Where were you born and raised?

Born in NSW but raised on the West Coast. I grew up on a rural sheep station/surf camp 12 hours north of Perth. Home schooled, on the beach in a family of 7, it was epic.

Who taught you how to surf?

My Dad. But at the start I was just more interested in paddling out onto the shoulder and hanging with the girls, watching and having a laugh. Eventually I got one of the older girls to push me in, cos my arms were to scrawny to paddle! And that was that! I was hooked.

Tell us about your family and what it was like
growing up in the desert.

We are all super close, we grew up alongside another family with 8 kids so It was just like one huge family. We had a lot of fun running around the desert, wouldn’t have picked up a phone till I was about 16 or put shoes on for that matter ha ha!

When did you first travel and how does this impact your life?

Growing up I travelled around Australia a lot for contests and family trips. Then around 16/17 I went and worked on a charter boat in the Mentawai for a season, which kinda kicked off my freesurfing career I suppose. I met Ray Collins out there and we scored a session at GreenBush with just the two of us out, which got me into a dozen magazines and that’s how I picked up my first sponsor! Cheers Ray!

How is the contrast between modelling/ jet setting and the life back in the north west?

It’s such a polar opposite world, modelling sends me to the craziest locations that I probably would have never travelled to if it weren’t for a job. I get a bit down when I get stuck in a city for too long, my heart belongs in the wild west.

Imogen Caldwell from Morgan Maassen on Vimeo.

Tell us a little about your boyfriend and what he does?

Cort is an insane surfer and cray fisherman, he’s one of those annoying people that is just naturally good at everything they do. We have two Siberian Huskies, Casper and Ghost.

Where’s your favourite wave?

Home - Red Bluff and Gnaraloo Toombstones.

What’s your favourite recipe.

I don’t really have a favourite recipe, I like to make all kinds of things and love a challenge. My go to is always asian.

What does the future look like for Imogen.

Arhhh it’s pretty exciting I have so many things on the go at the moment, being stuck in WA has given me a really good opportunity to just surf and work on our youtube series Good
Times Down Under.

What do you like about O’Neill?

Not only are they one of the most iconic surf brands, they make the best gear! I’m so stoked to represent a company that has such a high level of quality, supports what I do 100% and is looking after our earth with sustainable product lines.

"I am who I am today, because of the childhood my parents gave my siblings and I. Every day was an adventure and I am lucky enough to still call it home, as my parents still manage the camp ground at The Bluff (a notorious big wave spot in Western Australia)."

-Imogen Caldwell