Interview: surfer Ellie-Jean Coffey

Ellie-Jean Coffey

Biography:

Ellie-Jean was born on the 25th of November 1994. She is the eldest in her family of 7 and spent her childhood travelling with her parents around Australia’s coastlines after they decided to pack up their lives in Sydney and live on the open road. During this time she learnt to surf and formed her dream of becoming a professional surfer.  In 2015, she was ranked 6th in QS world rankings. She is also a model and has done endorsement for Billabong clothing.

Instagram: elliejeancoffey

What do you like most about surfing compared to other sports?

It is free, it is art, to be it doesn’t even feel like a sport.

How, where and why did you start practicing this sport?

My father taught me how when we travelled around Australia and it was because I had a love for the ocean and wanted to surf with him.

How is your connection with nature? What do you think of the state of the environment today?

We should honour the earth, we are destroying the planet and it is sad. My families connection with nature has been very strong, we grew up in a caravan and so we spent every day outside climbing trees, surfing in the ocean, playing sports in the fields, for a long time there was no phones and no social media. Nature was all we had.

What is your ideal “spot” for surfing and why it’s so special? 

My ideal spot is Tahiti, I absolutely love it there. It’s special because the reef is so colourful, and there are many “left-hand” breaks which is good as I am goofy (a left-foot forward surfer)

If you had to persuade someone with three words to surf, what would you say?

Enticing, pure, sexy

What is your relationship with fashion? You have your own style, you like to play with clothes and fashion?

I’m inspired by movies, actors, athletes, singers, TV shows. I’m very feminine. I love pink, love diamonds, love leopard print.

Your relationship with social, photos, instagram ..? You cannot live without it…or sometimes you prefer to be “off line”?

The most beautiful moments you have are not on your phone. Having said that, social media has allowed stories to be shared across so many platforms, it’s opened up a new world and you can be entertained for hours. I prefer to be offline and living, but also love to be inspired by videos and photos I see.

The last question, perhaps a little ironic: ZOE means  “life”  in greek… what would it be your ideal place to live?

Ideally California as there’s waves and opportunities. But I love to travel, I’m dying to go to Greece. I want to eventually settle somewhere warm and have a huge vineyard.