My Hero, the regular feature best read with Dave Grohl singing softly in your head, is back with French surfer, rock star and former Cooler cover star Lee Ann Curren. She’s chosen big wave charger Raimana Van Bastolear as her inspiration and here she tells us why

Photos by Tim McKenna

I have lots of heroes, pretty much people I meet everyday inspire me, but I’ll say Raimana Van Bastolear because he’s not only one of the best big wave riders in the world, but he has a real connection with the ocean. In Tahiti you always feel more confident if he’s with you when you’re surfing, I’ve seen him go on the jet-ski so close to the reef to pick up a surfer, and he’s a really loving and giving person in and out of the water.

To read more My Heroes including Laura Enever, Aimee Fuller and Alana Smith go here and you can watch Lee Ann Curren’s Vans surf team edit below:

Vans Surf Team edit: LeeAnn Curren from Vans Europe on Vimeo.