Everyone’s Favourite Surfer’s Favourite Surfer: Caity Simmers

If you’ve ever had the privilege of meeting Caity Simmers you would know that she is one of the the chillest people on the planet.

And yet her laid back nature is in complete opposition to her ability to charge on a surfboard. One of the most rounded, progressive and talented surfers of the next generation, it is astonishing to think she is just twenty years old. Having already won a world title, put out her own films and been barrelled more in one year than people would ever in their entire lifetime - Caity is the fucking moment. Her section in the upcoming Red Bull film Now Days produced by Jodie Nelson will blow your head off. It’s coming to you live this Friday. Catch up with the next GOAT below.

PS. It was hard to get Caity locked down due to the comp season so this is via the good ol text.

The soundtrack to Now Days was brilliant - did you have any creative input on that and if so what was your song? And how important is music to you, especially when you’re in comp mode? 

Yah, I agree the soundtrack was absolutely bumping and it makes me want to get up and bounce around. I had creative input in the sense that I spoke to the ladies involved in the movie about how important having a good sound track is, and we put together a good playlist of song ideas. I tried to make it a point that good music is crucial for a quality surf movie. I think it’s just as important as surf clips! Luckily, there was a lot of creative, amazing peeps involved with the film that have good music taste, so it turned out perfect. Music is the universal language.

The progression of women’s surfing has gone from strength to strength, with equal pay being one of the most obvious positive changes in the last decade - what aspect of those changes towards equality have you personally felt the most as a young female surfer on tour today? 

I think I'm experiencing the benefits more than any of the current generation even realise. I've heard stories of how the woman’s tour used to be and I know that we are very blessed to have a good thing going right now. Definitely wouldn’t have been where I am today without the women before me. 

Where else do you think we can grow as a sport to be better for women? 

I think there can be more women in the industry side of surfing. More coaches, managers, etc. I believe this is bound to happen, just slowly over time. I'm excited to see surfing develop in this way, because I feel like it will evolve surfing in the right direction. But that is a specific answer. I think just being able to make surfing accessible to people around the world, because the ocean is so healing. Surfing is what I love, and it brings me so much peace and joy everyday. 

I know you are really close with your brother - do you think that he has had an influence on your competitiveness?

My brother and I would compete in everything. We were so close growing up, always watching each other and comparing. We both have competitive brains with similar interests, so we just fed each other’s drive to improve. Timo is at the point now where I have to try to keep up with him, he’s getting so good, too good, with such a beautifully unique style. He’s my favorite surfer, but I want to be better than him (laughs). 

Can you give some insight into the camaraderie within women's surfing? From the outside it looks like you are all able to balance pushing each other and still being mates really well. 

All the women in this movie (surfers and production) are really interesting and intelligent. It was special to spend time with them outside of competition. On our first Indo trip, we all stayed in one room, Caroline, Sierra, Sky, Jodie, Molly and I. I knew them before, but I got to know a more relaxed, fun version of them in a way and I’m sure they felt the same about me. We pushed each other just by surfing everyday. It’s a joy watching those girls surf. We all approach the waves and water differently, so when I surf with them, I learn a lot.

You are one of the most well rounded surfers on the tour but what is actually your favourite kind of wave to surf? 

Peaky Shore break barrels.  

What keeps you grounded? 

The ocean, the people I love, the birds trees bees breeze, and the ground. Being curious about things, asking good questions, listening and observing. 

What is the next goal that you are striving towards? Be it personal, surfing, a new skill, wins, whatever.

My goal is to learn how to be kind to myself. To be able to articulate myself better in interviews but I want to get better at surfing, always.

Now Days is available worldwide from May 1, watch it on Red Bull TV and Red Bull Surf’s Youtube Channel.