By Rosy Banks
Assistant Living Editor
An islander since birth, senior Teva Fourcade’s passions revolve around the ocean. Surfing, relaxing, and kiteboarding, Fourcade takes the lessons he’s learned growing up in Tahiti and shares them here in Los Angeles. Fourcade spent much of his childhood on a remote, primitive island nearby Tahiti but regards those years as some of the happiest in his life and truly takes a part of that island philosophy with him.
When he wasn’t hunting for black pearls or fishing in the Tahitian blue waters, Fourcade spent his time in a small remote village where he was the only child. He learned skills such as scuba diving from the elders and when it was time to return to the main island of Tahiti, Fourcade was thankful he had the chance to live with bare necessities, relying on the ocean for much of the family’s resources.
Fourcade enjoys the simple, happy lifestyle and wants to one day return to his roots, but he knows he first wants to become stable and build on the solid, comfortable foundation as his father provided for him.
“I have a lot of respect for my dad,”Fourcade said. “I never completely realized what he has done because he was always so quiet about it. It’s insane. Most people, when they do something great, they brag about it. Not my dad.”
Though he credits his father for having the compassionate, humble attitude, friends of Fourcade testify he does a lot more than he leads on as well.
“Teva is selfless and very caring,” Brian Dapello, a friend and Pepperdine sophomore said. “He’s a hard worker., If something has to get done, he’ll do it.”
Fourcade plans to work hard and earn the wonderful life his father earned for him as a child. Majoring in business administration, he plans to work the corporate world for a couple of years in California, save money and then return to Tahiti. There, he says, he’ll buy a piece of land or a small island.
What is your motto?
I like the quote from my friend Huimata: Dream your life and then live your dream.
Describe some differences between Tahiti and California.
I’m living in one of the biggest cities in the world coming from one of the smallest islands in the world, Tahiti. In California there are interstates, freeways, pizza delivery all resources and services are here. It’s like going from the simple life to top level. In Los Angeles there are so many cultures and you see so many people from different horizons. Basically, in Tahiti everyone is more the same.
What is one of your pet peeves?
People who don’t appreciate the ocean. They’re missing three-fourths of the fun on earth, (The Earth is three-fourths water). It is a place of birth and where we’ve all come from. It gives us food, it gives animals shelter… and it barrels.
Any pearls of wisdom?
Be yourself. Be original. Don’t try to copy something you’re not.
Where is your favorite surf spot?
At Tikehou, an island in the French Polynesia. When I went, there were only two guys in the water. They took me into their home for two weeks and we became almost like family. And the surf was insanely great.
What other unusual hobbies do you have?
Recently I’ve been getting into motorcross racing. I rode when I was younger but Blake Perdue and my roomie Brian Dapello got me back into it.
If you could take only three items on a deserted island, what would they be?
My Spyder surfboard so I won’t be bored and a spare fishing pole and gun. You can’t survive without a fishing line and spare gun.
October 23, 2003