Life after ‘Chumpy’ ... one step at a time
ELLIDY Vlug (main, left & below), the partner of late snowboarder Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin (below), has vowed to return to surfing and “enjoy the simple things” this summer as she continues to come to terms with the former Olympian’s death. In a freak accident that sent shockwaves through the sporting community, Pullin, 32, died after suffering a shallow water blackout while free diving off the Gold Coast in July.
Vlug, who stumbled on the tragedy after going to the beach, has this week joined close friend Chloe Fisher to front the new summer campaign for Gold Coast swimwear label Surfstitch Swim, paying tribute to the friends and family who have supported her.
“I’m keen to really enjoy the simple things this summer
– long beach days, or waterfall missions with close friends, music and hot chip sandwiches,” Vlug said. “I’m also keen to go on some camping trips down south, and I promised myself to get back into surfing, I really let that go this winter.”
It comes after she opened up in an emotional Instagram post last week about how she has struggled to come to terms with the death of her long-term partner, whom she shared a home with on the Gold Coast.
“I feel like I’ve been on autopilot since July 8th, such an empty and robotic feeling,” she wrote. “The human body is Incredible, my mind is protecting my heart. And then it hits me at random moments – Chumpy’s gone, he’s not breathing, he’s not coming back, I’m the only person sitting at this table who is going through this, why him, why not me, what the hell am I going to do now.
“We are just not equipped to deal with sudden trauma like this, not at 28, not ever. Blindly trying to navigate my way. One foot in front of the other, feelings of uncertainty for what’s ahead, and fear for when this numbness will wear off.
“My family and friends, my anchors! I really do not know where I’d be without them.”