As the legendary story goes, in the 1960’s Easkey’s grandmother, Mary Britton, a hotel owner, returned to Ireland from a trip to California determined to bring two Malibu surfboards back to her local beach, Rossnowlagh. Her intention was to offer them to hotel guests, but instead her five sons, including Easkey’s father Barry took the boards to the waves, making the Britton boys some of the first pioneers of Irish surfing. By the time Easkey was born, surfing was a regular part of her family’s life. Her parents taught her to surf when she was four years old and her life has revolved around the ocean ever since. Her father remains her number one surfing companion.
Photo Credit David Gray / Finisterre
Easkey is the first Irish woman to be nominated for the Global WSL Big Wave Awards but there’s more to Easkey than surfing. It is her intellect and her quest to learn and create change in an often unfair world that really defines her. A scientist, academic and social activist, with a PhD in Environment and Society, Easkey is always one to look in places others aren’t for the answers to difficult questions. Her curiosity and passion for fairness and gender equality are the qualities that others to her.
She is co-founder of the non-profit Waves of Freedom which uses the power of surfing as a creative medium for social change and spear-headed the world’s first global Surf for Social Good Summit in Bali, Indonesia. A recent graduate from THNK’s Creative School of Leadership, Easkey is an inspirational public speaker – her work and unique connection to the ocean led her to being asked to talk at TEDx Dublin and as a keynote speaker she has presented her work at international conferences, addressed global organisations and published numerous book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Photo Credit Jelle Mul
On September 10th launching online, on the new moon, Easkey releases a new film called A Lunar Cycle. The film has been selected for International Film Festivals and won best Irish Short at the Irish Surf Film festival earlier this year. It’s a surf film with a message for a universal audience, from a female perspective, on the importance of our nature/sea connection on a society that’s stressed out by being ‘always on’. We caught up with Easkey earlier today, and asked her about the film.
Photo credit Andrew Kaineder.
“Our connection to the sea and natural cycles is at the heart of A Lunar Cycle. It’s short film directed by Andrew Kaineder that explores themes not yet visited in surf films - fusing coldwater surfing, dance, poetry, prose and natural cycles of the body and nature, capturing my sea connection in winter in Ireland.
In a society that rewards ‘busyness’ I think understanding the influence of cycles becomes even more important. We all have them, men and women. We’re living beings influenced by our environment and are affected by the cycles of night and day, the moon, the seasons, the tides… As women, we are gifted with an internal cycle, our menstrual cycle – if we’d only been taught how to better listen to our bodies. Our body tells us when it’s time to act and when it’s time to rest.
I’m beginning to develop a greater awareness of my cycle, and this is what I explore & creatively give expression in A Lunar Cycle. This awareness helps me reconnect with my body in nature, understand my own inner ebb and flow, the high cost of being always ‘on’ in a society that fosters a toxic relationship with time, and the equally important need for stillness and reflection.”
Easkey is a one off, wild hearted and free spirit. She’s ridden some of the biggest days in Ireland; no audience, no blue skies, no golden sands, just her and a crew she trusts. Doing something she loves; chasing cold water mountains.
We will bring you more news about A Lunar Cycle next week, follow Easkey at @easkeysurf to find out more.
Title Image Photo Credit Chris McClean.
Find out more about the WAExpo 2018 speakers here.
You can also buy tickets for WAExpo 2018 here
