Tell us where you are from and about your connection with the ocean.
I was born and have grown up living and learning on Bundjalung Indigenous Australian country & land. This place originally named ‘Cavanbah’ (translating to ‘meeting place’ in Minjungbal Indigenous Australian language) is now known by most as ‘Byron Bay’.
As a visitor on this land I always try to pay my respects and learn where possible.
One major teacher being this coastline I’ve aged upon. The ocean has been an integral part of my life since I can remember. The sea a lullaby sending me to sleep as a baby and the beach a backyard. I remember playing for hours, building cubbies in the pandanus, castles in the sand or running in the shallow shore. This place has been a somewhat babysitter and constant teacher for me.
As age came, activities changed from shore to sea, swim to snorkel, body surf to surf board.
Today my lifestyle however hasn’t changed much, constantly indulging inn both feelings of humbleness and confidence from my encounters with the ocean. I still catch myself prioritising tides over time and the sea being a place I can always rely on to bring me a sense of home, Im always feeling a great pull to spend as much time in it as possible.
What is your favourite Abysse piece / Why do you love Abysse?
I love Abysse because they are environmentally conscious. Before I found Abysse I felt conflicted when it came to fashion in the ocean.. I believe that our love to be in an environment shouldn’t be what’s killing it. I was so happy to see a brand in fashion being sustainable, in fact I feel it should be a necessity and hope to see all fashion make this transition in my lifetime… as ocean people & being so immersed in the elements I think it fits for us to take responsibility for leading its way. I’ve found the Abysse pieces to be so timeless, flattering and makes me feel confident and comfortable. My favourite piece is the zale one piece, it was the first piece I ever got gifted - in red (now I have sage) I love all the pieces but just can’t go past this one!
What characteristics do you think make up an Abysse girl?
Someone bold who is not afraid to chase their dreams, who is positive and encouraging of other females she meet on her journey. Someone infected with love and protection for the ocean and it's environment and who honours that in actions.
Tell us about a typical day for you, how do you incorporate the ocean on a daily basis?
The first thing I do in the morning is check the wind, if offshore I’ll head straight to the ocean after breaky, its always exiting to find out what energy the big blue is harnessing that day… often it sets my energy for the entire day.
The ocean is a somewhat ritual for me, a place of gratitude that can make me feel very alive yet very humbled. I love the way the ocean forces your consciousness into the now, its somewhere where one must be ready to adapt at any second, and I try manifest these actions as I go through my daily life & what unfolds amongst it.
What is your best surfing memory that you love sharing?
My dad putting me on the front of his surfboard when I was little so we could paddle out to see the dolphins. I don’t think surfing is about catching the best wave rather the experience and the stimulation of connecting with natures raw energies.
We are impressed that you are surfing on a daily basis and managing your type 1 diabetes, what are the challenges and would you have any advices to share?
Theres so many challenges! I don’t share it enough but I read somewhere recently that type 1 diabetics average an extra of 180 decisions per day to manage their condition. Its such a complex disease & can be hard when people come up to you asking about the medical device stuck onto you when you are in your surf/ time off zone - in saying this I really think its essential to have these chats, to be brave enough to educate others especially our friends around us so we can continue life safely, happily and healthily.
If you’re asking me about about advice for other type 1 diabetics I would say to always be prepared for the worst and pack just in case. I have been experimenting with sewing pockets onto my Abysse swimsuits to carry around glucogel sachets so I have something in the ocean while I’m surfing. I’m also trialing a waterproof watch that connects to my continuous glucose monitor. I want to encourage my type 1 diabuddies to be courageous in them selves, to fight and conquer the dreams they have - even if that means working double as hard. To remember to praise their efforts and be and feel proud.
For non type 1 diabetics I have found my friends carrying sugary snacks/ emergency lollies on them for me in case I go low to be such a game changer. I think it just comes down to approaching type 1 sensitively, having a warm ear and being open to learning and listening. If you approach it respectfully most people I know are more than happy to talk but I thinks its good to remember you wouldn’t ask a stranger with a prosthetic leg ‘what’s that’ and I think a similar sensitivity taken for people dealing with having a dead pancreas should be had.
All photos shot by @be_ryder of @elisetrigger
