. His YouTube channel, Instagram presence and surf content further elevate his public profile, allowing fans to peer into the behind-the-scenes of his sport and lifestyle. While his competitive accomplishments are well documented, the personal dimensions of his life—such as his romantic relationship—have become increasingly visible in recent years, largely through social-media posts and collaborative lifestyle content.
What We Know About His Girlfriend: Lydia Free
According to multiple sources, Koa Rothman is publicly linked to model and social-media influencer Lydia Free. An article states that their relationship was first publicly acknowledged when Koa posted an Instagram photo in April 2022 with the caption: “My beautiful babe! Love you @lydia.free ❤️”. Tamar Bridge+2instagram.com+2 Lydia Free’s profile likewise indicates her modelling presence, swimwear content and social-media following of more than 280,000. Famous Birthdays Their publicly documented tandem surfing video from August 2023 titled “SURFING WAIKIKI WITH MY GIRLFRIEND” further underscores their relationship in a lifestyle context, showing the two together in a surfing environment. YouTube+1 The coupling thus appears rooted in shared interests—surfing, Hawaii, and social-media presence—rather than purely promotional appearance.
Timeline & Public Appearances
From the evidence available, the timeline begins around April 2022 when the Instagram post somewhat publicly confirmed their relationship. instagram.com+1 In late 2023, media articles and videos captured the two surfing together in Waikiki, which suggests that the relationship continued and had visibility in public and digital media. brobible.com+1 By 2024–2025, the coupling is frequently referenced in surf culture gossip, model/influencer profiles and lifestyle pieces. However, beyond these public posts and appearances, there is limited detailed information about the nature of their long-term commitment (for instance, engagement or marriage) publicly disclosed. The relationship appears stable, but deliberately kept at a lifestyle-content level rather than full celebrity fanfare.
What It Means for His Brand & Lifestyle
For Koa Rothman, having a girlfriend who is a model and influencer like Lydia Free plays into his broader brand narrative of surf lifestyle, adventure and social-media engagement. Their shared content—surfing together, modelling imagery, tagged posts—extends his reach beyond pure surfing fans into the fashion/modeling/influencer sphere. It also humanises the surf legend, showing a side of his life off the wave, which resonates with younger audiences who follow not just athletic performance but lifestyle authenticity. For Lydia Free, the relationship amplifies her own brand by connecting with Koa’s surf base and Hawaii tie-ins. Together, they represent a lifestyle partnership that aligns with contemporary social-media culture: travel, adventure, ocean, modelling. While some might view it through a promotional lens, the consistent appearances and tangible shared actions (like the Waikiki surfing video) suggest a genuine relationship element rather than mere public relations.
FAQs
Q1: Who is Koa Rothman’s girlfriend?
A1: Koa Rothman is publicly linked with model and social-media influencer Lydia Free. Their relationship appears publicly confirmed via Instagram and joint content. Tamar Bridge+1
Q2: When did Koa Rothman publicly confirm the relationship?
A2: The relationship was first indicated publicly around April 2022 when Koa posted on Instagram: “My beautiful babe! Love you @lydia.free ❤️”. instagram.com
Q3: Are Koa Rothman and Lydia Free featured together in media or videos?
A3: Yes. They appear together in content including a YouTube video titled “SURFING WAIKIKI WITH MY GIRLFRIEND” dated August 2023, indicating their lifestyle together. YouTube+1
Q4: Does Koa Rothman have any other publicly known relationships?
A4: Public sources list his relationship with Lydia Free and mention a previous relationship with model Anna Louise, but the most recent verified link is Lydia. Famous Birthdays
Q5: Does their relationship impact Koa’s surfing career or brand?
A5: The relationship complements his brand by adding lifestyle, modelling and social-media dimensions to his surf identity. It broadens his reach and helps humanise his public persona beyond surfing highlights.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the surf world knows Koa Rothman for his big-wave exploits and Hawaiian surf legacy, his personal life—particularly his relationship—offers a compelling layer of human interest. The evidence suggests that in 2025 he is indeed dating model and influencer Lydia Free, with publicly documented appearances and shared content supporting that connection. Yet, the relationship remains on a lifestyle level rather than a full celebrity-relationship spectacle, aligning with both their brand aims and their personal style. For fans of surfing, models, influencer culture—or simply curious followers of Koa Rothman—the story of his girlfriend adds a meaningful dimension to his life beyond the board. As their journey continues, their joint adventures and content will likely further define not just his next chapters in surfing, but how he chooses to present his life off the waves.
