
"I don’t want
to be negative about the surfing industry. I wish
that the general media, such as TV and newspapers,
gave surfing more coverage just like football, baseball,
basketball, and soccer. Maybe then, even athletic
female surfers would get more coverage." |
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Five Minutes with Courtney
Conlogue - Photos: Chris
Grant/JettyGirl.com
Courtney Conlogue has been on the
surfing world's radar for quite some time now. In the
Hawaiian winter of 2006, she made a significant impression
in the minds of the WCT pros when as a fourteen-year-old,
she made massive drops and scored big in macking Honolua
Bay. Since then, Courtney has continued to improve with
both her free surfing and contest results. About a month
ago Courtney Conlogue came away victorious at NSSA Open
Season Nationals, a title she's wanted to attain for
the last few years. I've only had the privilege of shooting
with Courtney on two or three occasions, but after each
session, I came away impressed with how mature her surfing
style is. Courtney really lays into her turns and I'm
looking forward to seeing her powerful approach on the
WCT in the not-so-distant future. --Chris Grant
JettyGirl: Congratulations on winning NSSA Nationals
last month. You mentioned that it was the fulfillment
of one of the goals you’ve had since gromhood.
Do you have any other specific goals you'd like to achieve
in your amateur career before you turn pro?
Courtney Conlogue: Enjoy and learn how to win every
contest. I’d like to do well in the Billabong
Jr Pro in Australia and the ISA Jr Worlds in Ecuador.
JG:
If you were able surf with five female surfers from
any era in a fun, uncrowded, Santa Ana wind day at the
HB Pier, who would they be and why?
CC: Lisa Andersen because she has inspired me since
I was able to stand on a board. Steph (Gilmore), Sally
(Fitzgibbons), Coco (Ho), and Malia (Manuel) because
they make being in the water fun and push me to perform
at my best.
JG:
A few years back you made quite a splash in the WCT
event at beefy Honolua Bay. Do you enjoy riding big
Hawaiian surf or is it just part of the job? Coming
from the small beach breaks of Orange County, how do
you prepare to deal with all that North Shore power?
CC: I have always loved big waves because I really get
to feel the power of the ocean. I cross train a lot.
I have to be strong and mentally prepared for the ocean's
power and whatever I’m dealt at any time.
JG:
It's unfortunate but even in 2008, it seems that there
are different requirements for success in the surf world
based on your gender. An ugly dude that rips still has
a chance to be featured in ads but the surf industry
in general shuns many of their own female team riders
in favor of putting models in their ads. Do you think
that's an accurate portrayal of the current state of
surf advertisements? What are your feelings about this?
Should it be just as important to be pretty as it is
to rip the top off a wave?
CC: I don’t want to be negative about the surfing
industry. I wish that the general media, such as TV
and newspapers, gave surfing more coverage just like
football, baseball, basketball, and soccer. Maybe then,
even athletic female surfers would get more coverage.
JG:
Some favorites....favorite foods?
CC: Italian, sushi,
JG: Favorite flavor of
ice cream?
CC: Kona coffee
JG: Favorite book?
CC: Fearlessness:
The Story of Lisa Anderson
JG: Favorite movies?
CC: Rush Hour 3, Surf’s Up
JG: Favorite TV shows?
CC: Hero’s, Prison Break
JG: Favorite band?
CC: One Republic
JG: Favorite video game?
CC: Kelly Slater professional surfer
JG: Favorite waves?
CC: The Santa Ana riverbed (Just kidding). I enjoy surfing
Trestles and Barra.
JG: Favorite surfers?
CC: Lisa Andersen, Kelly Slater, and Pat O
JG:
Outside of surfing, what are three things you'd like
to see, experience or accomplish during your lifetime?
CC: I want to see and experience as many countries as
possible, continue with school and complete a college
degree, go to outer space. I know this is more than
3 but I would really like to see our world healthy.
JG:
Finally, if you had a time machine and could take your
board with you on the journey, what time and place in
history would you travel to and why?
CC: A time when life was slower and there was less technology
except for the time machine of course. I would still
want the best surfing equipment around. I’d go
to Indonesia when no one was out because I want to be
able to enjoy some incredible waves without a crowd.
I want to relax and pick and choose the best waves with
no hassling around me.
Courtney Conlogue is sponsored by
Billabong, Reef Shoes, GO211.com, Toyota of Huntington
Beach, Smith Eyewear, Huntington Surf and Sport, FCS,
Dakine, Nixon, SexWax, Zola, Nalu's Island Grill.
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