by : Jenna Goldberg

After two years of competing on the WQS, Lee Ann qualified for the WCT at 20 years old, the youngest European surfer ever to qualify.

Lee Ann holds it down for France during her rookie year, as the only French surfer on tour. She is currently ranked #14 in the world, but has to take it easy after tearing her meniscus before the Movistar Peru Classic.

We hope to see her fit and firing for the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach this August.

Where do you spend your time between events on the ASP World Tour?
It depends, I try to come back home between events but sometimes I like to do surf trips between contests...

If you could add a stop to World Tour, where would it be?
France of course!

How many languages do you speak? What language is spoken in your house?
I speak French at home, with my mum, I also speak English and I am learning Portuguese.

Do you have other places besides France that you consider home?
California, because my dad is from there, Brazil because my boyfriend lives there, but there's no place like home, south west of France.

Where would you want to post up if you bought your dream home?
I don't really know yet, probably between Biarritz and Hossegor somewhere.

How do you stay connected with friends while you travel?
By email, and I have a blog: leeanncurren.blogspot.com
I send photos on it regularly.

Who do you travel and surf with?
My boyfriend who also travels for surfing competition, and the French surfers Amandine Sanchez and Pauline Ado.

On the WQS and now the ASP World Tour, how do you bounce back from losses, and what motivates you to continue competing?
I really hate to lose, but I love surfing so motivation always comes back. I can’t stay out of the water for too long! I also like to watch other sports like rugby and tennis. It really makes me motivated for competition.

What is your favorite French food?
Chocolatine (in English they say "chocolate croissant")

What is the surf culture like in France?
It's pretty big during Summer, it's like the cool thing. Tourists love it.

Why don’t we see more French ladies on the ASP World Tour?
Because the sport is still new in France, but I am sure we will see more [French female surfers] really soon.

What surfers do you look up to?
Jeremy Flores because is the best French surfer at the moment and he has experience on the tour and how it works. I like to check the Euroforce episodes to learn from the experience of the best euro surfers.

What’s your favorite maneuver to pull?
Barrels because it feels so good, and airs because I almost never land them.

If you could choose any era of surf to be in, would you stay put, jump back in time, or flash forward?
I think for a woman surfer right now is a really good time, the sport is getting bigger, the level is getting higher so it's really exciting.

France has the fashion capital of the world. Describe your street clothes style.
I don’t spend hours getting dressed, usually I have a few items I really like and keep for years, like a nice jumper, shoes or a beanie, and then I just wear simple jeans and shirts.

Merci beaucoup, Lee Ann!

Check out Lee Ann’s blog: http://leeanncurren.blogspot.com

View Original Post at dylamagazine.com

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