Listen to Johanne Defay’s training playlist
- Text by Josh Jones
- Photography by Johanne Defay
The Rhythm of the Ocean — The surf star from Réunion Island checks in to share some of her favourite music, and explains how tunes help to keep her motivated.
French surfer Johanne Defay is a medal winning Olympian, who lives and surfs on Réunion Island, just west of Madagascar. For the past 12 years she has been storming tournaments, travelling the world to compete on the pro circuit. We asked her how music inspires her training régime.
What kind of music do you like to listen to most when you’re training?
I think I mostly listen to pop music, then reggae, then French songs, then calming songs or old school music. I like a bit of everything!
How important is music to you for training?
Music is a help to get happy and motivated when you are not feeling it! It can really help when you have to be training every day.
Do you prefer to shut the world out with headphones when you’re preparing for a competition or blast music out loud?
I like to shut things out and use my headphones, yes :)
Which surfer on the pro circuit is the best DJ?
Hmmm… Probably Gabriel Medina, who plays great Brazilian music…
What song is perfect to soundtrack you catching the perfect wave?
That’s a very hard question to answer! It really depends on the conditions, the rhythm of the wave, as well as the type of surfing you’re creating on it. Also what feelings you have while you’re doing it – are you scared, are you just chilling or are you excited?!
Follow Johanne on Instagram.
Josh Jones is Huck’s editor. Follow him on Instagram.
Buy your copy of Huck 82 here.
Enjoyed this article? Follow Huck on Instagram and sign up to our newsletter for more from the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture.
Support stories like this by becoming a member of Club Huck.
You might like
Dan Lacey: “BMX is forever evolving”
Overground — Steph Pomphrey caught up with the two-wheel legend after his latest meet in east London, chatting about fatherhood, music and action sports within the outdoor industry.
Written by: Steph Pomphrey
The battle for the soul of lockpicking
Under locksport and key — In recent years, breaking locks for fun has grown from a niche hobby into an activity followed by millions of people. As it has matured, so have tensions over who sets the rules.
Written by: Jack Dennison-Thompson
The rise of the outdoor’s punks
Future is unwritten — As demand for the outdoors has grown, so has the codification of its rules and styles. Phil Young searches for those adventuring against the mainstream and asks if the industry is about to get its own record label moment?
Written by: Phil Young
Danny León pulls huge aerial in line with the solar eclipse
Totality — Combined with a board grab, the Spanish skateboarder performed the trick just as the moon’s path had completely covered the sun.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Chivalry isn’t dead: Inside the world of modern jousting
The Obsessives — The extreme sport, which sees competitors charge full speed on a horse towards an opponent while armed with a lance, stretches back centuries. Ginnia Cheng takes a trip to Arundel, the ‘Wimbledon of Jousting’, to find out why people travel across the world in search of crashing hits.
Written by: Ginnia Cheng
The global skateboarding crew reshaping Muslim sisterhood
Skater Uktis — Founded in London in 2020, the crew has ballooned across the world, with meetups and members in Pakistan, Palestine and beyond. Zahra Onsori tracks its rise and the powerful community it has created.
Written by: Zahra Onsori
