Surfers their stories: Oscar Lalor
The 'Surfers their stories' series explores the personal surfing journeys of 12 Australians. This is the story of young musician and surfer, Oscar Lalor.
Oscar Lalor (2011) by Brett LalorAustralian National Surfing Museum
His earliest memory of the beach is a day at Willi when he was five and his mum telling him that “his dad was out the back surfing”.
Oscar started surfing when he was seven years old at Wye River with his dad on his Doug Rogers shaped minimal and he recalls that “It was scary with the unfamiliar taste of salt water rushing up your nose”.
Oscar Lalor and brothers at Apollo Bay (2007) by Brett LalorAustralian National Surfing Museum
With parents who both surf as inspiration, Oscar and his younger brothers have all taken to the waves.
Sometimes he would ride his bike along Victoria's infamous Great Ocean Road looking for waves, or jump in the car with his family if they were heading out for a surf.
Oscar Lalor and Family (2011) by Brett LalorAustralian National Surfing Museum
Oscar’s favourite surfing memory is of surfing local beach breaks in summer which he says “it’s always fun”.
As a counterpoint to this he had one of his scariest moments in the water when he was 13 years old. While out surfing with his mum she was hit by another surfer’s board that penetrated her neck under her chin, “I had to carry her in while she was still unconscious, while others were trying to wake her”.
Thankfully Oscar’s mum made a full recovery.
Oscar Lalor Photo by Scott Wintle (2011) by Scott WintleAustralian National Surfing Museum
Oscar has worked as a surfing instructor and says a big lesson is to “Always have fun and never take it too seriously, surfing has taught me patience and how to set goals and work towards them”.
Oscar rides a variety of equipment (short boards and long boards) and enjoys a close relationship with the surfer that makes his boards.
“Jordy Brown shapes all of my surfboards, his business name is High Tide Surfcraft. Jordie is an excellent craftsman and a brilliant surfer who I have learnt a lot from over the years. He is a good friend of the family, partly due to the fact that he shapes his boards in his factory and glasses them in our shed”.
Oscar Lalor playing guitar (2011) by Brett LalorAustralian National Surfing Museum
Related to Peter Lalor (of the 'Eureka Stockade' fame) 19 year old Oscar is also an accomplished musician with a repertoire that leans toward a solid blues/rock tradition.
He has performed at a number of music festivals, functions and parties and performed live at the 2012 Rip Curl Pro-Bells Beach. Oscar has independently written and recorded his own music.
