Sam Lamiroy
The UK's Sam Lamiroy has been the class clown on the O'Neill surf team ever since he joined, and his talent on a surfboard has made sure he's remained at the forefront of the European surf scene for many years. The Tynemouth native spread his bets by deciding to take up a place at university where he completed his degree before embarking on his professional surfing career. With legendary surfers Gary Elkerton and Tom Curren to look up to as he grew up, Sam has developed into a real 'old-school' surfer, in it for the pleasure and not the cash. Having traveled the world over many years to compete on the WQS and to shoot photos, Lamiroy always enjoys returning to the good ol' North East of England, where he gets to hang out with family and friends. Outside of professional surfing, Sam enjoys the occasional round of golf and does his best to hit the slopes every winter for a bit of snowboarding. A true multi-talented character, Sam has also been busy forging a career in the media, ensuring that surfing is represented as it should be in the eyes of every Tom, Dick and Harry..
- Where are you at the moment, and what are you doing?
"Right now I'm in bed with my pregnant wife Hannah, our faithful hound Bo the destroyer (who is a Maltese the size of a medium cat). We are in Cornwall, the sun is shining and the waves are 6foot and glassy… and still I am working!! The perils of wireless broadband have no bounds! Luckily the tide will not be quite right for a couple of hours so we can continue with this interview… you lucky swine…."
- Can you explain your individual discipline?
"My individual discipline is rather lacking… always leaving things to the last minute… but I have been known to surf from time to time. My surfing is the simple kind, no sails, and kites or paddles… just a lonesome man and his trusty board entwined in a restless embrace with the sea."
- Who or what inspired you to start on the water?
"My father dabbled in windsurfing in Belgium when I was a child. It looked like fun, I tried it, could hardly lift the sail out of the water, hated it, got cold, knew there must be a better way for an emaciated boy of 10 to enjoy the water… ditched the sail, found a wetsuit… loved it ever since."
- How would you describe your personal style?
"Not sure what you mean. Dress style or surfing style. I'm quite a bit larger than the average surfer…. Not fat mind! Just over 6ft tall and barrel chested, so my surfing has no choice but to be powerful, geared towards bigger waves and I'd say traditionally clean and simple.
My clothes are fundamentally the cherry picked pieces from the vast O'Neill collections sometimes accessorized with flea market treasures found by Hannah."
- What is your training regime like?
"Grueling…I train like an animal 8 to 10 hours a day, weights, cardio, heat drills, stretching, Pilates.
Are you kidding!! I'm a surfer, not a machine. I do keep myself fit, try to surf as often as possible, stay supple and strong. If I don't surf I'll play golf, football … I've even been known to go for a bike ride or two and even frequented a gym (but did not really like it that much). My take on fitness is this…- your body is like a car. If you train really hard (think cyclists/ runners etc) it's like revving your engine really high, you might go a little faster but burn out quickly. Drive your body at a swift but sensible pace and you will have transport for life."
- Any special diet?
"Lots of fresh fruit and veg, some nice clean protein- a steak, some fish whatever and plenty of fluids … it really is not that difficult!"
- What motivates you, in life and/or in sport?
"The normal things sex, money, power.
I'd like to find balance and the reason for my seemingly insignificant existence along the way too, but for now it's just the sex money power thing!"
- Did you ever think that this is something you'd be making a living at? What did you plan to do as a kid?
"As a child I used to lie to my friends at school, telling them I was sponsored by O'Neill, and that I owned a windsurf shack in Hawaii. Now I actually AM sponsored by O'Neill, as well as Red Bull, Swatch, Vans, Firewire boards and O&E gear… I get paid to go around the planet to surf perfect waves… this is not just what I dreamed (and lied) about as a kid… this is way better!!!"
- What's the biggest perk of being a pro?
"Literally living the dream! Having the privilege of getting up every morning looking forward to each day, being allowed to wallow in what you love… a proverbial pig in shit!"
- Conversely, what's the worst part?
"At times you miss your friends and family. Just need to make sure you really enjoy time with them when you can."
- Where's your favourite surf spot and why?
"Right in front of my house…. Because it is really starting to feel like home… and right now I just had a call to say that it's perfect… so the following answers will be the abridged versions."
- What has been your biggest personal and professional achievement so far?
"Personal, - finding a great wife, putting together what feels like a very happy life.
Professional, - a few British titles and winning a big international event in Barbados a couple of years ago in thumping 6-8 ft barrels.
How do you prepare before an event, mentally and physically?
These days I almost manage to just relax and go surfing… still get nervous like a child though!"
- What are your passions outside of surfing?
"Golf, sleeping and eating pretty much take up most of the slack!
What are your future plans, where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
I would love to see myself in a very similar situation, a few extra kids, some more wrinkles, a little less hair and 10 years of waves in the memory bank…. Right now is as good as I could imagine it… if my life gets any better I'm not sure I could cope!!!"
Cheers all the best, Sam.