Interview with Claire Bevilacqua

Haha yes growning up with 3 brothers has made me tough but im only ever agressive when im riding the waves or if sombody hurts or talks shit about my loved ones, backstabbers drive me crazy and i require honesty in my life to thrive.

There is no more Charismatic riders in the dream tour excepting Wardo, Dane or Davo. Cory Lopez even said to me they are more contests droids. Is that the same thing in the actual girl tour in your opinion ?

I know some girls may be afraid to be completely real because they are afraid of how the media and fans will actually portrey them, but im just me and im free and real and people can be intimidated by that but at least im being honest with myself, i dont really care what anyone else does or thinks of me personally, some people on tour do come across as robots at times but i am no-one to judge others and all that does is mess with my good energy focusing on other peoples lifestyles and comparing. my intentions and morals are good and i want to get better at surfing everyday and be a good role model as an all rounded human, thats all i need to focus on to keep moving forward in life right now.

Keala Kenelly and Melanie Bartels are one of the most charismatic rider ever for us because of their attitude, the way they charge and the way they boost airs. They seem to be good friend of yours ?

Yes i love those two girls with all my heart. they are the definition of real and raw surfing in and out of the water, i only wish mel b had more sponsor financial support and KK was still on tour with me to play and travel.

You ride for Volcom, an atypic surfing company similar to lost enterprises, how did you met them , how is it to ride for such a company ?

It's a dream, i'm so blessed and grateful everytime i look down at the stone on my surfboard, my clothes, lifestyle, and all my loved ones rocking the girfts i bring back for them from my generous sponsors. i got approached at the margaret river pro when i was 16 by the west oz volcom rep, went from paying wholesale for clothes with ripcurl, to free clothes, making some money and being the main girl surf rider on the team. they let me be me and do as i please because they trust my ability to do my job right.

Are we gonna see you at ours with the Bra Boys such as Layne Beachley, and what do you think about her performance which is close to Keala's one at Teahuppo.

Former Dream Tour member, Claire Bevilacqua (Aus) , a.k.a Bevo, is one of the most progressive female surfers on Tour. She's on top of Wqs and no doubt she gonna requalify for the Wct. She won the Women's Pipeline Pro this year in a final versus next superstar Carissa Moore (Haw). Bevo tells about her carreer, the new girls gen, and the dream tour.

Freaksurf Magazine : Can you introduce yourself in a few words, where are you from, how old are you ... ?

Claire Bevilacqua : I'm Claire, 26 from Western Australia, i was born and raised in the city of Perth but i have a house in Yallingup where i do most my surf training when home

When did you start surfing and why ?

At 14, i found a surfboard in a rubbish bin next door to my house and it was a gradual progression from boogie board and skateboarding... i wanted to stand up and get barreled, that was my dream.

Where are you actually living ?

Where ever the asp tour takes me, lots of time in California and Hawaii...but my 1st home is always Perth

A word on your home spot ?

Its uncrowded most the time and i live in the most unpolluted and pristine city coastline there is, plus the waves are fun and powerful and we always have swell in the indian ocean.

Tell us about your carreer from the begining down to the dream tour

I started competing against the boys at my local city surf club, then did the state and national australian titles competing in junior and open womens, i won the australasian pro junior title in my final year, then my first full time on the wqs i qualified for the WCT, i competed on the WCT for 4 years, it was crazy fun, i loved the events in Tavarua Fiji and Teahapoo tahiti, but when the tour canceled them for the women i started to loose interest in competing. The wct system didnt suit my style of surfing and i fell off to pursue more freesurfing activities. one year on WCT i had stef Gilmore one on one in every single 3rd round heat i did...the setup of the tour wasnt very fair or realistic to me and the best surfing wasnt always being portreyed by the girls, almost every contest was 1foot terrible waves in the middle of nowhere...far from the dream tour the men see.

A word on last year on tour ?

I did the wqs but didnt have my heart in it, i did it because i felt i had to, to be productive, this year i am more focused, driven and happy on competing and i am currently 3rd on the wqs and very set on re-qualification...ive grown up alot and feel much more prepared for what the tour has to offer.

Nice victory in Hawaii this year against Carissa Moore, are you ready for your come back on the dream Tour next year ?

For sure, it's taken a while to feel that passion again for competition. I was always so lonely on the WCT traveling alone alot with a much older crew on tour when i was on it, i have been a pro for 10 years now so you definetely go through fazes where you want to win more then others, right now i definetely want to be at the top of my sport and pushing the womens level, doing my part and contributing to some more exciting surfing.

Carissa Moore is one of those freaky younguns with Coco Ho, Alana Blanchard, Paige Hareb, ... everybody on tour fears them, are your ready to kick their asses ?

I dont really seperate or worry about any girls in particular on tour, we all have our good and bad days, anyone can win and the young girls are just as confident and experienced as the older ones for the most part so i take every girl on the same, if i keep my focus and formula prepared for anything i wont fear anyone. it feels good to beat the best, and thats all i care about...beating the ones on top.

More seriously what do you think about this new talented generation ?

They are really marketable and determined competitive machines programed to do as many turns to the beach they can in the small waves the tour usually provides, the skill level and big bag of new tricks is what sets them apart, they have so many new teqniques and have coaching and training and support on levels i never experienced or saw in my junior days. but there are also some negatives to that special treatment, ie not being able to fend for themselves, constantly needing babysitting, and not a big knowledge of dangerous conditions and big waves/barrel riding...alot of the best young girls are complete packages though and charge everything thrown at them, hopefully they can be the generation that takes our sport to the levels of recognition it deserves.

Let's talk about your freaky surf style, you are a big charger as you prove it in Hawaii several time, you are stylish and you are very consistant in boosting airs. Do you have to change the way you ride in order to correspond to judges criteria ?

Of course, but it's also good for your surfing to try fit to the critiria.. for example, i grew up in fast, intence , unpredictable, powerful surf that mostly allowed for wild slabbing barrels and big speed turns before the wave exploded. i have had to practise more linking my turns and making everything look pretty and clean and always land my last turn with ease to complete the wave and package to the judges. if i throw an air in a heat though i usually get a good score...and just one big turn on a single wave can be rewarded sometimes, just depends on the day...every judging system is different, its never really consistent there. everyone of those guys has their own opinion and dream.

How do you describe your way of surfing ?

I would like to think im versatile, entertaining, unpredictable and experimental

Do the Judges recognize the girls who boost air such as you, Melanie Bartels, or Silvana Lima ?

They definetely are now more then ever. It's just a matter of time before it becomes more frequent

You're a skater and a snowboarder too, do those sports inspire your surfing ?

Yes I am a dedicated skater for life, this definetely contributes to my punk style in the surf, and snowboarding is just fun for me now and then because I love to boost and spin and in the snow it's just so easy and set up for you to try over and over, the turf doesn't dramatically change when ur hitting little jumps.

Especially in the air ?

Yes, all my years of skating as a kid prepared me for all the airs i do today in the ocean

Whose surfer inspire you the most ?

I love Andy Irons and Kelly, Andy for his style and Kelly for his endless bag of tricks and progression

Do you think there are enough events in both female qs and ct Tours ?

No way, we need more and in places where the girls are actually challenged and excited by the waves. we need more comps in big city areas where we can be promoted and marketed and we need events in big and barreling reef breaks and beachys to show the girls can step it up. it is so fun to watch the girls tackle on scary waves.

A big rumor in the media talk about a new male world tour for next year with more money, tv prive, less events and surfers. What would be the perfect Female Dream Tour for you ?

What it is now, but more girls on the WCT, like top 25, and events in good waves more of a mix up in the heats so people dont have the same person in every round every event.

Let's come back to skate, when did you start and what do you like in it ?

I started when i was three, i like it because your free to do what you like, u dont really have to rely on weather, u can do it anywhere, and its such a good way of transportation and excersise.

Where is the best place to skate for you ?

At my local skatepark in Perth with my friends and family, concrete half pipes, quarter pipes, rails and big transfer zones

A word on snowboard too, when did you start, where is the most beautifull place to ride for you ?

I like riding in Mammoth, its close to the O.C where i stay when i'm in California. i started a few years ago and i do it a few times a year, i get bored though after a week, im not too good in the cold and my body aches so much from the intence beatings from riding and falling in the snow

You're welcome to ride with us in the french ALPES !

Thank you, i've traveled alot through europe, one day i will explore more the mountains there.

Would you like to compete in both skate and snowboard disciplines too ?

I would love to do half pipe in the snow and skate, the airs and the spins combined are a massive attraction for me

I've seen you write poems, and that you love rap music, is that supposed to be your retirement career ?

I love all music, but yes i write a lot and poems are such a fun way to express my feelings, i love it as a personal outlet i dont think i want to share too much of that private world of mine to the outside universe.

You're very sexy and it seems to be the sexy year on tour, with lot of reports and photo shots in mag, such as Ten hottest pro surfing girls by Transworld Surf, Vanity Fair Magazine Photoshoot for some of the ASP Top 17 Surfer Girls, or Women's World Tour photoshoot by Ted Grambeau. The girls are now more than single pro riders, they're models too and the Surfing Company use them in their advertising.Even if you're very beautifull, every girl on tour is agree to say that you are the craziest girl in and out of the water from the tour

What is crazy?? Everyone is a little, free spirited and feisty yes

Moreover you're known for your big charisma and it's said you can be very agressive ?

I think Layne is such a well rounded and complete surfer, KK is just on another level when it comes to fear, she just isnt afraid of anything, kind of missing that chip that most girls have that want to protect their body from harm, she is on a whole level of her own and at the top of womens big wave riding...i wouldnt go to the bra boys for big wave knowledge on the east coz im on the west , i live in one of the best tow in surfing spots in the world and the boys around me are the ones i would go to for guidence, but im not sure yet if thats me, i cant rule it out, but right now i am happy just to focus on the contests.

What's career moment are you most proud of ?

Winning the pipeline contest with only one working leg is the most dramatic and memorable

Who are you travelling with in events ?

Paige Hareb, Ornella Pellezzari, Wini paull and Jess Grimwood...

What are you doing when the event is of ?

Internet, editing and filming for my mini movies (bevos block bustas) which i put on my facebook, youtube and surfline. and studying health and nutrition...i also love to do yoga and work out

A perfect day with Bevo ?

Lots of food waves and dancing in the tropics with my loved ones

Your best ?

Wave : Backdoor

Spot : Home

Crew to surf with : My besties

Event : Pipeline pro.

Board : Bill Johnson shaper, teqoph surfboards, 5'9 18x 2.1

Track list : Bass, pop, electro, folk, opera

Vidéos : Bevos block bustas and all the volcom stone dvd's

Friends on tour : my laptop and music

Biggest party : volcom pipe house

Your dog : a pig dog and a lap dog

The last one to sum up Who is Claire Bevo Bevilacqua ?

A little hippy lover with lots of crazy fun energy

Thanks Claire

Interview by J. Mouchel for Freaksurf Mag