Skip to main content

‘Intercontinental’ was originally published in Volume XIV, June 2024

Photography by Brydie Watson & Jimmy Wilson | Words by Josh Barrow


Never have we met someone with such a penchant for spicy margaritas as Holly Wawn. Our first encounter? Stateside, many moons ago at Huntington Beach’s notorious US Open where we got to know each other as said spiced drinks flowed freely. We proceeded to see out the event by drinking the Paséa pool bar dry by day, and dodging noise complaints at hotel room afters by night. As per most HB visits in July, or any time of year for that matter, conditions didn’t really warrant boards leaving their bags, and surfing was pushed to the bottom of the agenda. However, we’d heard nothing but great things about Holly’s surfing. The first real footage we saw, was in a Chapter 11 video, where her forehand hacks and wraps sat comfortably alongside those of Dane Reynolds and Harry Bryant. We were sold.

Holly is everything we expected: loud, a lot of fun, and certainly a little scary if you try to leave the party early. Don’t be fooled though, she is an absolute sweetheart. She’s someone we’ve had the utmost pleasure of working alongside around the world, and has become a true friend of WT. Watching her carve out a life travelling the globe, filming with her best friends and leaving competition in the rear view isn’t something many female pro surfers are doing right now, and the fact she’s making it happen is nothing short of admirable.

We’ve wanted to do something with Holly for a while, but the stars have never quite aligned here in Europe so we decided to make this interview happen wirelessly between continents. It won’t be the last, and there will be a European sequel to this feature, no doubt. Watch this space…

How are things going down there, how did summer treat you? How was the beers to surfing ratio?

Things are going rather well down here in the south…Summer treated me with respect. Was a bloody good time. Did a whole two months off the beers to start the year actually, returning a bit of respect to myself ‘ya know! (Laughs)

 

How are your plans shaping up for Autumn and Winter?

I’ve been at home for a month or two now. Surfing, moving house, bit of this, bit of that. Some sun, water’s still warm…life is good!

I go to Japan on the 12th of June for an OPEN BEER 3 day event; I’m really excited about that! Then straight into Stab High which is going to be awesome as well, and then I’m going on a boat trip with a sick crew, straight into a Haydenshapes trip to Indo. Bit full on the next ‘coupla!

 

Despite most of our readership knowing who you are, can we rewind back to how it all started… You grew up in Newport Beach (Australia!). Is that still where you call home or have you moved away?

I grew up in Newport Beach, moved to the beach next door, Bungan Beach, around age eight or something. I spent years in Sydney city which was cool; I love how many people there are in cities. Sydney is my zone for sure. I now live on the North Coast in Coorabell which is about 15 minutes inland of Byron Bay. I guess the main difference is that there’s no major city in close proximity to here. People are a lot more relaxed and surf-orientated. I really enjoy it here, it’s so damn beautiful and the waves get really fun, if you know where to look and how to hide from the crowds.

 

It seems surfing runs in the family. Is your Dad the main reason you first got into it? 

Yeah, for sure! Neither of my sisters surfed when I came along, but I was surfing by the age of three. Being a house painter by trade, my Dad’s shoulders absolutely loved pushing me into waves after a big day on the tools. He was a huge reason I got into it. My Dad has a great surf style and had cool pro surfer friends: RCJ, TC and Pottz. My cousin Chris was a huge influence growing up and needing that consistency with the whole obsession, he kept me super regular at a young age.

 

Do you have any siblings and if so do they surf at all?

I’ve got two great older sisters, seven and nine years my senior; they’re my best friends. My middle sister surfs, the eldest is also a water baby but doesn’t use a flotation device like me.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about transitioning from competing as a kid to free-surfing as an adult, how that happened and the process?

That was an interesting transition. I kept getting injured and had a huge mental block, like that winning streak faded further and further away from me and I could no longer do it. It fucked with everything I was doing and made me feel pretty sad for a while there…I got sponsored by Vans and then I had a crack at a few events in Europe via wildcard and the waves were completely dismal, pretty much incontestable. Nail, coffin etc etc.

Now I go on surf trips with my friends and chase waves when I’m at home. I have such an inspiring and uplifting group of people I spend a lot of my time with, and I feel like I’m making way better use of my time which is so damn fulfilling.

What are your thoughts on surfing in the Olympics, in one sentence?

I hope it’s fucking pumping.

 

Do you focus all of your time into surfing or do you have anything else, any side projects or passions you also partake in?

I like doing pretty well everything, but nothing has me like the water just yet. There’s still time to get obsessed though.

 

How did you first end up getting on Vans and what are their expectations and obligations from you as a free-surfer? It seems like you’re very involved in their various events throughout the year…

My beautiful friend Mikel Urigoitia from Spain put me forward in a meeting at the US Open with Vans and about 10 months later, I got on the programme. Obligations are pretty simple: be nice, go surfing, have a bloody good time and represent the best I can. I put my hand up for absolutely anything I can, I really love the crew that Vans has and have made the most amazing friends through being a part of things so it’s a rather enjoyable occupation.

Outside of your Vans circle, who are the people you like to surf with most, or go on trips with, both around home and far away? 

My favourite person to go anywhere with is my friend Fraser Dovell; we’ve been best mates for years now and have the most fun possible between mates.

 

We’ve seen you away on a few trips recently. Are you working on any specific projects right now or saving clips for something? 

I went on a big world tour to kick the year off, Morocco for a week to surf, stopped in in Paris to fill time and see friends, then went to my friends’ wedding in Florida Keys with an insane crew, then Miami and Los Angeles for a couple weeks to see the crew and get surfboards off Stretch, and shake some hands. I’m working on a few little surf parts for the year, nothing huge or long, just small videos for the internet to showcase my surfing in a simple form. I’m so keen to tap into the tropics and get a few tubes, do a few hacks.

 

We saw a recent clip on socials of you sending a guy in…or splashing him at least. As a female surfer do you feel you’re more prone to copping shit from guys in the water?

(Laughs) Ahhh yeah you know what, when someone is in the wrong and is yelling at you like you’ve done something wrong you just wanna’ tell em to get fucked. Which is what I did. Mind you, you’ve gotta be careful as a girl. I’ve worked so hard to be a confident figure in the surf as a female and earn my place. I’ve copped plenty of shit, especially when I was younger so now I just don’t let anyone fuck with me. We’re all equal in the ocean; the ocean demands so much respect and that should follow with people.

 

Do you feel much has truly changed over the years with female surfers being given a lot more equality within the industry now (financially at least)?

Women’s surfing is absolutely popping. There is so much excitement, air time and fire now. I just wanna rip and be confident! It’s been a long road, there’s still a big gap but there’s also a big gap in participation from both sides too, so that makes sense in some sort of way. More girls in the water, more encouragement for women in surfing and it’ll just keep going big.

Like most sports, the amount of big names in the field who are actually openly queer is very small. The only male world tour surfer to ever come out was Matt Branson, and did so 15 years after he retired. With only a handful of openly queer female surfers at the top of the game right now, do you feel it’s something people are still uncomfortable talking about, even in 2024? 

How cool is Matt Branson?! It’d be cool if there was an openly queer male at the top again. I take a whole lot of pride in being a queer surfer, I have never felt too uncomfortable being gay (I owe that to my ultra supportive family), aside from the odd bullshit with people who are unable to stand in other people’s shoes. There are definitely less queer females at the top level now than in the 2000s but with people like Tyler Wright being so outspoken, I don’t think the tour would stand to have that space be anything but accepting and make every effort to make things comfortable.

 

How do you see that in surfing versus other sports? It feels like skateboarding, for example, has been much more vocal, with big names coming out, and the brands they are sponsored by supporting it and also getting behind promoting it across the board and their different categories. 

Surfing and skating are quite close by association and friendship groups but skateboarding is biggest in cities and surfing is most popular in affluent coastal towns. Cities draw a wider range of people, therefore openminded people who are more comfortable having friends from all walks of life.

 

Are there any brands, either inside or outside surfing, where you’ve seen working with LGBTQI+ communities or running campaigns done really well? 

Every LGBTQI+ focused campaign has one objective and it’s to beam people up to be proud and stand as yourself. I think the best event happens in my home city of Sydney with Mardi Gras; it starts right at the end of our summer and the whole city lights up. Growing up in Sydney with that was insane!

 

Communities such as Queer Surf in California seem to partner up with other like-minded communities to bring light to sexuality and race amongst many other things within surfing, which is incredible. Have you ever been involved in any activism from such communities? Is this something you’d consider doing?

Queer Surf does amazing group surfs and events. I’ve never been in town for anything but it’d be a dream to get out there and join them soon. I’m really excited about the Queen Festival in France later this year. It’s the most exciting thing on my calendar for this year! I cannot wait to see what’s up and have a beautiful celebratory week in Biarritz with Margause and co.

 

So you are finally going to come and see us in France this Autumn for the Queens classic! Are there many inclusive events running like that one back in Australia that you’ve seen? 

Definitely nothing close, maybe Margause and I will pop something off here in the coming years. Keep you posted!

 

Whilst we’re on the subject of Europe, tell us about your most memorable trip.

I went to Europe with one of my first girlfriends, as young travellers in love. We had such a nice time sipping wine and snacking all over Greece, France and the UK. I’ve had multiple trips since then but that one sits strong in the memory bank because of how new and fun everything was for us.

 

What’s on the agenda for Holly Wawn in 2025?

Anything goes. I’ll do everything.

 

Before we let you go, tell us about your car which is clearly a prized possession?

It’s a Toyota Landcruiser Troopcarrier, it’s blue and it drinks diesel. I’m actually selling it and getting something a little more fuel efficient. When you do 50000 km in 15 months, it gets a bit rattling. See you in the new, responsible phase of my life?