“In The Lineup” introduces our readers to some of the friends and connections that we made along the way during these past five years of running the Surf Tribe.
While these interviews - despite the misleading title - did not literally take place in the lineup, the sentiment remains the same:
You're paddling around, looking to the horizon for the sign of a set, and you see a familiar face bobbing in the lineup, waiting for their turn. You might not necessarily know this particular surfer, but you've seen them around in the water. Quite often, now that you think of it.
But hey, how do these people manage to spend so much time in and around the ocean? "Don't they have a job?" you think, while simultaneously realizing the fact that you're also in the water almost on a daily basis. "Don't you have a job?”
In The Lineup highlights the stories of people that decided to pursue a slower lifestyle by the ocean. Feeling the pull not only of this pointless and enriching wave-riding activity called surfing, but mostly of a life that's more aligned to their personal goals and values - rather than what society expects them to do.
We first met Elina while in Baleal (Portugal). Our friendship quickly progressed with plenty of time together in and out of the water. As she replies to these questions, she’s a long way from Portugal, shooting on the North Shore of Oahu.
Read on to learn more about Elina.
Hey Elina, tell us a bit about yourself!
Hey there! Thank you for inviting me for the interview. I love what The Surf Tribe community does and am happy to be on board sharing my story!
I’m a photographer, filmmaker, and passionate adventurer, hehe. I grew up in the second-largest city in eastern Ukraine. Being far from nature didn’t stop my father from taking our family to places where we could roam freely, so we used to go camping by the Black Sea. I didn’t discover surfing there, though. Instead, during my adulthood, I was planning a trip to Iceland and I texted a friend who I thought had been there some time ago. Turns out, she had never been to Iceland, but she invited me to Portugal instead.
And that’s how it happened — I ended up going to Portugal, and since childhood I was very connected with the water element, there was no way I couldn’t get into surfing.
If you changed something about your lifestyle, was there a specific moment or event that made you realize you needed to make this change?
Oh, there were lots of moments like that and many changes. Life’s forecasts are unpredictable, and you’ve got to adapt to the winds! That trip to Portugal definitely made me see my life from a different angle. After visiting more than 20 countries, I realized I couldn’t stay far from the ocean and nature anymore. Frankly, everything in life before that event felt like it was going in the wrong direction, I think just my inner life compass was telling me that I needed to ground myself, simplify my life, get back to the essentials of living. And somehow surfing just provided it all. The sign was too clear, haha. I was totally ready for it; it felt like a return to what I used to be, and it felt right.
What's life looking like right now for Elina and what are some exciting trips and projects coming up next?
Right now, my life is stuck between countries. I’m a person with no home, but in 2 hours, I’ll finally be in Hawaii, so considering that, I am in no place to complain. This is my upcoming trip and project. Simon Hetrick and I are filming for a new episode of “See You Next Time” called "Marketplace. " Hopefully, I’ll be able to reveal more details soon!
Can you tell us more about your recent video project, Camel Milk?
Oh, Camel Milk is a special one!
I’d been dreaming of visiting Morocco for a few years. My plan was to take all my gear, head there to film, and take pictures, figuring everything else out upon arrival. I met Simon sometime before that, and when I told him about my idea, he got excited to go as well since the forecast was looking good. So we teamed up, and I ended up filming him throughout the whole trip. I think the fact that we were both focused on disconnecting from whatever was familiar to us and fully immersing ourselves in the culture and exploration made it more than just a typical surf video.
As someone that visited Morocco for the first time recently, what were your impressions of this country?
My first impression was literally, "Oh no, I’m gonna get fat here!" The food was amazing! God, I miss it so much!
Haha, okay, I’m kidding — that was my second thought. My first thought was, "Oh my God, I’m in Africa!" The colors, the sights...and waves! We went on a first surf check early morning the day after arrival, and the waves were firing! That’s what you see in the first section of the video.
I love how Camel Milk feels very raw. Having spent a lot of time in Morocco, I love that it avoids being overproduced to focus more on how it actually feels to be there - and it conveys it perfectly. What tools did you use, and was this vibe something you actively looked for?
Thank you, Gian! I really appreciate your comment, especially coming from you as one of the most well-traveled people to Morocco! Okay, so tool number one: be kind and respectful to the locals, and you will see more. Tool number two: search for uncrowded waves and spots without tourists. We would drive inland, away from the coast, when the waves weren’t firing, to see what real Morocco is like. Tool number three: just do your thing and carry three cameras everywhere with you!
Some favorite places and sessions from your surf trip to Morocco?
My favorite place is the tajine at Boilers, our sessions... there were many great sessions, but the first one probably will always stay in my memory as the most remarkable one! The morning after our arrival, we knew it was going to be firing, so as soon as the first light touched the horizon, we went out to check the surf. Ten minutes after we started driving, we saw lines piling up and wrapping around the coast. The waves were everywhere along the way, and we were losing our minds! We randomly stopped at a spot that looked insane and no one was out! It seemed sketchy to get in, but local fishermen were happy to help. I set up my camera and looked around. The view was so raw and wild; I was literally standing in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but cacti and caves in the background.
Some memorable moments?
Again, there were so many! I’d say buying mussels from a little girl on the side of the road. The next time I went to their camp, where they cleaned mussels just taken out of the sea, everyone in the camp was trying to feed me from their hands, which was super cute! Also, another time I was late for dinner at the place we were staying, so I shared the dinner with the local people who were working there. We all ate from one big plate... it was a delicious couscous with beef and vegetables. Some of the people were eating with their hands and were sharing every piece of food with me.
I love that when most people (even surfers!) are asked about their most memorable travel memories, it almost always comes down to moments of genuine connection with locals. That said, Morocco is not always the easiest country to navigate; were there some moments of struggle during your month there?
Yeah, indeed! There were a few sketchy moments... but nothing that didn’t end well! Still, quite an experience for sure. The day before our flight back, we decided to check out Marrakesh, probably the only touristy place we ended up visiting. It was almost a 4-hour drive from where we were staying. We made it there by midday, parked the car, and went for a stroll. When we got back to the parking lot by 8 pm, we couldn’t find the car. Apparently, it had been towed. Somehow, we figured out where the police station was, went there, and right at the entrance, we stumbled across prisoners begging us to set them free. We ended up going through a crazy process to get our car back, bouncing between the impound lot, a train station money transfer, and finally, the back room of a police station before getting the car. By midnight, we finally started driving back. Apparently, the same scenario happened to our friends the day after.
You are an accomplished analog photographer: how does this fit alongside video work?
Thank you! Honestly, it helps a lot. I’m so used to choosing my shots wisely, so whenever I film, I have the same approach. It always has to be visually pleasing. The colors and composition have to work side by side!I like to work with dynamics and rhythms, both in photography and video. Working in both fields affects each other. Every time I take pictures, I think about the storyboard and what will come out of it. I think this habit developed after my studies in filmmaking. Sometimes, it can be challenging to combine them both, but that's a classic scenario in a 'one-man production'.
Do you see a gap between analog photography as a more artistic pursuit and video as something more brand/marketing/money-oriented or how do you approach these different disciplines?
Hm, I wouldn’t say so! I think the video makes a bigger playground to play! I believe videography can be as creative as photography; it all comes down to your skills, vision, and the mediums you're working with. For me personally, the workflow energies are different; for film photography, sometimes I need to take a moment; with filming, I never have a spare second, if it comes to documenting stuff. Analogue photography nowadays plays a significant role in fashion photography, and video has become a very powerful tool for communication, in whatever you're working on. However, it also requires a major financial investment, which is why you can (and should) make more money with it.
Talking about surf, how have the waves been in Hawaii? Did you get to surf too or just film?
It was a great season for the North Shore, but we arrived at the end of it. We watched a few days of good waves at Pipe and heard some terrifying stories. Many people got injured this season—bigger swells come with bigger responsibilities. I also got to see a big day at Waimea Bay, where they run the Eddie Big Wave Invitational. I was very lucky to witness it!
Right now, things have changed with some classic Hawaiian trade winds and rain, but you can still get a good session when the sunshine comes out from behind the mountain. This is my first time in Hawaii, and... what can I say, no wonder it's the birthplace of surfing! It's not just a part of the culture and traditions; it's more like a religion here.
I was mostly filming, but of course, I got to surf too—a couple of good sessions on smaller days. I really needed that!
Tell us about your last memorable surf session/s and what boards you have been riding!
Actually, the most memorable session was just about a week ago. We surfed some lesser-known waves on the island, and I rode an 8'6" mini log and had the most fun. There were only a few people in the water, mostly friends, so everyone got plenty of waves. Surrounded by the beauty of the island, I watched huge whales jumping out of the water, one after another... pretty surreal.
I was mostly out of the water for the past half a year because I had to focus on filming. Some days in the summer, I was surfing a 9-footer, and just recently, I got a 7'2" twin fin, shaped by Charles Mencel in NJ. Hopefully, soon, I'll be surfing it every day!
Is there some surf-related project or travel on the horizon that you’re excited about?
Me and Simon Hetrick are currently working on a new episode for his project See You Next Time. The new episode is called “Marketplace.” We started filming on the East Coast, and we are working on the Hawaii segment atm. It is a pretty exciting project because we collaborated with some OG people from the industry and have been filming it for the past few months!
What are some of your inspirations on surfing and art? (feel free to drop some YouTube videos or Insta @s)
Luka R and his work on Juju The Surf Musical
This new movie on film photography
Last question: What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion and live a more fulfilling life close to the ocean?
Be ready — it’s not easy, but totally worth it! I don't think there's anything impossible in life. If you have an idea of what you want to change, you should go for it. The best approach is to make a plan on how to bring this idea to life, step by step. See if the skills you have can be applied in your new destination. If not, come up with a plan for what you'll do to sustain your needs. Make sure you're doing something that brings you pleasure so you don’t end up hating the place and forgetting that it was once your dream. Make sure you have some friends who will make you feel at home and that you have something to give to the community you’re going to become a part of because they will become your new family. And after all, just try. You never know unless you try.
Thanks, Eli!
Watch Camel Clip and get stoked for your next surf trip to Morocco!
