LAURE MAYER
Lord of the cheer
Many months have now passed since the last Focus on photographer Alan Van Gysen.
We've run many screenings, with great film and interview opportunities.
Among all these productions, OBSEASSION, during the OXBOW MOVIE NIGHT tour last spring, was a real gem.
Directed by Laura and Romain Decomble, this film features longboarder Laure Mayer enjoying a road trip between France, Spain and Portugal.
She shares her stories with surfing friends and photographers who all made life choices to surf as often as possible.
Laure Mayer is French, from St-Jean de Luz.
After living for years in the Basque country, she now spends most of the year in Byron Bay, Australia.
She experimented with surfing at a very early age, then turned to snowboarding, while also intensely practicing flamenco dance.
It was in classic longboarding that she mastered her own style, combining slow movements with rhythmical sequences.
Years of dance contributed to this.
In 2015, in Australia, she created a women's swimwear brand: LORE OF THE SEA.
You can check out her website and creations at the bottom of the article!
We sincerely hope you will enjoy this Focus on Laure, as much as the audience enjoyed her film, her enthusiasm and her communicative smile!
Enjoy your reading, thanks to Laure, and we hope you had a great summer!
- Hi Laure,
What was your 1st wave?
"I think it was somewhere in Gironde.
I was on vacation with the family of one of my friends and his parents had booked us for a surfing lesson.
I recently posted the photo on my Insta ."
I've always been interested in surfing.
It took me a long time to get into it, because I didn't have many people around me to get me to the beach or teach me how.
Photo John Wolfson
- Why surfing, and longboarding in particular?
"When I was younger, I did a lot of snowboarding.
My father is a skier and my mother and I used to go skiing regularly.
I've always been interested in surfing.
It took me a long time to get into it, because I didn't have many people around me to get me to the beach or teach me how.
Until the day the first surf club in St Jean de Luz started.
I got in and was immediately hooked.
I was still a teenager.
When I had my driver's license and the opportunity to go surfing on my own, I bought my first board and, with no hesitation, it was a longboard.
I thought it was much more in tune with what I wanted to do.
Because of my background as a flamenco dancer, it totally suited me."
Photo Oxbow
- What is your surf culture?
"My surf culture comes from here finally, from Australia.
I spend most of the year here.
This is where I've had the chance to get involved in a national culture focused on surfing and the ocean.
Where the surf, the beach and all ocean-related activities are an essential part of most peoples' lives, from an early age."
Photo Rémi Bédora
- Who inspires you in life and in surfing ?
"In surfing, especially longboarding, I've always admired Kassia Meador.
I discovered the grace of women's longboarding when she performed at the Roxy Jam in Biarritz.
She was my first surfing idol when I was a teenager!
Today, I'm lucky enough to know her because we're in the same surfing scene and we've competed together.
When I remember what a teenage fan I was...I think how crazy it all is!
In my eyes, Kassia is one of the best longboarders in the world.
She spreads her positive attitude everywhere she goes and that's really inspiring.
Another surfer who inspires me a lot is Leah Dawson.
She's an incredible surfer, graceful, talented and above all very committed.
She's a beautiful person with real values.
The list of surfers who inspire me is very long... it's hard to choose and not forget someone!
I'm particularly thinking about longboarders like my friend Caio Teixeira.
He's an outstanding Brazilian longboarder, and also a shaper in Rio de Janeiro.
Here in Byron Bay, I find a lot of inspiration from my friends.
In particular Christian Barker aka 'Wispy', who I believe is the ultimate example of how masculine surfing can be just as graceful as feminine.
Wispy rips on all types of boards, from traditional shortboards (which he doesn't ride much because he rides a lot of alternative boards) to twin fin, asymmetric, mid-lenght, log or glider boards.
He's always a pleasure to watch!
My friend Josie Prendergast is also a wonderful inspiration, for her world-class grace!
In life, I'm generally inspired by my family and friends around the world.
I find those connections really important for my personal evolution, and I'm truly inspired by the values of the people around me."
- What are your go-to and after-surfing tunes ?
"I don't have a different music for before or after surfing, it all depends on my mood.
But here's a small selection of tracks I enjoy:
LIJADU SISTER "Come on home",
LETTA MBULU "Nomalizo",
MARIBOU STATE & KRUANGBIN "Feel good",
SHUGGIE OTIS "Sweet thang",
BABE RAINBOW (all their songs!! You reader, if you don't know them, go for it!),
FLAVIEN BERGER "Bleu sous-marin" (Submarine blue),
JONATHAN WILSON "Desert raven,
THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE "Island"."
In life, I'm generally inspired by my family and friends around the world.
- Tell us more about LORE OF THE SEA?
"I created Lore of the Sea in 2015 after thinking about the project for about 2 years.
I do everything in this project.
Director, designer, product manager, marketing manager, logistics, model/ambassador, very bad commercial,...hahaha!
Take a look at www.lore-of-the-sea.com"
In Byron Bay, there's a real environmental consciousness.
photo Clementine Bourke
- You live 6 months in France and 6 months in Byron Bay ?
"I no longer live 6 months of the year in France, that was before!
Since 2018, I only go back to France for 1 to 3 months a year, and it's pretty good!
It's not easy to live between two countries when you're running a business.
The benefit of living a bit between the 2 is that I can live where I want to live, in Byron Bay, without losing my roots and my links to my friends and family in the Basque Country."
photo Clementine Bourke
- What are your actions for the planet ?
"I try to do the best I can at my level.
I know the worst thing is flying, so when I go on a trip I try to go for long periods and enjoy the journey as much as possible. It's not perfect, but it's a good start...
It's hard to do with my job any other way.
In my everyday life, I do not eat a lot of meat or fish, and I am very careful about single-use plastic.
In Byron Bay, there's a real environmental consciousness.
People can buy a lot of retail products without packaging, or local products packed in an eco-friendly way.
A small act that makes a difference too, is to ALWAYS have your water bottle with you, so you don't drink "water in plastic."
- What are your projects ?
"My next film project will take place in New Zealand, on the South Island...it might get cold!
I don't want to tell you more about it, because we're in the process of working on the project, which will be filmed at the beginning of 2024.
But the idea is to go out and meet local surfers, highlight their stories, show their lives and culture based on surfing."
Thanks Laure!
Photo Rémi Bédora
Published on Sunday, September 3, 2023