Sarah Beardmore interview
HUCK caught up with the UK surf champion during her trip to Puerto Rico to discuss life on the road, her World Tour aspirations and female surf camaraderie.
More like this...
She may have moved back to England this year after living in Australia most of her life but UK surfer Sarah Beardmore never rests her head in one place too long.
Whether she's holding her own against the world's female surfing cognoscenti at WQS events or searching for bigger waves and self-improvement in exotic locales, the 27-year-old is always pushing herself to amazing new heights.
An unrelenting drive won Sarah gold at the English and British Nationals this year and it may well help her become the first British female on the ASP World Tour. But Sarah is taking one wave at a time and, as the surf industry reels after the death of Andy Irons, Sarah is more sure than ever of her transient philosophy to life.
HUCK: What was it like to win the English and British Nationals this year?
Sarah Beardmore: It was a great feeling. This year I didn't have conflicting international events so was able to enter both events and I managed to win both of them so it is a privilege to be the current number one in both England as well as Britain.
Was the competition tough?
I tend to try to focus on my own surfing and play one heat at a time but, yeah, there was some solid competition and it's only getting tougher. Surfing is quite circumstantial as you also have the ocean to contend with so I am glad it all came together.
What do you think of the standard of women’s surfing in the UK at the moment?
The standard is improving by the event which is great to see. I recently organised a trip to the Maldives with seven other UK girls and everyone really stepped up and were surfing great and getting more and more critical each surf we went for.
Does anyone stand out particularly in your opinion?
It's difficult to pinpoint a couple of girls in particular because the girls are surfing so well for different reasons and there are a mixture of ages who I surf with. Jo Dennison has been a stand out for me and one of the most progressive is probably Gabi Rowe.
Why did you move back to the UK from Australia last year?
Well, I have moved back and forth growing up so have spent time living and schooling in both countries. Since I turned 19, most of my time travelling has been in between Australia, Europe and in particular, England. It was my American sponsors who wanted me in the Australian market however I have always wanted to represent Great Britain so as soon as I got the opportunity I did. I called ASP [Association of Professional Surfers] and changed over my represented country.
Don’t you miss the weather and the waves!?
I am lucky enough to get good weather and waves for most of the year. For the English winter, I am in Hawaii and then go to Australia for the start of the competitive season. It is always nice to go back to Australia and get out of a wetsuit!
When did you start surfing and what appealed to you about it?
I bodyboarded before I started surfing: I have always loved the ocean. When I was 16 I bought a two dollar foam surfboard from a car boot sale and started going to the beach with that as well as my bodyboard. I played football and my goal was to play professionally but then, luckily, I broke my leg and after that I just started surfing [exclusively] and forgot everything else and have never looked back since.
You’re ranked 33rd in the world. Is it a dream of yours to be the first British woman on the World Tour?
Thirty-third is not a great ranking, I have missed two of our most important events this year so have not been on it full-time. I have always wanted to make the tour but to be honest it is not the dream tour it used to be. The waves I used to dream of surfing are not on the schedule any more so this has hindered my motivation. Even surfing the WQS gets difficult when I surf better waves in England than most of the destinations. This year, I have made the most of other opportunities that have enhanced my career and profile in other areas.I am playing it by ear at the moment but I would love to get on the tour and do it for Great Britain.
How do you plan to do it?
I have a training schedule but it is a lot easier when you are in one place for more than a week, which doesn't happen very often! Usually just some cross-fit routines that you can do with no fixed equipment or running and, of course, the best training for surfing is surfing.
You’re good buds with the formidable Sofia Mulanovich. How did you become friends?
The lifestyle of the tour used to be a lot different. Now all the younger girls are travelling with parents to each event but a few years ago I feel the lifestyle of surfing was marketed more than the competitive side. Everyone was friends... I just met Sof through her doing some of the WQS events. We have a pretty close-knit group of friends now who I like to travel with.
Is there a lot of competitiveness between the top women surfers or a sense of camaraderie?
Like I mentioned before the younger girls seem to have more support now, they travel with family and have sponsors and coaches with them too which has made the tour more focused and competitive. At the same time, there will always be a sense of camaraderie on tour. Even though it is competition I believe that you have to have friends to experience the highs and lows, without which this amazing lifestyle would not be as enjoyable as it could be.
You’re in Puerto Rico at the moment. How is everyone, yourself included, dealing with the tragic news of Andy’s death?
Puerto Rico is a really cool place, there are waves everywhere and it reminds me a bit of Hawaii actually. Unfortunately this week hasn't been the most stable emotionally for the surf industry. Andy had such an inspirational impact on so many including, of course, his friends and family.
Do you ever get intimidated by surfing conditions?
Sometimes, but it's just knowing your comfort zone and what step you want to take it to. The WQS doesn't really offer us many big waves so unfortunately we are spending our time practising and surfing in small conditions. I am looking forward to Hawaii as I am going there for the next month. Sometimes a smaller wave with shallow reef can be more intimidating than a big wave with deep water. It just depends.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not surfing?
I enjoy painting with a focus on abstract art and expressionism. I haven't been able to paint much this year but I usually get my inspirations from my travels.
What are your plans for the future?
I am just finishing a business degree at university. I have been studying externally for six years so I am so happy it's nearly over! I just take one day at a time generally and I think Andy's death has reinforced my way of thinking.
Subscribe to HUCK for six issues
Only £21 (UK) / £44 (EU) / £59 (Rest of the World).
Sarah Beardmore interview (text) by is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Add Your Comment...
Please note: Your comment may be held in moderation for approval by an administrator to prevent spamming. This usually doesn't take long, please be patient.