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Laura’s tips to be a surfing star
NG: in d in ose FELICITY CROSS WITH her long blonde hair and tanned curves, Laura Crane looks the ultimate Californian surf babe. But the 22-year-old actually hails from Bristol. The professional surfer is a two-time British champion, has broken into the European top five and competes all over the world. And she has graced billboards in ads for Billabong and Nikon cameras. She has also lived in Bali, Australia and now Portugal in her search for the perfect wave.
But Laura says her heart will always belong to Britain.
She said: “North Devon is where my life changed in ways I could have only dreamed of and that’s given me the life I love so much. I grew up in Bristol, but we often visited our holiday home in Croyde.
“After a while we were travelling there nearly every weekend, so it made sense to move. My dad started surfing and he taught me when I was 11. I took to it quickly and a year later I was competing.”
Laura would swim or surf before and after school and took part in the British Championships when she was just 14. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing.
Laura said: “I’ve had my fair share of cuts and bruises. When I was in Bali I fell into a really shallow reef and cut the whole of my body. It was really horrible.
“And I saw a shark in Hawaii, which was terrifying. Everyone says, ‘Oh you’re a surfer, you must be used to seeing sharks.’ But you never, ever are. I was hyperventilating, paddling, kicking, doing everything I could to get myself to the sand!”
Having spent almost half her life competing, Laura no longer chases medals.
And alongside her modelling work, she has now become a spokesperson for the surfing industry.
“She said: “I stopped competing two years ago when I had reached fifth in Europe. It got to a point where I was surfing because I felt like I had to and I was losing the love.
“It’s my main passion and it was becoming a job, so it felt like the right thing to do to stop competing.
“I really enjoy making the videos and using the opportunity I have to try and be an inspiration for girls. I want to be a person that girls can look up to.
“I’m from the UK and had this dream of being a pro surfer but I got told a million times it was never going to happen.
“I feel like way too many young people’s dreams are shot down and through my videos and content I want to encourage people to follow their dreams.
While home for Laura will always be Croyde, she’s currently living in Ericeira, Portugal, so she can surf every day.
She added: “For me surfing is about the waves – and Portugal has such a big range. When there are perfect waves, no surfer can say no!”
Follow Laura’s adventures on Instagram at @lauraloucrane. TAKE lessons. You can spend hours trying to figure out how to stand up, but an instructor can show you how in 20 seconds. Make sure you get someone qualified – almost every UK surf school has them. TIME in the water is crucial to progress. Surfing is a sport where once you get the basics it’s just about getting out there and practising. MOST beaches in the UK have hire shops where you can get a board and a wetsuit quite cheaply. As you start out in the sport, the biggest challenge will be where you place your feet, so your board needs to be a large one to help. Then you can move to a smaller board.