Beauty in Belief: Laura Crane's Journey of Self-Making at Nazaré

A lady hailing from North Devon, a picturesque seaside area in southwestern England, discovers her passion for riding large ocean swells. The Atlantic Ocean has a knack for transforming this tranquil shoreline into a chaotic maelstrom. This challenging environment becomes an ideal testing ground for a daring left-foot-forward beginner looking to push her limits.

My local beach is stunning but really unpredictable," explained Laura Crane. "Yet, when the waves are good, they can be quite intense. But I've always enjoyed that challenge. The power of the ocean has always fascinated me, and I trusted myself to handle whatever came my way. At twelve years old, I was unstoppable. All I wanted back then was to leap from trees and attempt all those wild stunts others considered insane.

Young Laura showed promise as a The News Pulseand landed sponsors in her teens. But when she came to Hawaii for the first time, she found there wasn’t much interest in her surfing the waves she’d seen boys her age riding.

I was really excited about surfing these waves," she stated. "But then I found out I would be taking bikini photos in a lagoon instead, which pretty much put an end to my big-wave escapades.

Even so, ten years later, Laura, who is now 30 years old, continues to regularly charge big waves at Nazaré and has qualified for the Big Wave Challenge for two consecutive years. What brought about this change?

Laura possessed a solid foundation, yet she readily accepted assistance. She owed much of her achievement to Eric Rebiere, a seasoned veteran at Nazaré, who recognized both her physical capabilities and her inner determination. Laura has never shied away from discussing her previous health challenges, including her battles with an eating disorder, as well as how she now feels more at ease with herself than ever before. When he first encountered Laura at age 17, Eric watched her progress over time and believed that even greater accomplishments lay ahead for her.

A significant aspect for me has been embracing my strength as a woman and ideally motivating other women to accomplish whatever they're capable of, even if they feel hesitant," Laura explained. "I believe Eric recognized this quality in me before I did myself. One time, he messaged me saying, 'You’ve been training quite a bit, so what exactly are you preparing for?' That comment resonated with me deeply. Inside me, there’s an urge to push forward at all costs. Yet, I am anxious. Worried that others might not view me as I wish to be seen or doubt whether I'll receive the recognition I consider due within this field. My concerns were largely centered around how others would perceive me. However, he supported me, placing his arm around me and showing faith in me.

Under Eric’s guidance, Laura dedicated herself fully to training and tackling the waves at Nazaré during the 2023-2024 winter season. She left nothing halfway done—putting in intense workouts, practicing breath-holding techniques, and spending all her savings on a jet ski. Everything was invested in her journey.

It was significant for me to finally embrace who I truly am," she stated. "That initial year wasn't about endorsements; it was purely for my own fulfillment. Any subsequent chances were an added advantage. My sole desire was to be in the water surfing massive waves.

Last season, their priority was enhancing her skills at skiing so she could alternate duties with another driver and contribute more to ensuring everyone’s safety. The situation reached a climax during an unassuming January swells when nobody anticipated significant wave activity. "People didn’t expect much from this particular swell," Laura recounted. "But we had amazing waves throughout the entire day." She added excitedly, "It felt incredible riding alongside Eric and Justine (Dupont), as it was mostly just us women out there enjoying the surf."

A huge wave approached Laura. Her technique was accurate. The experience assisted her in securing her initial invitation to the WSL’s Nazaré competition the next month and also earned her a spot in the Big Wave Challenge for the second time.

“For me, a significant aspect is being Nazaré rather than simply going through the motions,” she stated. “I aim to truly understand what the ocean is telling me and catch the most crucial part of these magnificent waves. This particular wave encapsulates everything I am striving for: staying present, having faith in myself, my preparation, and my gear.”

Laura is still trying to understand where those boundaries are. During the towing competition in February, she fractured her foot on a jumpset. Nonetheless, simply participating showed her that she was right where she should be.

“She mentioned that even with her broken foot, that day remained unforgettable,” he recounted. “She believes it’s all part of the adventure,” he continued. “Riding those massive waves doesn’t mean you get an effortless and flawless experience,” she stated.

It was quite an important day," she went on. "My dreams sort of came true even before slipping into that bold vest. It brought about many emotions knowing I'd reached a spot people said I couldn't. Putting on that rash vest held great significance. You can bet your bottom dollar I'll return next year.