We’re super stoked to have Cooler alumna, Sophie Everard, who is now the UK press officer for Oakley, back in the house to chat growing up like Mowgli, her DEEP love of shred, how to cope in land-locked London and how she and skating are on a break

I grew up in Greece where I was pretty much a little girl version of Mowgli.  Half naked, covered in mud, and running around like a hyperactive monkey climbing trees, exploring and generally causing trouble. I haven’t changed much now (except the naked part). I always had a thirst for exploration and adventure, even when I was a kid, and even more so now that I’m “all grown up”.  Adventure is one of my many passions and I feel most stoked, most connected to life and living when I am experiencing adventure and having meaningful, genuine connections with special and rad people.

I’ll never forget the sensation of the first time you catch a really sick wave or come to the bottom of the mountain, stoking your brains out after carving a line down the mountain/through the park. And the best part?  That feeling never changes. It gets better, and it is happiness and stoke at its most purest and playful.

I started snowboarding when I moved to the Alps when I was 18. I grew up skiing in Greece (you damn skipper there are mountains out there) but after seeing people ride…well I threw those skis to the side, strapped in and never looked back. I was surfing and skating at the same age but I’ve had my ups and downs, and to be honest, you just gotta embrace that. No two ways about it, they are hard, but the rad thing is that even if you’re a complete beginner or pro, you still experience the same righteous feeling and enjoyment. I used to love skating my mini ramp that I stash at my mum’s but right now me and skating aren’t the best of buds after a couple of heavy falls, maybe my good friend Hannah Neon Stash can re-ignite my skate stoke for me…

Right now, I save all of my pesetos for trips where I can indulge in my passions.  Some chicks can drop a ton of cash on shoes, handbags, but that ain’t me. I’d rather use my money to explore the world, surf new waves, ride mountains, meet new people and be with friends and connected to nature.  That, quite simply, is my happy place.

There’s a special place in my heart for the frothy mountains of France, I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of shredding around Tignes and I’ve still got so much to explore. France & Italy are rad but I’ll never forget the first time I went to Canada and saw the Rocky Mountains glistening under the sun at the top of the snow park…pretty awesome. I love surfing warm waves, my first trip to central America last year to Nicaragua with Holly Beck was unreal, and I’ve just got back from an unbelievable solo trip to Costa Rica staying with the incredible dudes at Surf Bikini Nosara this December. The people in Central America, the waves, the vibe, the food and stoke are all so special. Likewise surfing in the Caribbean is pretty dope, how can you not be happy surfing in a bikini with turtles popping their heads out the waves?  This seems like I’m strictly a fair-weather surfer but I’ve been embracing the rugged rawness of surfing in England this year and absolutely loving it. Surfing in the cold, misty sea with an ice cream head is definitely a sure-fire way to get you going.

I’m a pretty active person and love to keep my body and mind strong and playful so before the day starts or after I’m clocking off I’ll be in the gym (I’m training to be a personal trainer (side hobby!), doing yoga, boxing, you get the idea.  I also LOVE music, LOVE film, I love writing, food, friends…

I truly believe that keeping a strong, healthy body & mind enables you to be more prepared for whatever life throws your way. I always love a new challenge, a new experience, and my mind is open to the new.

I work for Oakley, looking after PR for the UK.  It’s challenging, it’s exciting, and it keeps you on your toes. A definite perk is meeting the athletes that we work with, heroes of the game who really are inspirational.

I had a place to study law at university and changed my mind at the last minute, choosing politics and French instead. Sweet Jesus, imagining myself as a lawyer? Hell no!  I couldn’t spend my days doing something I wasn’t passionate about, all boxed up in a suit (I’d never take out my nose ring anyway). I thrive in a creative environment where I am challenged and inspired every day and that is where I am fortunate to be right now. It’s never easy but if you put in the time, the effort, and most importantly, show your passion, then I think your career path will reflect that.

London and me, it’s been a journey. Growing up by the ocean, and with such a thirst for the outdoors, me and the city were never going to be best buddies. But with so many other interests, music, film, photography, London’s a pretty rad place to be right now. I’ve made some incredible friends, and every few weeks I hop in a car on Friday night with my best friends and cruise on down to Devon if there’s surf, toes in the swell by 530 am Saturday for a few sessions before work on Monday. I’m making it work here for me!

Live with passion and love, adventure often and keep it real!!