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Solamon “Soli” Bailey is an Indigenous Australian from neighbouring nations: the Yaegl tribe (the Traditional Custodians of the coastal areas around Yamba, Iluka and Maclean, which is part of the Bundjalung nation) and Gumbaynggirr (mid-North Coast of NSW—the same nation as pro freesurfer Otis Carey). Soli’s as laid-back as his hippie-haven hometown, Byron Bay, and the 25-year-old’s conversation flows from fun shallow subjects, like favourite breaks, to deep tumultuous ones—falling off his inaugural year on the Tour (2019) and reflecting on his COVID-forced slow-paced lifestyle. As our session ends, Soli uncovers his promising plan for his next phase of pro surfing … with an unexpected attitude that won him the 2017 Volcom Pipe Pro.
Surfing Life: Where does your love for the ocean come from?
Soli Bailey: I think the love of the ocean probably comes from my Indigenous roots. Sometimes I think, I wonder why I love fishing so much? Probably because it’s that gathering/hunting kind of genes my ancestors had around the coastal towns of Coffs Harbour and that area. And then obviously [it’s] the connection and beauty of what it really is, and how honest it keeps everyone. It’s such a raw, real thing. It levels everyone.
Someone said to me once that it doesn’t matter how many friends you’ve got, or how bad or good your family is, or how perfect your life is, something always levels you out to the same level as everyone else. Everyone’s rich at the same level in terms of their life, their family, or their happiness. Everyone’s got something to bring you back down. It doesn’t matter how rich or poor your surfboard is, it really comes down to your connection to the ocean. You could be one of the best surfers in the world and if you’re not connected that day, you aren’t getting the best waves.
You were the first Indigenous pro surfer to wear the Aboriginal flag during the Tour. Why was it so important?
The reasoning behind it was being proud of my heritage … identifying as an Indigenous athlete that has reached a very high level,
