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Layne’s literary wave

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 30 September, 2008 : - - When Layne Beachley walked into Torquay’s Surfworld surfing museum last Sunday afteronon, casual visitors there to check out the big wave exhibit stared wide-eyed; even the museum staff who are cool with a constant stream of big-wave and big-name pro surfers wandering through, were absolutely stoked.

It must have been the first time that Layne was within coo-ee  of Bells, but she was’nt there to surf. Instead, the most successful Australian surfer was visiting the Australian surf capital to talk about her new biography Layne Beachley: Beneath The Waves, which she co-wrote with respected Australian journalist Michael Gordon.

Organized by Rosemary Featherstone, owner of Torquay Book in conjunction with Layne’s publisher’s Random House, the event was a great success. In Surfworld’s auditorium, Layne held her jam-packed audience spellbound as she discussed the highs and lows of her career and life out of the ocean with local surfer Miyo Fallshaw.

After speaking, Layne received a rapturous reception from the crowd who shunned the prospect of a nice offshore with 3-4 ft waves to listen to her story. Her audience ranged from six-year-olds who were thrilled to hear that she started off on a foamy board like theirs, through to men and women old enough to be her grandparents and everyone in between.

Looking relaxed, tanned and very fit, Layne openly discussed times good and bad, and gave thoughtful answers as well as causing a few laughs.
The no-holds-barred book delves into some pretty dark areas, but she admits that although there’s a lot of revelations, she did leave out a few items.

“I left a few things out”, she admits. “You can’t tell everything”. But there’s enough to satisfy the most curious of surfers. According to Brett Ince, coordinator of Surfworld and Torquay Visitor Centre, it was fantastic having the seven-times world champion at the museum. “Layne is a fantastic surfer and we are really proud to have her here in the Australian Surfing Hall Of Fame too”, he says. Surfing curator Craig Baird was equally enthusiastic. “Layne has made such an amazing contribution to surfing and we are really proud of her”, he says.

Now Layne’s next challenge is finding an AUS$900,000 sponsor for the eponymous Beachley Classic, which will be held at her home beach of Manly in just a couple of weeks. “I’m confident it will go ahead”, she says of the richest women’s surfing event on the WCT.

Verdict – Beneath The Waves should be compulsive reading for any female considering a career in competitive surfing. No matter what kind of board you ride, it’s impossible not to be a woman surfer and not acknowledge and appreciate the difference that Layne has made for girls of all ages. BTW is an absorbing and incisive look at one of surfings’ most mercurial and elusive souls.

While multi-award winning journalist Michael Gordon covers the main bases of Layne’s life that have long been in the public domain, BTW goes into the rocky details, the intense personal stuff that you or I might prefer to keep quiet. How she was conceived from a rape, how she’s been insensitive to other people, how her determination to succeed has cost her friends. Recognised as a driven and dedicated world champion, Layne has always been willing to make the sacrifices and put herself on the line to achieve her dreams.

She’s faced down personal and professional demons; from overcoming chronic fatigue and never feeling pretty, fit or slim enough, to seeing through the head-games from other competitors, demands from sponsors and the constant stresses from juggling work, family and friends.

This revealing story gives a perceptive insight into the woman, whose single-minded approach has been admired and emulated, even while it’s also caused her grief on a personal and competitive level. This revealing book shows Layne at her best and worst. It’s smart, compelling and makes fascinating reading. The perfect gift for any surfer. 

Layne Beachley: Beneath The Waves – Michael Gordon with Layne Beachley Random House A$34.95

www.surfworld.org.au
www.aimforthestars.com.au/

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Alison Aprhys

Team - Surfersvillage