The ups and downs of his younger year have served as a reminder to live every day to the fullest. Live Daily is set as personal reminder for him that tomorrow is never promised.
You’re from Manly NSW right? You grew up near the ocean? Was surfing your first true love?
Well, I grew up in Manly, Sydney, and spent some time in Tathra too on the South Coast NSW. But yeah, I’ve always lived in Manly. I actually got into surf lifesaving first, this was my first love for the ocean. My parents always told me I was always crawling into the ocean and the shore break even before I could walk. I didn’t start surfing until I was at high school when I was 14, but I was never really good at it. Regardless though, I kept surfing both before and after school it kept me sane during high school years. But competitive surf lifesaving was my first true love that involved the ocean, I sort of won some stuff with that as a kid. That got me hooked on the water lifestyle.
The look on Alex's face says it all.
"I didn’t start surfing until I was at high school when I was 14, but I was never really good at it. Regardless though, I kept surfing both before and after school it kept me sane during high school years.
So, you’re pretty famous on Social Media Channels. We heard it started with you faking a shark swimming next you?
Well, It helped hahaha. So it is true. I did get a fair bit of attention for that.
The now infamous photoshopped image.
It must be a fairly strange thing to become ‘famous’ when did you first notice that it was happening?
The social media thing is still a spinout to me. I started on Facebook when I was young and then with Instagram, I was an early adaptor on instagram. Fame spins me out, I’m just me, and love posting my life. This is what supports my travel and lifestyle. It really sunk in the first time someone asking for a photo in the USA on a family trip. People found out what hotel we were staying in somehow. Then my mum got a call from reception saying there were people down here requesting a photo. So we went down and a bunch of crew took photos, it was insane. Then the same situation at Disney on the same afternoon. It was so weird to me as at school I was the most bullied kid and it was also on social media the bulling, so to have that flip in the USA was a real twist of reality.
You were first known purely as a surfer but how did the transition from surfing to foiling happen? Was it a slow change? We haven’t seen a purely surf post from you in a while .
Surfing is still a major love of mine, especially in big waves. But my natural choice is now foiling due to its more adaptable to whatever conditions you get.
Now, I’m really trying to take my approach on big wave surfing into foiling. I’m chasing big slabs for the future. One day I will bring back the surf board for an edit, but Right now, Foiling, it’s all I think about, it consumes me hahaha. Imagine stealing the phone or iPad from a kid watching YouTube. That’s the best way to explain my love for Foiling right now.
Alex, taking Foiling to the Big Waves.
"Surfing is still a major love of mine, especially in big waves. But my natural choice is now foiling due to it's more adaptable to whatever conditions you get."
Speaking of transition, you have been part of this new Follow Brand transition too. As we begin to create some product for guys who live your ‘Waterman’ Lifestyle. How have you found working with us and developing Ocean specific gear?
It’s been a dream scenario, I’m wearing the gear every day. I’m living in it, from my morning running sessions, to surfing, towing, foiling and then when I’m out at night or working. It’s nice to be working with a company that understand me and what I need in my life. Follow loves the same activities and ocean like I do, a brand that is building products designed for life, both on and off the water.
Alex in the New Live Daily LTD Product by Follow.
You have ADHD? The Follow Founder’s son has ADHD too and you’re an inspiration to him. He’s obsessed your Live Daily Tagline. Tell What’s the Live Daily tagline about?
Live Daily is set as a personal reminder that tomorrow is never promised.
I have chronic ADHD. As a kid I had brain scans twice a year for doctors to study my brain development for over 6 years. ADHD is a crazy thing, it’s a blessing a curse at the same time. Growing up with it can be challenging. It’s how you decide to deal with it that affects the outcome. When I was younger I was medicated and it had so many positive and negative effects on me. Finding the right balance is the key. Now I just focus on my sports and what I can control.
"Live Daily is set as a personal reminder that tomorrow is never promised... Finding the right balance is the key. Now I just focus on my sports and what I can control."
