This week we grilled French surfer Justine Dupont, who’s not only a spawn of grace on her longboard, but also has quite moves up her sleeve when charging a shortboard, that she proofed on last year’s ASP Women’s World Championship Tour 

Interview by Anna Langer

Hey Justine, where are you at the moment and what are you up to?
I’m in France, between Lacanau and Seignosse. I’m training and making a little surf clip with Billabong. My next contest is in July so plenty of time to improve and try news things.

Are you happy the endless winter of 2012/13 is finally over?
Yes! It’s getting warmer and there is still swell, so it’s a good time to be in France. I like spring, everybody is smiling and happy of the beautiful days that arrived.

Do you enjoy the winter season at all?
Yes, I like it! Every season has his particularity. I like the spirit that you can feel on the line up during a winter session. There is a friendly ambiance. There are plenty of good and big swells. It’s exiting! It’s cold, really cold sometimes, but you never love and appreciate the simple things in life more, like a hot coffee.

Every season has his particularity. I like the spirit that you can feel on the line up during a winter session.

What do you do to keep fit when you can’t surf?
I go to the gym, footing and stretching! But I prefer playing tennis and go skateboarding with friends, it’s more fun! Or even go sailing with my  brother… But it’s rare that I don’t go in the water at all…

Do you do anything to prepare for the new season in spring?
I work with a physio, who helps me to train more specific for surfing. This year I have time to improve on my technique. I like aerials, so I’m working on that! And I want to arrive as ready as possible at the next contest.

Last year you were one of the rare Euro girls on the ASP Women’s World Tour. Why are there so few?
There are a lot less surfers in Europe than in Australia, so obviously there are less surfers on the Championship Tour. But I hope we will become a lot more in the future!! Fingers crossed!

I’m very lucky to surf with good surfers, that inspire me. They give me advice sometimes and encourage me during hard sessions. That helps to improve faster.

A reason that is often made responsible for the lack of Euros are the comparable few consistant breaks and cold water temperatures (compared to California or Australia for example). How did you get where you are right now?
I spent more time in Europe this year and I loved it. Europe got the bigger swells, so you can surf all conditions, even really big ones, if you want it! I enjoyed few big sessions, that pushed my limites. I begin to really like it. And I’m very lucky to surf with good surfers, that inspire me. They give me advice sometimes and encourage me during hard sessions. That helps to improve faster.

Is there a noticeable difference between Euro surfers and those from other (warmer) countries?
During winter, it’s harder to surf with big wetsuits but that makes your physical training and grows you mentally to make you want to win contests. We spend less time in the water than an Australians or Californians, but I think that makes us stronger in others points!

Would you like to move to a place with warmer waves if you could?
I’m so happy and lucky to live in France! We have everything here. I like the culture, the country, the food, the people. My family and my friends live here, so it’s always a pleasure to come back home! The winter can be long, but you appreciated more the summer.

And if you were offered a trip to your destination of choice – where would you go?
I would like to go to Indonesia. I already did a trip to the Maldives with the Billabong team, I loved the place. This year they asked us for our wishes, so maybe we’ll got to the Mentawais, Nias or some others nice island that usually make me so envious! I can’t wait!

You don’t get bored watching girls contests, they surf so well and bring a part of feminin grace to the wave.

There has been a lot of discussion on the image of surfer girls. What’s your opinion?
I would like to hear more discussions about the level that increased a lot. You don’t get bored watching girls contests, they surf so well and bring a part of feminin grace to the wave. I hope you will see more and more girls in the future! And during the winter also…

What about the “sexualisation” of the ‘surfer girl’?
I see that the girl athletes are more feminin than before, but I feel that is a good thing. We don’t have to wear the same wetsuit as boys anymore, we have our own colors and cutting. You wear feminin clothing during the day, so why not in the sea?!

Did you ever feel under pressure with your looks, figure, etc?
When I’m on a wave, I look for the best feeling that the wave can offer me. I don’t know, is that enough beautiful?! I just live it !

I see that the girl athletes are more feminin than before, but I feel that is a good thing.

You’ve been in the business and in the industry for a while now, do you feel it has changed at all?
I feel there are less contest, there have been less in the last few years. I wish that we’ll get more girls contests for shortboard and longboard surfing next year. At the same time, surfing has never been as popular and famous as it is now, so I stay positive for the future.

Anything else you’d like to get off your chest?
Just thanks to Cooler for this interview, and thanks for reading it! I hope you will following me during my travels and contests on justinedupont.fr. See you in the water!

Justine is sponsored by Billabong, FCS, Gorilla, Nixon, Sticky Feet, Planet Sports, Evoa and Kustom.