Crystal Cylinders
Crystal Cylinders recently caught up with local surfer Roisin Carolan who is a fine exponent of what is termed the ‘new traditionalist’ movement in longboarding.
Advocates seek the original vibe and roots of surfing culture. Carolan admits to being a ‘noseriding junkie’ and reckons surfing is one of the most beautiful things in the world.
‘I’m addicted to the feeling of it, being surrounded by the ocean and the lifestyle,’ she said.
As a junior Carolan dabbled in competitive surfing with some excellent results. She was rated in the top three open professional longboarders in Australia for 2014 at only 19 years old.
Her talent has been rewarded with sponsorship from McTavish Surfboards, O’Neill and Mennie socks.
Nowadays she mostly surfs for fun: ‘I don’t really like competitions that are too competitive. I like to go to comps where all my friends are at. Every year everyone goes to Noosa for the festival, or Malibu in California is always a fun one too’.
‘I’m just having fun. My surfing goals are to try to surf some different places around Australia and the world. I recently got to surf in Ireland, which was a dream of mine for a long time,’ she said.
Who are her favourite surfers?
‘Kassia Meodor, Erin Ashley and Ray Gleave’.
When it comes to picking a current favourite board it is a tough call.
‘At the moment I’m really enjoying the McTavish Noserider and the Involvement; they’re both 9’4”, but I’m also enjoying riding a mid-length Rincon when it’s a little bigger.
‘I think there’s a real art to surfcraft and I’m really interested in all the processes and design of surfboards,’ she said.
Travel is on the agenda too.
‘I just got back from a big trip in California, Mexico and a bit of Europe. It was really fun and I’m hoping to go back overseas next year’.
Current state of longboarding?
‘Obviously logging is where longboarding is heading. Which is a great thing I believe.
‘Longboarding should be nice to watch, graceful and using the whole board, which is what logging is all about. I’m for sure not a fan of the WSL style judging of longboarding, it’s backwards, and reflected in what I think is a joke World Tour,’ she said.
