Interview with Stylish Surfer Wano Liao

Wano Lio is a stylish surfer from Taiwan who is now based in Australia. We sat down with her to ask her some questions about her surf journey. We hope that her images of her surfing inspire you to let loose with your surf style!

Was there a specific moment in your life that made you fall in love with surfing?

I was in a domestic violence relationship that was destroying my spirit. When I finally decided that for the sake of myself and my daughter, I had to leave for our safety; we separated. In the early days, after separating from my husband, I moved to the Gold Coast. I would walk along the beach and see people walking with their surf boards and they looked so happy. I would stop and watch them ride the waves and they looked so beautiful. I thought, oh my gosh, I want to do that. I want to ride a wave and be happy just like them.

I decided to have a surf lesson and my very first lesson was the best. It was the best feeling and I just loved it. I still remember it to this day. I thought to myself: this is love, the greatest love affair of my life, and I will surf for the rest of my life.

Do you think that being a woman in the surfing world has enlightened your perspective on the sport?

I can never surf like a man because I am not a man. I think for me surfing as a woman is like a beautiful dance. I can be graceful and elegant, moving and flowing on my board in unison with the ocean and the ocean is my choreographer. She tells me where to move and how to dance.

Do you think being from Taiwan has shifted your surfing and love for the sport?

I started surfing once I moved to Australia and have never surfed in Taiwan, in fact I have not returned to Taiwan since I began my surfing journey. I don’t know the surf culture there. I would love to in the future to visit Taiwan and experience surfing in my home country.

What surfing advice would you give yourself when you were just starting out

I started with a shortboard and if I could give learning Wano some advice I would tell her forget the shortboard—the longboard is your greatest love affair.

What advice would you give to any young women surfers?

To get good at surfing requires practice and dedication. My advice would be to go every day whenever you can and oh don’t drop in on me. Big smiley face! :)

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Interviews, interviews, Narratives, BiographiesBrianna OrtegaJune 10, 2020interviews, InterviewsComment