A Surf Girl We Adore: Effie Vrakas

Interview by Ali Klinkenberg | Photos by Bastien Bonnarme

Did you know you can surf the Greek islands? Sure, it’s not the most consistent zone, but jeez, there’s no shortage of things to do when you’re waiting for the Med to rumble: Hello, culture! The budding Greek surf scene has a princess at its head, Miss Effie Vrakas! Effie funds her fabulous surf existence with her chic femme surfwear label Nesoi Aquawear, and even competes in selective WSL sanctioned events. I talked surf with Effie, as well as the state of the young Greeks in these grim economic times.

Are there waves in Greece? You can find good waves but not very often. It’s the Mediterranean, so there is less space for a good swell to develop. The surf season goes from October to April. There are waves in summer, but you have to go to the islands to find them.

What’s it like being a young person in Greece right now? It’s tough. Unemployment’s high and many people are having a hard time. That said, Greece is a strong country with a rich history, and I’m positive that everything will turn out fine in the end. In the meantime I’m surfing and refusing to give up on my dreams!

Tell me about the best surf session that you’ve ever had… Nothing compares with a glassy day in the Maldives. I’ll never forget an early morning session at Jail’s when we had a six foot swell and not a breath of wind. I was in the water until I couldn’t paddle any more.

Are you a surfer/model, or a model/surfer? I think of myself as a surfer first and foremost. My work in fashion inspired me to start my own surf wear company, NESOI AQUAWEAR. As a model, I’ve always been happiest when I had some control over the finished product, or when the shoot had something to do with my interests as a surfer. Fortunately, I’ve had a few opportunities to do surf related modelling both here in Greece and abroad, and it’s been an awesome experience.

Who’s your surf hero? Steph Gilmore. Not only is she an incredible surfer, but she’s a real spirit too. I think she’s a really stylish surfer, she makes it all look so easy.

Who’s your non surf hero? My mom, for sure. She was a top model in France in the 80’s, and later, when she moved to Greece, she brought the spirit of French fashion with her. She continued working as a model and she is still involved in the fashion scene. She’s always very supportive and it’s amazing to have a mother whose interests are so in tune with mine.

We get a lot of complaints about the sexualising of female pro surfers. What are your thoughts on this? Let’s face it, surfing is a really sexy sport! I don’t think there is any shame in female surfers wearing cheeky bikinis or in other people admiring them. I love watching female athletes shedding killer waves and looking gorgeous. It’s empowering.

What’s next in line for Effie? At the moment, I’m stoked for the Greek surf season to start. I’m currently working on my next collection for NESOI and looking forward to a few business collaborations. In other news, I just got back from a trip in Portugal and France, and I’m looking forward to seeing where I’ll be headed next!