Sam Lamiroy

Sam Lamiroy

Biography:

Sam Lamiroy has been the entertainer on the O'Neill surf team ever since he joined the crew way back in the day, and his natural talent on a surfboard has ensured he's remained at the forefront of the European surf scene for many years now. The Tynemouth native spread his bets early doors by deciding to take up a place at university, and completed his degree before embarking on his professional surfing career. With legendary surfers like Gary Elkington and Tom Curren to look up to in the early days, Sam has developed into a real old school surfer over the years. In other words, it's clear that Lamiroy is in it for the pleasure and not the cash. After traveling the world many times over to compete on the WQS and to shoot photos and video, Lamiroy always enjoys returning to the good old Blighty so he can hang out and surf 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 spot of snowboarding. Those extra-curricular interests will no doubt take a back seat now that Sam and his wife Hannah have only recently welcomed their first child into the world. No doubt it won't be long before Sam pushes Huxley into his first waves. A truly multi-talented and downright affable chap, Sam has also been busy forging a career for himself in the media, becoming one of the faces and voices of the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series and making sure that surfing is represented as it should be in the eyes of the punter on the high street.

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Q: What has been the biggest highlight of the past 12 months for you?
A: The birth of my son, Huxley. Following the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series around the globe, finishing with an amazing mini trip to Todos Santos with a boat full of legends: the Long brothers, Alfy Carter, Twiggy, Ramon Navarro, Mike Parsons, Mark Healy and some chap going by the name of Kelly Slater. 

Q: What's the best thing about riding for a living?
A: The sense of privilege that you feel because you can live through doing what you love. 

Q: Who do you enjoy riding with the most, and why?
A: That would have to be my wife Hannah. She has a hot-seat! 

Q: Other than home, where is your favorite place to ride, and why?
A: I've been in Bali the last few months, and I must say it's really rather nice! 

Q: What are your main goals and plans for the next 12 months?
A: It looks like I will be more heavily involved in the whole O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series this year, both in front and behind the scenes. So I'm keen to make a success of that. I am also heavily involved in a big Red Bull project which will be taking place later this year. Those are my main points of focus. If I miraculously manage to win some big events, I might make the Dream Tour. That last bit could be a little tricky, though! 

Q: How do you see your sport evolving in the next few years?
A: It looks like the era of functional, varied aerials mixed with solid power surfing has finally dawned. What Kelly started is being evolved by the likes of Dane Reynolds, Jordy Smith and Owen Wright. Also, with the increased salaries being paid to the top guys, the possibility of a full support team like in golf or tennis  means that athletes are now becoming even better conditioned, technically more advanced and generally as good as they can be. This may well widen the gap between recreational surfers and the elite and as such will possibly divide the sport further. On one side, you'll have the competitive elite, and on the other the free surfing, lifestyle, travel and recreational surfers. Either way, the level of surfing will continue to rise. I for one can't wait! 

Q: Have you got any plans to film a new video part, and if yes, with which film company?
A: When the waves are really good and the light is just right, I'll do my best to get a few clips in the can, before cobbling them together and getting them out to you. But only if you want to see them, that is... 

Q: What do you do for fun when you are not riding?
A: I used to play golf, go drinking with friends, play a bit of football and tennis, go snowboarding - that kind of thing. Nowadays, I genuinely seem to get more pleasure from hanging out with my wife and Huxley. It's great to just watch him do stuff. That said, the odd round of golf doesn't never hurt anyone. 

Q: What achievement are you most proud of so far in your career?
A: To be allowed to go surfing and to be able to call it my job at this grand old age is pretty cool. It's quite an achievement! Victories, titles - they come and go. So for right now, I'd like each good wave and each good turn be an achievement in its own right.  

Q: If you didn't ride for a living, what would you have liked to be doing now for an occupation?
A: Depending on whether I should answer ethically, materialistically or narcissistically  -  I guess I would like to be helping the underprivileged to a better life, rich beyond my wildest dreams or simply happy, healthy and loved. But that doesn't really answer anything. I love what I'm doing now, and if things were different I guess I would just hope that I loved whatever I was doing as much as I love surfing. 

Q: What trick do you enjoy the most?
A: Going straight while the sea does all the crazy work around me.  

Achievements