Local Shredder
Riding the waves with pro surfer Gordon Fontaine: an interview on his journey, passion and life by the sea.
Hi Gordon! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into professional surfing?
Hey guys! Firstly thanks for featuring me in the Pier Journal. I’ve really enjoyed reading the previous editions and I think you guys are doing a great job at highlighting local talent and creatives in the area.
So I was actually born and bred in France; Dad’s French and Mum’s Scottish so I’ve always had dual nationality. I grew up in Brittany and started surfing at the age of 8 – in Tarifa, Spain of all places. My dad’s a keen windsurfer and sailor so I was always around the sea from a young age.
I have two brothers, Scott and Ian, who were equally as competitive and passionate about surfing as I was. Naturally, we egged each other on and progressed fairly quickly. We started competing at around 10-11 years old and never looked back. Local grom events turned into regional competitions, which then turned into national championships and European pro events.
I was lucky enough to get picked up by Billabong (and a few other big brands like Oakley and Reef) at the age of 12 and got to travel around, competing and doing photoshoots around the world for the following 10 years. It was the dream!
After obtaining my French baccalaureate at 18 years old, I moved to Australia to study a Sports Management Diploma,
and surf epic waves of course.
It was a great opportunity to mix up with the top Aussie surfers, which had a huge influence on my surfing. When I came back, I even managed to win my first WQS (World Qualifying Series) event in Portugal, which is probably one of my career highlights.
I then moved over to Bournemouth to study a degree in Marketing. It’s at that point that I started competing on the UK Pro Surf Tour and started making a name for myself in England.
It’s also where I met my lovely girlfriend Jo (read more about her on page 26) and daughter Flo (who was a tiny baby at the time), and decided to settle down in the area. We’ve since had another little boy Ernie and are living happily in Southbourne - living the dream!
What is the surf scene like in Bournemouth?
The surf scene in Bournemouth is a lot more thriving than I first thought when I moved here. Great surf shops, passionate photographers, shapers and a local crew that really jumps on any opportunity to get in the water. In fact, this would be a good opportunity to give a big shout out to the guys at Sorted Surf Shop for taking me under their wings and showing me around when I first moved here.
The waves can get really good around here but the swell is inconsistent (and pretty much nonexistent in the summer!) so you’ve got to be on it if you want to score. Studying the local swell and wind forecasts become second nature and when the stars align, the waves really turn on.
Lastly, do you have any advice for people wanting to take up surfing as a hobby?
For sure! Here are a few tips for anyone keen to get into surfing…
1. Go to school There are quite a few surf schools locally so make the most of it. Qualified surf instructors will be best placed to teach you the basics like water safety, equipment choice, how to read a lineup and most importantly how to stand up.
2. Go big If you’re looking to buy your first surfboard, go bigger than you think. A bigger board means more float and more stability so you can catch more waves and have a better chance of finding your balance quicker. If you’re unsure, pop in to Sorted Surf Shop and let the team guide you appropriately. They’re a friendly bunch!
3. Go small You don’t need much swell to start surfing. As long as there’s a breaking wave that gives you more than 10-20 metres before hitting the shore, then that’s all you need! Lucky for you, the south coast is filled with small wave days.
4. Respect! Surfing can be quite a humbling experience so it’s important to be respectful when you hit the lineup. Crowds have gone a little mad over the past couple of years, which can sometimes result in pretty tense/dangerous situations. My advice here is to be patient, catch empty waves and gradually learn surf etiquette. For this, the best thing is to get chatting to other surfers and ask advice, most local crew will be flattered and you’ll build great rapport. It’s also important to remember that you don’t necessarily need to follow the crowd to catch some fun waves. When the swell’s here, there are plenty of waves along the coast.
5. Have fun Most importantly, have fun! Surfing is about enjoying being in the sea and feeling present, so don’t overthink it, grab a board and have a laugh.
Instagram → @gordonfontaine
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