Victoria Vergara, surfer. “It takes years to catch a perfect wave that only lasts a few seconds”

“What you plant in your subconscious and feed with repetition and emotion will one day become your reality.” The sentence, posted on her Instagram page, was accompanied by a photo of a little mermaid and another mantra: “Good things are coming your way.” Victoria Vergara is a professional longboarder, and the first thing that jumps out at her is the greeting she gives to people approaching her.

When we find him in Land, where he lives, the weather is gloomy, it is raining on the Atlantic coast. The waves aren’t really there, but someone who grew up between New Caledonia and Reunion arrives at the beach with his longboard on his head. He is happy to come to travel, talk, answer questions. Time has not eroded the feeling he has had since his debut. he is lucky He seems unaccustomed to fulfilling his dream, living his many passions, and realizes that many would like to be in his place.

Victoria Vergara’s strength is that she has learned from the beginning of Instagram to visualize the many phenomena of her everyday life. He was different from athletes who only showed the athletic side by understanding the problem of social networks ahead of time. What surfing and the fashion industry have seen in him is the perfect connection between these two worlds. Needless to say, when Victoria is on the longboard, it’s airy. Its 78 meters was quickly noticed by brands that traveled the lifestyle we now see on the catwalks.

Madame Figaro: What are the moments in your career that you are most proud of?
Victoria Vergara:The first title I won as Reunion Champion was in 2011. I came to the island when the top ten female longboarders in the national rankings were from Reunion. I wasn’t the favorite at the time and I was overconfident after my win in New Caledonia in the first place. The result, I finished…last. At that moment, I realized that there was work to be done, that motivated me. Two years later, at 16, I won the Open before all the reunions. My parents were in attendance, which is rare, so it was a big win.

We can be plural in the water as well as on the pulpits

Victoria Vergara

I also remember surfer Joel Tudor’s invitation to his longboard competition, the Duct Tape Invitational, three years ago. I was the first French person invited to this event. He gave me the opportunity to realize my dream. In the world of fashion, I remember my first show for the brand Etro. They came to get me because their collection revolved around surfing, they wanted a legit model. This allowed me to prove that we can be plural both in the water and on the podiums. I walked for a surf brand when I was 17, but it didn’t have the same impact. This time I felt like a UFO.

How is your daily routine structured?
Since the detention, I started yoga, which I now do every morning. The rest of the day I go surfing. I travel a lot. a few months ago I was in Mexico to participate in a competition and present a film I shot for RipCurl. My life is split between surfing events and fashion events. Either my suitcase is full of swimsuits, or it’s empty, and they give me several clothes a day. It’s quite paradoxical, but I like the mixture of these two worlds.

Two universes

How did you decide to start a modeling career?
At the age of 14, I was spotted by Elite Agency in Reunion. They wanted me to move to Paris to do a casting, which seemed totally out of place for me. I was on a tropical island, barefoot all day, thank you, but I missed it. On the other hand, my sports sponsors gave me two solutions. Or I was surfing on a small board (“short board” editor’s note), I competed and was considered an “athlete”. Or I became a “free surfer” (out of the tournament, editor’s note) and I represented surf brands in general.

I grew up with a boyish body type

Victoria Vergara

Even if I wasn’t comfortable at first, I met photographers who made me gain more confidence in myself. At the beginning of the app’s launch, I opened an Instagram account and quickly grew my community, which helped me. I had the opportunity to grace fashion magazines and in particular to be photographed by David Sims wearing Saint Laurent. When this environment opened its doors to me, I couldn’t refuse. I grew up with a boy’s body. the dimensions that allow me to touch these two worlds have encouraged me to embrace my share of femininity.

How do you imagine the continuation of your career in the field of fashion?
If I like parades a lot, then I understand that I prefer to be invited to shows. This allows me to meet designers and create privileged relationships with brands.

It takes years to catch a perfect wave that lasts seconds

Victoria Vergara

What do these two worlds have in common?
There is an adrenaline rush in fashion that is found in surfing. A parade is four hours of preparation for a few minutes of show. It’s the same on a wave, it takes years of practice to catch a perfect wave that lasts a few seconds.

What is your secret to balance?
A month of just traveling can also become boring, you need a work study plan. I like to meet creative people like photographers and stylists to develop in a more artistic space. It’s strange, but I also really like the city. I grew up on an island and it made me dream. Sometimes I said to myself: “If you don’t become a surfer, you will live in New York” (laughs). The two universes complement each other, one makes you miss the other and vice versa.

In action

A professional career is also a compromise. Which should you do?
The first concessions to having a professional career I made them quite young, I would say school. When you’re diving seven days a week with a trainer and doing physical training, it’s hard to keep up with a regular school schedule. So I was at CNED, which is a little cut off from the others as well. I knew that a successful professional career required going out less, giving 200% and avoiding lots of partying. I also became a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out). editor’s note). Today, my compromises are being away from my family, not having a fixed schedule, not being able to plan a trip with friends at the risk of missing opportunities. Not being able to project the future. But I’m a hard worker, I like to be in action.

Who are you surrounded by to carry out your project?
Today I am accompanied by Antoine Maitre Devalon, my agent of five years. He really understood my project and takes care of business management. We really work in pairs. He makes the name “Victoria Vergara” grow as if it is a brand. There is also my lover who supports me and accepts the rhythm of my life, which is very important. he is a surf coach himself and understands that we sacrifice a pre-planned trip when the waves are perfect. And also my friends. they know me well, they don’t have any preconceived notions about the life of a “surfer model”. I find it more difficult to share the joys of this life, when it is exceptional, with strangers.

How to combine a career as a professional surfer today with respect for the environment?
Planes are brutal, but they’re a must to get from Mexico to Australia in a week. To compensate for this, I don’t eat meat anymore, I drive electric, I ride a bicycle a lot. I am very careful about what I buy for clothes, about the materials I use to make my home. I also participate in many charities. Nobody’s perfect, but I try to do my best.

New models

What are the challenges facing female surfers in 2022?
Sometimes it’s hard to take him seriously. Since we are always in swimsuits, we are constantly being checked. I get a lot of comments about my figure. “you’ve gained weight”, “you’re too thin”… The point is to be able to refrain from commenting. I love the body acceptance movement that every woman can find her own role model. But today, I’m careful not to post pictures where I look too skinny, even if I have a perfect surfing body, so I don’t get hurt.

Athletes have always had to deal with the difficulty of being a woman and their relationship with femininity and motherhood. What is yours?
It is written in my contracts that if I get pregnant, it is not a reason to break our engagement. Today, mother athletes are exceptional. I respect the courage they have to consider this dual career. For years, being a woman in sports has been very difficult. Women will be judged more by their figure, they will compare themselves. Unfortunately, it’s a cultural issue. When I was younger, my role model in surfing was only men, today it’s up to us to show that we can inspire in our own way as women.

What advice would you give to women who want to start surfing?
Start in easy conditions, surrounded by his friends, warm water and go to surf school first. There are many things to consider, the ocean can quickly become dangerous. Surrounding yourself well allows you to really have fun.