Tara's essentials

For Tara Andreani, surfing isn’t just a sport, it’s a place of refuge. A smile lights up her face as she explains: everyone experiences surfing in a different way, but everyone shares the same addiction to the waves. In Tara’s case, the sea has helped her to find peace during harder times, relieve stress and gain confidence in herself. She feels she can exceed herself in every session, make progress, and above all, disconnect from her mind, which is usually running at full speed.

Surfing is a part of her day to day life: from checking the surf forecast and dreaming about her next trip, to diving into the water, even in the very middle of winter, something which, she says, is much easier with the right gear. Although she tries not to get too caught up in it all, she’s aware that others sometimes find it difficult to understand, especially as the passion she exudes on every wave is precisely what defines her approach to life.  

What is your favorite Orca wetsuit for surfing and why?

Probably the Tango 4:3. I use it pretty much all year round. I’ll switch to the 5:4 on really cold days, and honestly, it’s so warm. If I can get away with it, I won’t even wear booties haha. But yeah, most of the time I stick with the 4:3. It’s super stretchy, the neoprene is great, and it lasts, so far the stitches and glue haven’t budged. It’s always been hard for me to find a wetsuit that fits properly because I’m quite tall and thin, so usually they’re either too short or too loose. The Tango has been one of the few that actually works for my body.

What other Orca products do you use during your surf sessions? 

I use the poncho to get changed, and the Explorer bag when I travel, or even just for a beach day. You can actually fit way more in it than you’d expect! The thermal parka is your best friend forever in winter, you can get changed outside the car and it keeps you super warm. I always throw it on after a session. I even use it on rainy days, which comes in really handy here in Biarritz since we get a fair amount of heavy rain in winter.

Do you have any tricks or pre-surf routines?

Yeah definitely. I’d throw everything I need in the Explorer bag the night before so I can go early, and as I’m always grumpy in the morning I don’t have to think about getting anything ready. I use thermal parka in winter to get changed and stay warm and cozy after the session. I also use the accessories that come with the Explorer bag to chuck wet stuff in it. Everything had been thought of for surfers so all accessories are very handy.

What do you value most in surf gear: comfort, performance, sustainability...?

It’s hard to choose just one, because for me it’s really the combination of all those elements that makes a great wetsuit. Comfort means performance. When a wetsuit is warm and fits well, you can surf longer. And if it’s stretchy enough, you can move better and pull off cleaner maneuvres. So for me, comfort, warmth, and flexibility all go hand in hand. The goal is to be able to wear a wetsuit like if you had nothing on! So you don’t have to think about it and you can focus on surfing.

Have you noticed any difference when surfing with Orca products compared to others?

Definitely with sizing and performance. I used to have a 5:4 that I could barely move in, it took forever to put on and even longer to take off. The Orca suits fit my body shape perfectly, and they’re stretchy enough that I’m not struggling to peel them off in the car park with freezing hands haha. It makes a huge difference, especially in winter.

Any advice for beginner surfers who are looking to gear up properly?

Take the time to choose the right gear, surfing is already hard enough when you start, so make sure to choose the gear that will help you improve and motivate you when you go surfing. 

I know that if I had a wetsuit that either doesn’t fit me or doesn’t keep me warm enough it’d be way harder to motivate myself in winter. And I also recommend maybe spending a bit more money on some gear that will last longer and are sustainable than having to buy a cheap wetsuit that will last a year…

What inspires you to stay connected to the ocean and the sport?

Passion. The ocean gives me a sense of balance and wellness in my life. It’s where I feel most grounded and connected with myself and nature no matter what’s going on. There’re a lot of similarities with life, you have to learn to be patient, to wait for the right wave, and be ready to go when you feel it. You endure the worst wipe out, but you paddle back out not to give up. Conditions are constantly changing, just like in life, and you can’t control everything, you have to adapt, enjoy the ride when it’s good and positive when you get out of the water without even standing up on your board haha. It’s a constant challenge of improving, learning, discovering the world and having fun. I think it’s something we forget sometimes and that makes people frustrated. 

But having fun is what makes you the best version of yourself and will always be why you started surfing, because it’s so fun.