MEET: NORTH DEVON’S FINEST – LAURA HELLYER
Surfgirl have featured Devon's Laura Hellyer this week.
Laura is one of North Devon’s most hardcore surfers, she has gained a reputation in her area for her guts and sheer determination on the big days at low tide Croyde. Surfing in loads of rubber on the coldest days her life seem’s a world away from the bikini ads which personify womens surfing. But it’s what she does best. Laura even has a separate room to keep her six boards, fishing gear and spear gun. You get the idea…she’s a real waterwoman.
She’s been surfing since she was little with her sister – model and student Sophie. A year or two in competition saw Laura take the English and British a few years back but her A&E nursing career put a stop to competition. However as she is now working at a local GP practice she’s all over the surf this winter at home and abroad, having just come back from a surf trip to Sri Lanka, throwing spray and surfing alongside turtles.
Laura has built her life around the surf and in her spare time joins in with training the local SLSC Nippers and taking terminally ill children away on holiday to give their parents and siblings a break from round the clock care. All in all she’s an inspirational woman and great role model for North Devon’s many up and coming surfers.
Words and photos by Matt Burton
Check out the pics and info on their website: http://www.surfgirlmag.com/2012/12/04/meet-north-devons-finest-laura-hellyer/
