By Tauri Tigerpaw. Exclusive to SurfWatch.
With a rez day of one year fast approaching, Robin Coche is an active member of the Second Life surfing community. Although she's currently not on the competition circuit due to real life obligations, Robin is the enthusiastic surf instructor at Majini Island. Surfwatch was able to squeeze in some time in with her between lessons to talk about surfing and the Bishara Surf School.
SurfWatch: Can you tell us a little bit about how the surf school started?
Robin: VW Sands [now Bishara Resorts Estate Manager] and I have known each other more or less from our rez in Second Life . We met on a beach, and I was fascinated by his profile quote, "boneheads and bitchy girls, don´t bother". So I made contact. We spent a load of time doing crazy things like skydiving onto moving objects like killer whales and crabs from 8,000 meters; also dropping unloved politicians into volcanoes or feeding them to the sharks!
Neither of us can remember where we started surfing. It was either Bundoran or Bishara, before Majini came into being. Bishara was one of the hardest beaches to surf - a pipe, short and sweet, and just to get me really frustrated, fluffies that pushed one into a corner. This is where I got my first board (Namiko/Bamboo). Sometime last year, we had the idea of starting a surf school on Bishara and thanks to the owner, Dumisani Ah, it was quickly realised. Shortly afterwards, I was asked whether I would like to take on a job as lifeguard on another beach. I was able to help newcomers to surf and also protect them, and myself, from griefers (having been caged and assaulted previously). Doing this job gave me a great opportunity to surf. I had already got a GR board.
At the end of 2007 I left the sim. I was burnt out and needed a rest. During all this time, VW and I had stayed in contact. I had been doing a lot of surfing on La Bahia. It was a lovely, lonely beach with triple pipes where I could regenerate myself. I asked the owner, Flynn Sheridan, at some point whether he could use me as a lifeguard or something similar. Unfortunately, as many of us know, Flynn is taking a break from SL, so I asked indirectly whether VW could use me. I ran a trial lesson on 13th March and was more or less thrown into the deep-end. The feedback was positive which convinced me that (VW willing) I had made the right decision!
SurfWatch: What are some of the challenges for you in your new role?
Robin: I will be the third instructor after VW and Slave (Lacey), so it´s not really starting, more like joining again. As to my goals, I want to initially help new surfers on the beach, show them what surf is about. It´s a passion, but we do it for fun - hey - who cares if we belly out! I do it every day, annoying, but a fact as we search for the perfect wave. And for me, very important is surf etiquette. Lots of people come here thinking this is a game, want all, but aren´t prepared to give. Our surf world is about giving and taking. We aren´t here to take all. The perfect wave will come. Patience for all of us. Secondly, I would like to show advanced surfers what we can achieve together. I think the circuit can only benefit from our knowledge of the waves and, of course, our keyboards.
SurfWatch: What's your favorite wave? How do you like to approach a wave?
Robin: Difficult. I love the pipe. It runs fast, which means I have to react faster. And then again, the Epic is more challenging. It has lag - needs a different tactic. And fluffies are damned fast. I tend to ignore the fluffies unless I want to get out into the surf.
My secret? [smiles] I guess I´m a maverick - just like to surf. Love to surf upside down.
SurfWatch: Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?
Robin: It´s great to be back here. It makes me feel really warm. We are planning one hell of a birthday party, VW and I. We will rip the waves, plus red, red wine and reggae.
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4 comments:
Great girl and a fantastic friend! In VW's absence, like me he is somewhere in Africa for a trip, I want to just say thanks for interviewing Robin, and to Robin for your great attitude! You ROCK!
Sl surfing needs more people like you Robin :-) Your contribution to the surf community is matched only by your contribution to our friendship.
Keep tearing it girl - a pleasure to have U back.
Red red wine ;-)
Thank you for re-posting this interview with Robin Coche. She was a wonderful dedicated woman who taught me the essentials of surfing in SL to get me started. After giving me a few tips and talking together I can still see here paddling off saying "let's surf!" and I surfed with her every chance I had, enjoying every minute with her. I still think of Robin often when in the water waiting. Thanks again for keeping alive the memory of a wonderful, fun, intelligent and important figure of surfing in Second Life. I miss you Robin.
Party on the deck, Robin
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