LESTON KOROHEKE-WEST ON THE JOB
PROFILING THE HARD WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SURF INDUSTRY TO UNCOVER THE LIFESTYLE OF THE JOB.
Nickname: Big L
Age: 22
Job description: Sales Rep for Volcom New Zealand.
How many years have you worked in the surf industry and who for? I have worked as a sales rep for Volcom for three years now. Prior to that I had done work in retail as a shop fullah with Raglan Surf Co and Island Style.
Do you get to travel with your job and does that allow for any surf time? Yeap, I do a lot of national travel mainly around the North Island and also travel to Oz around three times a year, and my board is definitely part of the luggage. The one time you leave it at home, the waves are pumping and you have two appointments cancel on ya. Always be prepared.
Best surf you’ve scored on the job? I seem to be a bit of a wave repellant when I’m on trips, but the best I have scored would have to be during a sales trip in the Mount. Scored Matakana Island four foot and blue skies. Mean day!
You live in Raglan, how hard is it to drive past a pumping lineup on the way to work each morning, do you actually make it to work on these days? I just recently moved back in to town so I didn’t have this problem haha. If there are deadlines to meet then I’ll be biting the bullet but everyone in the office surfs so the majority of the time if there is good surf to be had we’ll go out and enjoy it together, that’s why we’re in this industry right?
Do you catch up and share a few waves with other reps while on the road? Yea for sure it’s always good to catch up with the other crews whilst you’re on your journey, usually sharing beers or dinner, no one likes to dine solo!!
If your boss rang you and said, “Take two weeks off and go anywhere you like on us”, where would that be and who would you take? I’d get him to book a baller boat in the Mentawais where we would be joined by a bunch of legend bros and the Rolling Stones playing music for us haha.
Over the last few years the world over has experienced an economic recession, how has the surf industry stood up during this time? It certainly has had an effect on our industry, but I believe that the strength of the surf brands and brand loyalty has helped us get through these tougher times, although we are not out of the woods yet.
Surfing is lucky to have an industry that supports its athletes. Most players in the surf industry put something back into the sport, which not many businesses involved with other sports seem to be doing. How do you see this? I think it’s good, it makes the sport a little more unique compared to others, without these companies doing so the sport wouldn’t be professional, but without people investing into those companies, putting stuff back into the sport it then becomes challenging for companies to continue giving back. So I guess it starts at the grass roots, more people buying product from surf retailers, then the more those companies can give back to the sport and its athletes.
Working in the surf industry has always been looked at as a lifestyle job, does this thought still fit or has the big money been filling your pocket? Yea for me it is certainly a lifestyle thing, the job offers you some great perks that I guess you couldn’t stick a dollar figure to. I still have a bunch of learning to do before big money rules.
If Hugh Hephner called you and offered you one of his lifestyle jobs, would you think twice or is surfing more important than perfect women? I already have the perfect woman bro….haha.