Image via Lauraenver.co
EPISODE 120 FEATURES LAURA ENEVER
On World Oceans Day, we meet Australian big wave surfer Laura Enever. Laura started surfing as a kid in Sydney. She spent 7 years surfing professionally on the Women’s World Tour . Now she’s decided to reinvent herself as a big wave surfer. And we mean seriously big - these waves are scary, dangerous and remote, they break way out to sea, or on shallow rock ledges and only a few times a year.
What has the ocean taught Laura about resilience and conquering fear? Could we all benefit from mastering our breath?
NOTES
LISTENING LIST The ocean-themed Episodes mentioned in the intro are: number 1 with Laura Wells, number 7 with Marina Debris and number 57 with Ellen MacArther.
JUNE 8 The theme for World Oceans Day this year is “protect our home”, and the call to action is 30 x 30 - which is about getting world leaders to protect at least 30% of oceans and land, conserving precious eco-systems by 2030.
The NYT story mentioned is: The Fight for Gender Equality in One of the Most Dangerous Sports on Earth by Daniel Duane. Read it here.
NARRABEEN is a beachside suburb in northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Locals only? In 2003, it was chosen by Tracks magazine as the worst place for an outsider to visit. More here.
PUBERTY BLUES is 1981 film of a 1979 novel by Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey that details growing up in a lower middle class, very white, very sexist beachside suburb - from the girls’ perspective. “Chicks don’t surf!” the girls are told constantly. Until they buy themselves a board…
What is a GROMMET you ask? The answer’s here.
EQUAL PAY In 2018, the WORLD SURFING LEAGUE became the first US-based global sporting league to offer equal pay to male and female competitors. See the women’s rankings here.
SLABS Traditional surfing waves roll toward shore, slow down as they rise up, and break cleanly to one or both sides. A slab wave moves fast, through deep water, and hits a shallow reef at full speed.
JAWS Not the shark, but more scary:
SHIPSTERN’S BLUFF is a globally-renowned big wave surfing location on the south eastern coast of Tasmania, Australia, on the Tasman Peninsula. Freak out here.
THE RIGHT is a monster wave off the Western Australian coast, near the small town of Denmark. Want more? Check out Stab magazine’s 10 Heaviest Waves in the World here.
The NUALLARBOR Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north. Nullarbor means no trees in Latin, but in reality, the Nullarbor is covered with bluebush and mulga scrub, and even wildflowers after rain. More here.
Laura on then September 2019 cover of Surfing World
WIM HOF AKA The Iceman is a Dutch extreme athlete noted for his ability to withstand freezing temperatures. He set Guinness World Records for swimming under ice and prolonged full-body contact with ice, and for a barefoot half-marathon on ice and snow. The Wim Hof Method is a combines of meditation and breathing exercises. Boggle your mind here.
MUSIC is by Montaigne, who sang this special acoustic version of “Because I love You” from her album Glorious Heights, just for us.
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Clare & the Wardrobe Crisis team x