“I was doing a piss at the urinal with Mike Tyson and I remember being like, ‘Holy Fuck! This is pretty crazy,” begins Oscar Langburne, recounting a surreal moment in his young life. For a laconic teenager from a middle-class family on the NSW Central Coast, rubbing shoulders with the former heavyweight boxing champion at a high-society Los Angeles eatery was a bewildering experience. Oscar had arrived with his then-boss, RVCA founder Pat Tenore, and spent weeks at Tenore’s art-filled mansion just outside LA.
Tenore, a cultural giant in his own right, had taken the young Aussie under his wing, introducing him to the glitz of Beverly Hills. That night, dining with Tyson, Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx stopped by to discuss his upcoming role as Tyson in a limited series. Both Tyson and Foxx regarded Oscar with curiosity and kindness.
The Mentors Who Shaped Oscar
Oscar Langburne’s journey is marked by influential mentors who have guided him along the way. The first was Tom Carroll, a two-time world champion and meditation guru, whom Oscar met at 13. Their bond has remained strong, with Carroll offering wisdom and humor that resonated deeply with the young surfer.
“I mean this in the best way possible: he’s a fucking unit!” Oscar recalls. “When I was a kid, I felt like I was connected to him because he is so light and bubbly.”
“Being a bit older and getting to talk to him about heavier stuff like his past was really interesting and insightful.”
At 14, Oscar encountered another hero, Craig Anderson, while surfing in Merewether. This meeting led to a friendship that saw Oscar surfing alongside Craig, learning from his transition from style master to slab specialist.
From Local Shores to Global Adventures
Growing up in Avoca Beach, Oscar knew early on that competitive surfing wasn’t his path. “The amount of competition kids at Avoca at the time gave me the ick for approaching a wave like that,” he explains. Instead, Oscar’s unique style and alternative board choices caught the attention of major surf companies.
His decision to leave school for a career in surfing was supported by his family and mentors, including Craig Anderson, who encouraged him to sign with RVCA. “Craig was amazing about it. He said, ‘You’ve gotta do this,’” Oscar recalls.
Oscar’s career took him to Central America, where he experienced the wild jungles and surfed remote beaches. “The jungle was absolutely crazy,” he says, recounting encounters with toucans, monkeys, and even drug busts at sea.
Challenges and Resilience
Despite his success, Oscar faced setbacks, including a torn meniscus and dengue fever, which kept him out of the water for months. These challenges tested his resilience and forced him to find new outlets, such as studying Sports Nutrition.
“Surfing has always been an outlet and a coping mechanism for me. When that was stripped away, it built up a fair bit of despair and depression.”
Reflecting on his recovery, Oscar describes the experience as a blessing, reigniting his passion for surfing. “The feeling was so euphoric,” he says of his return to the water.
The Future of Surfing and Personal Growth
At just 22, Oscar Langburne remains committed to evolving both as a surfer and an individual. He views surfing as a countercultural pursuit, an escape from societal norms. “Surfing was a punk thing — it used to be frowned upon,” he says, emphasizing the expressive and rebellious nature of the sport.
Oscar’s journey is a testament to the power of mentorship, resilience, and staying true to oneself. As he continues to carve unique lines in the water, he remains a beacon of authenticity in the surfing world.
“I just want to keep evolving as a person and I want my surfing to keep evolving and maturing,” he says. “I’ve just always surfed because I loved it.”
