Photo Damien Poullenot
ARTHUR BOURBON
The smiling man
Arthur Bourbon grew up on an island.
A childhood on the beach, sensations of gliding from the early age and a pleasure to share his surfing life still very strong today.
Arthur has competed at a high level as a Pro surfer.
He was even one of the best French hopefuls.
Results, contracts, good visibility, but he knew how to evolve and open himself to other possibilities.
Today, Arthur is a free surfer and director of surfing movies.
After several very good films and shorts, he appears as the director and surfer in the film WATER GET NO ENEMY in 2020, alongside Damien Castera.
This feature film, produced by Almo, has already received several awards at festivals and we look forward to the reopening of the theaters to screen it during our SURF NIGHTS.
With his travels and experiences, Arthur shares a message today to alert people to the environmental cause.
With a positive attitude and with a large smile.
We are very happy to share this focus with you, of an authentic surfer.
- How was your first surf, your results as a competitor and why this evolution ?
"I learned to surf in Guadeloupe, my native island, with both my parents.
I thought around 5-6 years old.
I competed a lot from my teenage years until I was 20-22 years old.
Especially on the French National and European contests in Junior.
With several finals in the French championship, but also in the Pan-American Games (inter-country championships of the American continent) with the team of Guadeloupe.
And in Pro Junior, including a victory in Hossegor ahead of Jeremy (Flores), Michel (Bourez) and Joan (Duru).
With no doubt, this was my best contest memory !
Then, I went to free surfing, because I didn't have the level to be able to enter one day on the CT.
And above all, the idea of surfing perfect waves with my friends, discovering new countries, new spots, new cultures... enjoyed me much more!
I started taking pictures and filming during my trips.
As I was traveling all the time with photographers and cameramen, I learned quickly.
I always liked it.
And all the beautiful places I went to, really inspired me and helped me to develop this passion. "
What I really dream about,
are those magical moments where everything is in place.
When you're in the water only with your friends and the waves, the wind, the tide,...
everything is perfectly set!
Photo Damien Castera
- What was your training as a videographer and who did you start filming ?
"I never did any training, I learned on the job.
I've had mentors like Vincent Kardasik, who is still the guy I call regularly when I need advice.
Even if I often hold back so as not to be too boring!
A few years ago, my surfing contracts were reduced and I thought that the end could come quickly.
So I started to work on extra surfing projects, to complete my income as a surfer and to start a reconversion.
In the end, I kept my sponsors.
Until today, I combine both and I try to do projects like "WATER GET NO ENEMY".
In which I have the double hat of director and surfer!"
- What is your home spot in Guadeloupe, in metro France and who are your friends in the water ?
"In Guadeloupe I surf in Le Moule most often, where I grew up.
In metropolitan France, everywhere between St Jean de Luz and Seignosse!
I surf most often with my best friends.
Including the Delpero brothers, Vincent Duvignac...I won't mention them all!
The others are a little less "famous" but they are legends too!
I also share a lot of sessions with my girlfriend Louise.
And waves too, because she often burns me..."
I often admire the technique,
but if the attitude doesn't go with it is hard for me to admire the surfer.
Photo Lagriffe
- What is the wave, vision, trick you often dream about ?
"Like all surfers I dream of perfect tubes and I spend a lot of time looking for them!
I also dream of making huge airs, but unfortunately that's still at the dream stage...even if I spend a lot of time looking for them...haha!
I like a lot of different types of waves.
What I really dream about, are those magical moments where everything is in place.
When you're in the water only with your friends and the waves, the wind, the tide,...everything is perfectly set!
The sessions when you scream with joy when you go back to the peak, because you have just taken a great wave and you see your mate took a bomb on the next one!"
- What are your 3 best surf movies ?
"In my movies:
WATER GET NO ENEMY (2020)
INNA DI CARIBBEAN (2016)
SHARED (2020)
Others:
SIPPING JET STREAM ( 2007)
and
CASTLE IN THE SKY (2010),
for the quality, the diversity of the images, the music and the production in general.
SEARCHING FOR TOM CURREN (1996),
for Tom Curren.
RAW IRONS (1998),
for Andy and because it was the VHS that rocked my teenage years."
If we all took care of each other,
we wouldn't be in this situation.
And above all, keep smiling and stay positive.
The world needs that!
- What are your 5 best songs to go in the water and your 5 ones for after session ?
"For the pre surfing:
TSHEGUE "Survivor", which is in the Water Get No Enemy soundtrack.
BUJU BANTON "Trust"
LIAM BAILEY "Champion"
AT THE DRIVE IN "Rascuache", for the Taj Burrow's part in one of the Momentum
KOFFEE "Toast
For the after surfing:
BOB MARLEY "Waiting in Vain"
TAJ MAHAL "Satisfied ' N ' Tickled Too"
LUCAS SANTTANA "Ninguém Solta to Mao de Ninguém"
NINA SIMONE "Baltimore"
THE DO "Dust it off"."
Photo Damien Castera
- Water Get No Enemy, why this topic ?
"Damien and I wanted to do a trip / film project together.
Damien saw a picture of a wave in Liberia, a perfect line up.
We didn't even know exactly where the country was located.
But after Damien did a little bit of delving into the subject, we thought it would be a great project to go and meet these surfers to discover their country.
We wanted to do more than a surf trip.
Giving a voice to a community of surfers, who had lived the terrible civil war that destroyed this country, was something that really motivated us.
Some of them were refugees hiding in the jungle, others enlisted as child soldiers.
They all had a horrible childhood or adolescence and they all lived in one of the poorest countries in the world.
But they keep smiling, especially when they jump into the water with a board under their arm!"
Photo Damien Poullenot
- Who are the surfers you admire ?
"I admire the friends I mentioned above, because they are surfers who have a great glide, an incredible style and above all great values.
I often admire the technique, but if the attitude doesn't go with it is hard for me to admire the surfer.
After in the best ones, I admire JJF who is an alien in surfing, but who keeps a lot of humility and who is interested in a lot of other things.
And I also love the surfers who smash everything and who don't care about anything!"
- What are your actions for the planet ?
"I travel much less than before and so I take airplanes much less often.
I buy as local and environmentally friendly as possible.
Whether it's food or everyday products.
Food is one of the most critical points, and good habits can make a huge difference in our ecological impact.
And buying more sustainable, durable things that can be repaired.
But above all I try to buy, consume, as little as possible.
Because unfortunately thinking that we can continue to consume as before, just by replacing what we buy with "clean" is not reel.
I am far from being an example, but I take the subject very seriously and I spend a lot of energy changing my way of life.
The important thing is to be aware of the urgency and to change your habits as much as you can.
Without judging yourself and without judging the others.
Then, I try to love the people around me as much as possible, to be kind and caring towards the people I meet on my way.
Respect the places where I go and the living beings that inhabit them.
If we all took care of each other, we wouldn't be in this situation.
And above all, keep smiling and stay positive.
The world needs that!"
Photo DR
Photo Damien Castera
- What are your upcoming projects ?
"For the moment I'm more on a preparation phase.
I'm trying to adapt myself to the situation and to anticipate a little the fact that it's going to be complicated to travel for a little while.
I have several documentary projects that I would like to achieve.
For the past year, the pace has slowed down a lot for me, it's an opportunity to learn how to write and especially to work on the projects differently by putting them better beforehand.
Spontaneity is cool, to say to oneself "come on, let's go and see..." but it has its limits!
I'm not dreaming of Hollywood, but I'd like to have a little more means / budget to reach higher levels of production and be able to make great productions.
I'm also taking advantage of the current situation to review my relationship with travel.
Travelling less and differently was in my plans but the Covid made us take a change faster than expected.
I will try to stay in this dynamic as much as possible.
Among my next projects, several will take place in the surroundings.
Too early to say more, but I'll keep you posted!"
Thanks Arthur!
Published on Sunday, February 7, 2021