Ophélie Ah-Kouen
ACTIVE VOLCANO SURFER
Her style and personality tell the story, at the highest possible level, what the traditional art of longboarding always conveys, the aura of a culture, a community, a philosophy, and sometimes the “geological” emergence of an environment. Ophélie Ah-Kouen's surf style communicates the history of the landscapes and the people of Reunion Island, born out of an intense passion for water, earth and fire, and shaped by the southern swell and molten volcanic rocks. It is a bubbling magma of influences, a melting pot of inspirations, a spectacular choreography staged by the elements.
“Longboarding immediately felt like a form of expression to me, a discipline that is both athletic and artistic ..." explained the young Reunion native. “I was a rather daredevil child, always looking for physical challenges and adrenaline. Longboarding allowed me to channel this energy, to direct it towards a more aesthetic cause. "
Her first coach, Aymeric Bévière from the Surf Club des Roches Noires, is also devoted to the passion of this timeless style only expressed on 9-foot boards. He immediately noticed the teenager’s innate aptitude for the sport. Her joy of living and surfing was immediately obvious. Her natural grace and beauty, too. A clever mix of raw strength and typically Creole softness seemed to radiate from the lines she carved. Ophélie walked on her longboard and on the waves as one composes a painting, or improvises on a musical instrument, living the moment to the fullest.
“I never really dreamed of travelling through surfing, or having my photos published in magazines or winning titles ... But I was sent to France to compete, and that summer changed my life. ”
Once in Europe, she forged an incredible track record in just four seasons, winning the French Championships three times (two espoir (young, non-professional) titles, and one in the open category), a European vice-Championship at 16, and a third place a year later, in 2011, at the Roxy Pro in Biarritz, a legendary event on the world longboard circuit. And ninth a few months later in the Swatch Girl Pro, the last round of the World Championship held at the Hainan surf spot in China. Ophélie finished the season in fifth place, ahead of one of her idols, Kelia Moniz. The same year, she earned her baccalaureate degree and decided to settle in France to study physiotherapy.
Now based in Hossegor, Ophélie devotes herself to her job and to free-surfing, but hasn't hung up her racing gear for good. “If longboarding was one of the demo surfing events at the 2020 Olympics in Japan, I might have dreamed of being selected. In the meantime, I'll participate in a few French Cups this summer, just to test myself. I want to get back to my best level.” Her brilliant sports career allows her to understand the often criticized role of being a surfer-model with a certain lightness. “Publishing images of yourself in a bikini or in an action shot on social networks, regularly posting photos of myself on Instagram; it has to remain a game, even fun. Of course, they are powerful promotional tools, and we have a responsibility towards the brands that support us. We embody a lifestyle, the spirit of a collection. If you love fashion and photography, which is my case, it's very rewarding. But you have to keep control, maintain a certain distance and be able to laugh at yourself. Surfing has to remain a central element in aesthetic research. It's what makes those who practice it more beautiful, inside and outside..."
