BY MELISSA ARKIN
PHOTOGRAPHED BY HILLY
The beach is Courtney Conlogue’s oyster.
She has spent the past few years riding the
wave of success, placing in both amateur and
professional surfing competitions, competing
for that proverbial surf-champion pearl on
sun bleached shores throughout the world.
Her irrefutable talent, determination and
edgy appeal caught the attention of Smith
Optics several years ago and led to a major
endorsement.
And she’s only 15.
Her age may make Courtney somewhat of
a novelty in competitive surfing, but in no
way do her years gauge her talent. A quick
overview of the Santa Ana, Calif., native’s
surfing resume makes it evident she
has come a long way fast. A member of
a litany of surf teams and organizations,
Courtney has racked up some awe-inspiring
feats in recent years. She was the youngest
surfer to compete in the WCT (World
Championship Tour) at Honolua Bay,
wowing the crowds as she tackled 12-foot
waves. She has piled on numerous accolades,
winning the USA Championships last year
and scoring a perfect 10 at the WQS (World
Qualifying Series). Just to name a few.
It is no wonder that Smith Optics wanted
their eyewear on Courtney Conlogue. “I got
involved with Smith when I was 12 years
old,” Courtney says. “I just remember how
excited I was to wear my glasses every time I
would go outside. Surfing is hard on the eyes
sometimes because of the glare off the water.
I don’t wear sunglasses when I surf, but as
soon as I’m out of the water I put on my
Smith shades to protect my eyes. My favorite
style is the Domino. I don’t usually wear
‘bling,’ but I make an exception for these
because they look so good. All of my Smith
glasses are durable enough to withstand the
wear and tear that I put them through.”<
Having Courtney on board is a definite
asset to Smith Optics. “The trick to
successful athlete endorsements hinges on
the athlete and their ability to relate to the
customer and bring people to the brand,”
says Greg Randolph, public relations
manager for Smith. “Different personalities
speak to different segments of the market.
For us, the key is building a team that speaks
to our customers. A diverse roster of the
right kinds of athletes gives us the
opportunity to not only drive the public
for our products, but push PR for our
athletes as well.”
Courtney’s sponsorship with Smith goes
beyond fiercely sporting the shades; she is a
part of the Smith team. “It is a really cool
thing to be able to ride on the Smith team,”
she notes. “My new team manager, JP
Collett, is always checking up on us to
make sure we are satisfied with our
eyewear. They have supported me and
my surfing for three years and have
never disappointed me.” And at the rate
Courtney is going, three years adds up
to a lot of surfing competitions.
Competing at an advanced level does pose
some obstacles for Courtney. “As a young
female surfer, it is hard finding surfing
contests in my area that support women
surfers my age,” she says. “I just traveled to
Australia and I learned they have several junior
pro events to compete in. It definitely
gives the girls there the global advantage
in competition.”
While surfing competitions for people
her age are few and far between in her
hometown, Courtney finds that sometimes
competing against surfers out of her age
range has its benefits. “I surf against others
around my age, but it’s good for me to surf
against people who are older than me and
have more experience competing. I may not
win every time, but I walk away from the
event having learned something.”
Courtney’s passion for surfing surfaced at
an early age. “As a family, we spent all our
time at the beach,” she recalls. “I would
watch my dad and his friends surfing while I
played on the beach until the sun went
down. When I was four years old, my
family and a group of our friends went to
Punta Abreojos, Mexico, on a surfing and
fishing trip. We camped on the beach for
two weeks. My dad taught me to surf
during this time and it has been part of my
life since then.”
During the week, when Courtney is
embracing her land animal alter ego, she
resembles your average California teenager.
She attends a prep school in Newport Beach
where she excels in her English and algebra
classes. In her downtime, which she may not
come across too often, she goes to a skate
park near her house, spends time with her
dogs and enjoys archery. She deals with the
issues any girl her age would, trying to find a
balance between schoolwork and play.
Except, for Courtney, on weekends, play is
work and work is play and she spends her
time in competition or finding new spots to
practice.
Courtney recently became a part of
surfing history at the X-Games, an annual
event focused on extreme action sports.
Held last July, she was part of the
pioneering crop of women surfers in the
games held in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
“When I competed at the X-Games this past
year, it was the first time they were letting
women surf at the event. I surfed for
the USA Team and it was an amazing
experience.” And a successful one at that—
the U.S. women’s team beat the world team,
taking home the gold medal in surfing.
Not only was the win at the X-Games a
major feat for Courtney’s career, but also a
significant achievement for her as a female
surfer. “As a North American, I definitely
believe that the sport of surfing is different
for men and women when it comes to
competition,” she says. “Men have way more
competitions than women on the ASP
(Association of Surfing Professionals) than
women have on most levels. This year I have
one Junior Pro event in North America
while the men have 10. It makes it a
challenge. I don’t believe I am any different
from male surfers; I want to get the best
waves, compete and travel, too.”
X-Games surfing coach Lisa Andersen has
since become a source of inspiration for
Courtney. “[Andersen] was world champion
four times. There hasn’t been a world
champion from the USA since her last win
in 1997. As I get older, I’m seeing more
and more what it will take to succeed in this
sport as a woman. I admire all the female
surfers before me who have followed their
hearts and dreams.” On her surfboard,
determination navigating the crashing swells,
Courtney Conlogue has already become a
part of that tradition
April 2008
Artist of the Frame / Conversations