WHO PLAYS COLE CLARK?
Steph Gilmore!  Well, when she’s out of the water…

Your tune seems to be written in the happiest of major keys lately Steph!
Yeah my tune is pretty happy a lot of the time and there’s all the more reason to smile now I get to strum away on a Cole Clark!  I’ve had a pretty successful start to my professional surfing campaign and as a rookie in 2007 I achieved my childhood dream of becoming ASP Women’s World Champ.  Ever since then, I’ve just been flowing along enjoying the fruits of being a surfer and discovering my passions for music and guitars.  Life’s too good! 

…and strumming and surfing obviously share some common threads in your life?
I think music and surfing go hand in hand and someone like Jack Johnson represents that really well.  I believe surfing and performing on a wave is all about timing and getting in a good rhythm with the ocean and waves and, not to get all hippy on ya, but I guess music comes in waves and vibrations as well so I’m pretty lucky to have both my passions compliment each other.

What came first, getting to your feet on your first unbroken wave or your first chord?
I think it was around a very similar time that I started to surf that I took more interest in my dad playing the guitar and so I had to give it a go too, I must have been around 9 years old and I haven’t looked back since!

Cole Clark guitars seem to find their own way to the hands of free-time players who surf, and artists who record music for surf movie soundtracks and the like.  Is there something in this?
I believe in fate too haha, but yeah I definitely think the vibe that surrounds Cole Clark guitars and the product is such a free-spirited, natural feel and surfers or even just relaxed, happy people are drawn to that sort of thing for sure.

Surfers are reputed as being among the more environmentally responsible and conscious members of our communities.  Do you think that Cole Clark’s use of native timber rather than imported old growth, and our promotion of plantation grown Bunya as a soundboard material of choice has weight amongst your peers?
Definitely, and similar to what I said before about surfers being drawn to that natural, environmentally friendly deal, we realise that its getting to the point of finding out what we need and can do to preserve what we are living in everyday to keep it special.  For a respected company like Cole Clark to do their bit for the environment then it really raises awareness and encourages everyone else to make an extra effort too.

Do you use music and guitar playing to help you relax and prepare mentally between comps or free surf sessions?
I try to travel with some strings everywhere I go, the Jack Tenor uke is perfect for that and its something that can really take me away from the contest scene and help me clear my head before heats.  I think I’m extremely lucky to be able to strum a few tunes wherever I am in the world; it’s the best feeling to have.

How does chilling out with a Cole Clark on your knee rate on Steph’s stoke-o-meter?
Super Stoked!  It just feels unreal to have a quality sound and fresh feel coming from an instrument that’s in your hands.

What’s the best place you’ve plugged in your Cole Clark?
At home is the best because I can just sit in my house and jam out whilst watching the waves roll by.  Epic stuff!