Vans Signs Juliette Lacome

France is a fickle mistress. That’s the word on the street when it comes to scoring quality surf there. Even the locals know it.

With those polarizing tides either grooming or absolutely destroying the sandbars, it can be a downright maddening effort to score a good window of swell in France. But when those fun days align, damn if it doesn’t feel that much better.  

At 19 years old, and having recently signed Vans, Biarritz’s Juliette Lacome is at that point in her life where finding good, rippable waves in her hometown is more of a job requirement than it is a childhood pastime. But based on her new clip above, produced in a collab by Wasted Talent, Juliette looks more than up to the task.

Despite her young age, Juliette’s clearly a student of the classics. Her clip is titled in Latin, “Viresque Acquirit Eundo,” which translates to “She gathers strength as she goes,” a quote from the classic epic Aeneid by the Roman poet Virgil. A subtle nod to the greats, and perhaps a nod to her own self-fulfilling journey. 

Juliette’s video also shows a tasteful balanced aesthetic between France’s metropolitan hub and the quaint beachside town. I thought I saw a castle on the sand at one point, but did you see that Paris b-roll? Magnifique.