2. Who am I? Simon Robert Murphy
How old? I stopped counting at 30!
Nationality Bloody Aussie mongrel slowly mixing with Spanish
Home-town Sufferers’ Paradise, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
Current casa Castro Urdiales, Cantabria, Spain (past 3 years)
Marital status A local Basque chick locked me in for life Sep 2010!
Any kids or grommets? Not at this stage … I´m too young
Languages English (aussie gibberish), Spanish, Portuguese and a lil Japanese
Education • Bachelor of Science majoring in Marine Biology (2000-2002)
• Bachelor of Science majoring in Eco- tourism (1994-1996)
Both degrees at Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia
Current employment
English Teacher (with genuine aussie accent), English/Eco/
Bodyboard Summer Surf clinics (my own business *see flyer
attached) & lastly ´Euro swell chaser´!
Passions Bodyboarding,Environment(esp.Marineenvironment),Travelling/
exploring,Snowboarding,Diving,Fishing,learningnewlanguages/
cultures, mountain hiking, writing about my travels, teaching &
Beer tasting.
3. Well in a sense I was a late bloomer picking up my
first boogie at the age of 16…pretty old for aussie
standards!!!MaybeitwasbecauseofthisbutIstillhave
that exact same buzz and froth as those first years! I
have no problem getting up in the dark for a session
(even here in euro winter) if it´s on! I purchased my
first round-world ticket after my second uni degree,
did that went home was bored, bought another, did
that went home got bored, bought another this went
on for 8 years until meeting my now wife and planting
roots here in Europe.
This has not put out the travel fire though!! My
wife is cool and understands that I need to get out
and explore while my body is still able….overall I´m
really lucky in this aspect! I always like keeping busy
with activities and what not. I guess up until Respect
Bodyboards sponsored me I´ve been an underground
sort of guy not chasing photos as such. Since joining
this group my profile has been raised here in Europe
and Latin America, but in my roots home I´m still that
unidentified guy! This I put down too not being home
for the past decade and I guess not having the right
connections (i.e sponsored by an Aussie company)….
As I said earlier I didn´t chase it either! In saying this,
of course now with a board model, that yes I do need
to get some images because unfortunately brands
need that so they can sell more boards and make
money right? The advent of the internet is helping and
making awareness easier through podcasts and I´m
happy to evolve with this side of the Industry…
You´ll see more of this later in my ´2011-12´
objectives. I also enjoy writing, I´ve had a couple of
stories published most recently my story ´Swine flu
Tales´ about a trip to Mexico whilst the world was in
hysterics about the swine flu, which was touted as
starting in Mexico city (a complete hoax!!) This story
was published in English, Portuguese and French in
Threesixty Mag (UK), Vert Mag (POR) & Bodyboarder
(FRA) respectively. Before that I had a story in
Riptide Mag (AUS) about the conflicts of visiting pro
bodyboarders going to the Canary Islands shooting
pics & video but not showcasing the local talent which
in the early days created conflicts and tensions.
ABOUT ME
4. Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii (4 month stint), Mexico (8 times luv the place), California
(lived and worked illegally 6 mths in Ocean Beach), Canada (lived for 6mths riding
mountains), Japan (lived for 6mths teaching English), Colombia (Wow!! Been
here twice), Peru, Chile (lived here for 4 months, boogie playground), Argentina &
Brazil(mind-blowingfoodandhmmladies;),Indo(fewtimes),China(wow!),New
Zealand, Canary Islands (my second home in euro) UK (evil but necessary money
making times spent 3 summers here making pounds to fund my winter stint in the
Canary Islands) France (just up the road) Portugal (just down the road), Ireland
(my ancestry to be ´shure´), Netherlands, Germany and of course my new found
home which I´m loving at the moment …Spain!
TRAVELS
5. Devils (Japan)
All of them stick out and even though I hated places like London they really put everything in perspective i.e you
can´t have the good without the bad!! After a hard day´s work a cold beer tastes sweeter!! In saying that Japan was
amazing…I discovered and pioneered 2 waves : Devils (left slabs like supers in oz) & concretes (left wedge)….amazing
people, culture, food and waves!!!. I would love to go back and explore more 1 day in the typhoon season. There is a
lot of future project potential in this alien land. The Canary Islands are also special for me ….I´ve spent a lot of time
exploring and surfing the classic heavy spots….and it´s a great place to escape the cool euro winter for a while.
MEMORABLE
TRAVELS
6. MY
STYLE
I lean towards a big diet of surfing mainly
Dropknee (DK) it´s my number 1 passion,
however I realize that there can be limits
to ´getting up on the knee´ whilst surfing
some slabs and ledges. Unlike a lot of DKer´s
, I will happily Prone (lie down on my guts)
on a slab left or right if it is mutating. I am
pushing my DK harder each year into waves
that are not normally regarded as DK waves
such as El Fronton (Gran Canaria), Teahupoo
(Tahiti), El Quemao (Lanzarote), Supertubos
(Portugal) El Gringos & Intendencia (Chile)
Big Puerto / Pascuales (Mexico) and lastly
Big Mundaka/ Santamarina Left / La Central
(here at home)
9. SPONSORS:
I currently have my own Simon Murphy Pro Model (3 years now) with
Respect Bodyboards *see attached publicity. Happy to say these are
selling well in Europe and throughout Latin America where I have had
most of my publicity. The company is slowly emerging in Australia
and the U.S where they are waiting on Distributors. Note on Respect
Boogies: They are a young and energetic European brand based in the
Basque Country in Spain. The name Respect does not mean ´Respect
us´ but is more directed at Respecting the Environment, the beaches
and one another as surfers. I am happy to represent these guys and
like where they´re headed as an ecologist myself. They´re 2011 Global
evolution campaign relates to a focus on this and researching new
materials which are less harmful to our fragile environment.
As for other sponsors, this is the
reason I have contacted ´you´
because I am chasing extra support
from other sources.
10. What Respect Bodyboards
have to say about me….
“Simon Murphy, the Aussie who grew up in the wilderness of
South Oz and took up roots on the Gold Coast honing his tube
riding skills at Australia’s premier beach break South Straddie.
Not satisfied with being a “1 spot wonder” he took off on his
first travel way back in 95. He froths on the joys of surfing new
slabs and learning about the different customs and lifestyles
in the different countries these slabs may be found. Whilst he
is the veteran of the pack what he brings is experience and the
free-spirited travel culture to our team. He has spent the past
14 years under the radar, surfing all the best known boogie
waves but also some of the most amazing “out of the way”
places on the planet. He has also discovered and pioneered
waves in Japan, Tonga and the Canary Islands. Murph loves
the DK but also enjoys riding heavy below sea level slabs on his
belly. For this the SM Pro model offers one of the most func-
tional versatile boards on the market today. From the thumping
slabs of El Fronton in Europe to the fun beachies back on the
Gold Coast his board is viable in all conditions.”
11. COMPETITIVE
HISTORY
I am NOT into comps at all. Nerves, bad vibes, shit waves…
it´s not really my thing! I did have a crack at the World IBA
DK tour 2010 just to try and get a good ranking to be a ´sure
thing´ in this year’s DK Pipe comp (Feb ´11) I competed in 3
events here in Europe. Overall I finished 12th in the tour rank-
ings which wasn´t too bad considering I only did half the tour
events, unfortunately this was not high enough to gain entry
into Pipe.
13. VIDEO
COVERAGE
The Lackey Project, Tension 8, Salty frames, La Familia,
Controversial 2, Performance vids 2,3 & 4 and One Crazy
man. Upcoming release – Unique (nov ´11) which is a
documentary (Nico Nachaj Performance videos) narrated by
myself about the mystique and uniqueness of the magical
Canary Islands where I lived for several winter seasons. The
trailer has received 7000 hits in a month on vimeo.
14.
15.
16. MAGAZINE COVERAGE
I have enjoyed a wide range of photos and profiles in the main bodyboarding
mags throughout Europe the past couple of years including:
Riptide Mag (Australia), Vert Mag (Portugal), Secondmag (Spain),
Bodyboarder (France), Threesixty (UK) & Ride It (Brazil), ...
17. • Firstly I am off to Namibia 28th Aug ´11 for a month
to roam the African desert searching for new slabs
and hoping to score THAT incredible 2km sandpit left
made famous by Corey Lopez. This will be a camp-
ing 4WD adventure and I plan to produce a 20 min
doco/short film over the month (not naming names
of course….not my style!!) *I plan to release this with
Spanish subtitles for the good people here around
home. The film will also be produced by Nico Nachaj
who mixed Unique and my Canaries profile which are
attached in the CV. The great thing and the reason
I am having many sleepless nights in the lead-up to
this trip is that there has been no real Bodyboard
exploration through these parts as yet so the poten-
tial is exciting!! The story if we get the shots will run
in Riptide Mag (AUS) and the main bodyboard mags
here in Europe.
OBJECTIVES 2012
BIG plans this year and some exciting projects….
18. • December ´11 – Jan ´12: I´m heading home to Aus-
tralia and down to my State of birth…South Australia. Simi-
lar deal to Namibia, I am hiring a campervan and heading
down to the desert where I last found myself over 10 years
ago before my world travelling virus began!! I plan to pro-
duce a podcast on the trip again with the help of legend
Nico Nachaj.
• Feb 2012: Depending on how funds are going I
would like to head back to Hawaii to stay with my Big wave
surf buddy Kohl Christensen on his organic farm in the coun-
try on the North Shore and try to bust through the DK trials
at Sandy Beach to get a jersey at the Pipe DK comp. As I said
earlier, I´m not into comps but to have a crack at DKing Pipe
with 3 other guys in the water well it´s a lifelong dream! My
time over there is also a good chance at pushing my DK with
Kohl taking me too outer reefs and less famous spots other
than the typical ´off the wall´-pipe stretch.
During this whole period whilst I´m home in Spain I will be
watching swell charts to sneak off on 2-3day missions to
the Canary Islands and Ireland where I am frothing to have
a crack at ´Rileys´ on the knee!! I am lucky to have cheap
flights with Ryan Air out of Santander near home for around
50 euros (return!!) to both destinations. I have the flexibility
to be able to drop my English classes for a few days as my
boss understands that ´surfing´ is my number 1 job and pas-
sion ;) Around home here I never miss an epic swell at Mun-
daka, Santamarina lefts or El Brusco.
19. So what can I offer you?? Well as I stated earlier, I´m highly motivated and focused
on completing my objectives above. I feel my surfing is getting better with age , I´m physically in good shape,
drink in moderation and don´t smoke! What I can offer if you back me is 110% commitment to your brand and
will represent it with pride!!
How you can help? Basically I have contacted you because 1 . I like your brands ideals and
products and 2. I would be stoked to receive whatever contribution from you company whether that be product
or financial support I leave that to you….
Congrats if you have made it through my blurbbb…
Cheers for your time
Good waves / Buenas olas
Regards Simon ´Simmo´ Murphy
