Ride a Wave!

Ok so I know it looks much different than VB waves but just remember starting here will only make you better! Hope to see you out on June 5th. M

Week 11 - How to ride a wave

Week 10 - How to select and catch a wave

This week's video is how to select a wave and your stance! Both are vital if you are going to get good. You need to be able to tell when the swell is coming from your board and the correct way to stand up. So check this weeks video out and the next time your out, don't follow someone try it for yourself. M


Week 10

Controlling your surfboard

This week you will learn the ins and outs of using your surfboard in the water. Enjoy!

week 9

How to get out? This is what you should do!

This week you will learn warm ups, how to paddle correctly, how to enter, and lastly how to get over waves. F.Y.I - What the Aussies call Eskimo flip we gals call  Turtle. This is a cruticial element to learn to get out the back.

 Week 8 - How to get out

How to? Lease, Hold a board and put on a wetsiut

So you may think really? Yes Really! There are tricks to every trade and you don't want to reievent the wheel. Check out some common how to's that will help.

Week 7 - How to?

All About Stance

Hey Gals!!

So this week is about standing up. For all you newbies this is a great video so take a look.  Gals from last summer this is a great refresher course and will get you ready for the camp.

Enjoy!

Week Six - Standing UP

What is A Rip?

This week you will be able to identify a rip and learn what to do when you are caught in one. 

This is something you should familiarize yourself with because it can also be used as a tool for surfing.

Check Out Lesson 5!

Surfing Lesson 5 

Safety First!!!

We all get excited about being in the water and catching awesome waves but as a beginner surfer you should know the ins and outs of personal safety.

This weeks video will show you swimming and rescue skills plus what to do when you get a cut or lacaration. Cuts may not be a big problem when you are here at home but when you are on surf trip in the middle of nowhere its crucial thing to undertstand!!

So this week question is what should you do when you have a cut? Email me with your answer and if you the first to answer correctly you will receive $25 off the surf camp!  Good Luck

http://www.surfing.digestopia.com/videos/personalsafety.htm

Lesson 3 - All about Waves

This week you will learn about waves.  When you are finshed you should understand what a right and left wave is, what a face is, how waves are formed, and how to measure wave height! That way you can brag on what an awesome wave you are going to ride this summer.

Question - Is wave direction on the beach the same as wave direction when you are in the water? If you are the first to answer this in class on Saturday you will get $10 off a lesson with Peter. ( oh and it is not only a yes or no question you will have to have an explanation. :) Good Luck

Check out this Video and see you in surfing class this Saturday. Mere

http://www.surfing.digestopia.com/videos/surflesson3.htm

The next few weeks are going to be around the beginning fundamentals of surfing. I have found some videos I think may be helpful to you and will have you ready to surf this Spring! Don't forget to join us for our second class March 6th. 

This weeks video is learning about beginner boards.

Enjoy! http://www.surfing.digestopia.com/videos/surflesson2.htm

Simple Thoughts

As I sit and think about what I am going to write for this week and the next since I will be in warm sunny Barbados!! Yeah!!  I begin to wonder the shape I want this blog to take. Yes I love for it to have info to help you gals out in the physical form but I also think it could be used as a forum to think deeper and link us to why surfing and surfing gals have a great mental aspect to them also.

I have only been surfing for a few years and for the first time I find myself accepting of where I stand. I guess the competitor/ driver in me has always wanted to be the best and would take that to the extreme like starting Surfing Gals to get better at surfing for myself but I've come to realize and cherish what else Surf Gals has given me. A place to have friends who truly care about each other and love to surf! 

So to bring this all together - lol !!  I wasn't looking for the deeper part (aka mental) of surfing gals but she has shown herself .  So I hope all you will take a deeper look at what is bringing us together. Yes a group of gals who love to surf together but it may be also a place where you can find great friendships and learn more about yourself.

In this past year I have grown tremendously and part of that is from Surfing Gals. So for this week and the next I ask you to look at what surfing and our group have done for you and be thankful.....maybe it brought you friends, maybe it helped you with a fear or maybe just simplly brings you happiness.

Take that feeling with you throughout your day and spread some sunshine waves on others!  I promise you when you combine the mental with the physical aspects of surfing....something happens and the world of waves becomes richer.

Off to Barbados!!! See you soon...hopefully with a great short story~ M

Mediate before Surfing

Becoming aware of what life is offering can be blind and sometimes we are out of the moment, so we tend to forget to take in our surroundings.

Surfing like anything else has a beauty to it and will connect you with the elements and recharge your battery if you pay attention to her cues. We can feel the exhilaration as our eyes peek on Mother Ocean. We can feel her vibe as she sends us beautiful waves to ride on and we can become renew by breathing her in.
Mediation before surfing is a great tool for wellbeing and is a great opportunity for you to take five minutes for yourself. So use this simple tool to make the best out of what Mother Earth has given us.

Simple Mediation-
When you arrive at the beach leave all your stress from the day at the line where the sand meets the world.
Contemplate on your surroundings and a take three long deep breaths as you head to the water’s edge. Take a moment to look at the ocean and what she if offering. Be thankful for the fact that you are here in this moment.

Spend 5 minutes breathing in the salt air and trying to clear your mind.  Find what is easy for you.  Try sitting, standing or doing yoga. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable. Set an intention for yourself. It may be surfing better, releasing stress, or just enjoying the moment. Then release any thoughts you may be having. The idea is trying to clear your mind. So whenever you have thoughts flooding your mind, acknowledge them, and then release them.

Try doing this for 1 minute and working to a goal of five minutes. This may take awhile but don't be hard on yourself. Sometimes taking time for oneself seems impossible at first.
Let go of any negativity and let this be your time. I promise taking five minutes for yourself will not only help your surfing ability but help your whole world in general.

So get out there and make time for yourself!!

What is, Who are, Surfrider Foundation ??

Surfrider Foundation Dedicated to the protection and preservation of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.  Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 60 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico, with international affiliates in Australia, Europe, Japan and Brazil.                 Surfrider Foundation Principles; Represented by over 40,000 members and 60 local chapters in the U.S., the Surfrider Foundation also has affiliations in Australia, Japan, France, and Brazil. The Surfrider Foundation has adopted the following principles to guide and govern the activities of the organization . 1. SURFRIDER recognizes the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the planet's coasts are necessary and irreplaceable. SURFRIDER is committed to preserving natural living and non-living diversity and ecological integrity of the coastal environment. 2. SURFRIDER promotes the right of low-impact, free and open access to the world's waves and beaches for all people. SURFRIDER acts to preserve this right of access. 3. SURFRIDER is dedicated to enhancing wave-riding opportunities in ways which will not adversely impact nearshore ecosystems. 4. SURFRIDER believes environmental education is essential to the future health and well- being of the planet. SURFRIDER seeks to develop and utilize educational materials that are informative, factual, proactive, synergistic and fun. 5. SURFRIDER strives to be accurate and nonpartisan in its communications with its members and the general public. In addition, SURFRIDER will express the unique values inherent in wave-riding — individualism, camaraderie, non materialism, and an appreciation for human kind's historic relations with the Ocean. 6. SURFRIDER is a grassroots organization, effective through the participation of its members. SURFRIDER activities emphasize the value of an involved membership. 7. SURFRIDER encourages all commercial enterprises to adopt the Ceres Principles. Their determination to do so will favorably influence SURFRIDER's willingness to provide support. SURFRIDER will not permit sponsors to divert the Foundation from its mission or projects undertaken. 8. SURFRIDER does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin for any reason. SURFRIDER promotes the healthy enjoyment of the coastal environment for all people. 9. SURFRIDER and its representatives, affiliations and chapters agree to abide by these principles and all rules and regulations governing non-profit organizations.       Surfrider Foundation Membership   Anyone can sign up to become a Surfrider Foundation Member. Join the Surfrider Foundation using the easy, secure (sent using SSL encryption) form. We totally respect your privacy, too. We also offer special Surfrider Foundation membership packages with Surfline, Longboard Magazine, Surfers Path magazine, and SurferMag. All Surfrider Foundation members receive the following benefits:    - 1 year's worth (6 issues) of Surfrider's award-winning publication, Making Waves    - Discounts at a growing number of retailers and restaurants    - Surfrider Membership sticker    - Surfrider Chapter contact and volunteer information    - For signups $100 and above, you receive a special Surfrider T-shirt   For complete information log on to: www.surfrider.org/

Great Short Story

One More Wave .....

ONE MORE WAVE by Rebecca Heller My arms are tired and my lips are dry. We’ve been surfing for a couple hours. It’s getting dark and I’m getting hungry. I call over to my friend, Shelly, “One more and I’m going in.” She nods at me, the sun is slipping behind Point Dume painting the sky a bright red. Sailor’s delight. Shelly picks up a wave and rides it in. I cheer for her, good ride. I look out to the horizon. Flat. I stretch out my back and jump in the water to get the hair off my face. I sit back on my board looking out, the wind is picking up but still no waves. The salt stings my eyes; I can feel it sticking to my eyelashes and my eyebrows. I look into shore. On the beach, Shelly wraps her leash around her board. I look back out towards the horizon. Nothing. I have time to think. My mind wanders over the day. Some good, some bad. Everything seems less urgent, less important out here. The day seems removed, like I was looking at someone else’s life, everything in perspective. I think about him. He’s across this ocean. It’s earlier there. He’s probably still in the middle of his day, still busy, still at work. I think about paddling in. I know I can’t. Some silly, stubborn surfer rule that I have internalized. I’ll wait. The wind creates chop on the water. I see what I think is a wave and paddle for it hard. Just some wind swell, it dies out as it passes me. I look into shore, Shelly has her board on her car, she’s peeling off her wetsuit and changing into something warm. I shiver, it’s getting darker. I see something. I paddle over, paddle hard. I feel the wave catch my board. I jump to my feet. My leash tangles around my ankles and I go down. The wave kicks me around under water, not hard, just reminding me whose boss. I come up for air mad at myself for missing the opportunity. I paddle back out. “One more wave” has made many a surfer late to work, school, dates, appointments. We’ve amassed parking tickets and been scolded by loved ones by simply not paddling in. Things that seem important when your feet touch the sand, things that are important. But out in the water it’s all about, selfishly about, you. Man and water; man and nature. How hard, how big, how long can you go? I peer out. Still nothing. I pick at the wax on my board. A piece of seaweed floats into my hand and start playing with it. Shelly’s dressed. She’s in her car waiting on me. She won’t be angry, as a surfer she understands. I see something. A wave. A set. I calm myself. Pick the right one. I let the first wave go by and paddle into the second. The chop splashes drops of water onto my face. I paddle harder. The wave picks me up. I’m on my feet; I’m flying. I cruise along the face and the wave breaks in front of me. I crouch down to get around the white water and do. I’m on the inside. The wind is cold on my wet hair. I jump off just as my board gets tumbled in the beach break. I pick up my board and step onto shore.

Who's- Who -Great Article on Stephanie Gilmore

Here's a great article  on Stephanie - Keeping with the theme of learning who's - who

After Coco Ho was eliminated in the semifinals of the Gidget Pro at Sunset Beach, Stephanie Gilmore became the first-ever male or female ASP surfer to win three world titles in as many years on Tour.

WAS THERE EVER A POINT IN YOUR LIFE GROWING UP IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA WHEN YOU IMAGINED WINNING THREE WORLD TITLES?

No, I don't think there was. I think when I was young I always wanted to win and I was pretty confident I could win a world title straight off the bat, but after doing that everything sort of changed. I started thinking about everything else and what else I could achieve rather than winning multiple word titles. So yeah, it's definitely a surprise to me. I can't even really comprehend what actually happened [Saturday]. It's so cool!

CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF ONE DAY ECLIPSING LAYNE'S SEVEN OR SLATER'S NINE?
It's not something that I'm setting out to do; it's not what consumes me. But, of course, I'm not going to say no. The world titles keep coming and I keep competing. I love traveling the world to surf, and being on the ASP World Tour is pretty special right now because there are so many new avenues for us to head down and the tools are changing. I guess there are some people that think [having the most titles] will make you 'the best surfer ever,' and that's not really the way I look at it. But I'd love to win a few more.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR SURFING CAREER OTHER THAN WIN WORLD TITLES?
Yeah I think there's a lot more to it, especially for me. Sure I won the world title, but I came in second in almost every event this year. I wasn't winning. I wasn't the standout surfer at every event and, in my eyes, that kind of bummed me out a little bit. Next year, that's what I'll be looking at. I'll be looking to improve my technique and become more innovative. There's so much room for improvement, it's unbelievable! Also, I want to charge some big waves - I'm such a wuss! I need work on that. Going left. I need to work on that too.

OF THE THREE, WHICH DO YOU CONSIDER MOST REWARDING?
I don't know. They're all so rad in their own way! The first one was mostly a relief because a lot of my peers kind of expected me to win in the first year. In that second year, I was more of the target and everyone was trying to beat me. To defend a world title is really hard and so after I did, it was really satisfying. This time around I almost feel like I didn't really even do anything; everyone lost and I just sat there and watched. But it was satisfying and very enjoyable and I think because it is familiar territory this time around I can use [the win] to benefit the sport and not just myself.

THE NEW GIRLS ON TOUR SEEM TO BE ALL TEENS. WITH THREE TITLES, DO YOU FEEL LIKE A VETERAN?
I do! I mean, I was the oldest girl in the final of the Gidget Pro at Sunset Beach. It was solid Sunset and I was the oldest girl out there and I came in third. Everything's moving so quickly right now with this sport and these young girls are all so talented and disciplined and they know how to win heats. So, yeah. But 'veteran' is such a scary word! And 'retirement' is even scarier!

"I definitely chewed my fingernails off, but it was all worth it."

-- Stephanie Gilmore

YOU'RE 21. [LAUGHS]. DO YOU STILL CONSIDER THOSE GIRLS IN YOUR PEER GROUP, OR DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A COUPLE AGE GROUPS AHEAD?
I feel like I'm in the middle. There's a group of girls who have been on tour for 15, 20 years, and then a group that's been on for 10 years. Then there's a big gap before you get to me and Jessi Miley-Dyer and some of the girls floating around in that group and then there's this whole new guard of girls - heaps of them - coming in. I love hanging out with the younger girls and being fun and going shopping with Coco [Ho] and Laura, but I feel like I'm a little older. It's weird.

HOW MUCH DOES CONFIDENCE IN YOUR EQUIPMENT FACTOR INTO YOUR OVERALL APPROACH?
Having confidence in your equipment takes a huge weight off your shoulders before any heat; especially here in Hawaii. You want to know that when you're taking off at Sunset and you're doing like, a half hour long bottom turn before you can actually turnout the face, that your fins are going to stay in and that you can put it on rail and its going to respond well. That's been one of the things I've been working on with my shaper this year.

HAVE YOU CHANGED ANYTHING IN YOUR EQUIPMENT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS?
Definitely. I think girls go through a stage, you know, where you hit puberty and grow boobs and hips, and I guess your boards get a little bit bigger at that point. Then you start to learn about why you have a concave in your board and why you want to use a shorter board in sucky waves or why a certain board is going to fit well in the pocket. Some things were always based on instinct or intuition, but now I'm learning about what I want and why. It's really important.

DID YOU HAVE BUTTERFLIES HEADING INTO THE GIDGET PRO?
I was so nervous! I remember being pretty relaxed throughout the year, and then we get to Sunset, which is so scary, and the world title is on line. The Triple Crown is on the line. There's so much that can happen. I definitely chewed my fingernails off, but it was all worth it. It's all part of the package.

DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION FROM ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF SURFING?
Yeah. I always look at tennis and I'm such a big fan of Roger Federer. He's so incredible and I love the way he carries himself. He can be smashing somebody and not even sweating, or he'll be in a situation where he's losing and in an instant, turn it around. He's like a machine. I think that's so fascinating. And then there's Maria Sharapova who is 21 or 22 and she's the face of women's tennis. She's such a powerful woman, but still a fun young chick as well.

WHO'S SURFING WERE YOU MOST IMPRESSED BY THIS SEASON?
I'd have to say Silvana [Lima]. I mean, she's a pretty obvious pick there because something just clicked for her and now she's so confident and pushing the limits. She's going to be a threat for the next few years.

HOW AMPED ARE YOU TOO HAVE CARISSA [MOORE] ON TOUR NEXT YEAR?
Carissa is an incredible surfer. I was actually following her around a little bit at Sunset. I'll admit it. I've seen her go from a 12-year-old phenom with all the expectation that comes from that, and she hasn't cracked under all the pressure yet which is cool. That's says a lot. She's surfing really well right now and she's figuring out her boards. We went and watched New Moon together the other night. She's a cool chick.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WOMEN'S TOUR?
Of course, I'd love to see more events and beautiful waves and all the obvious stuff. But we now have a vote on the ASP board and I really think things are headed in the right direction. It's really about the ASP working with the girls to make sure we find something that suits us and utilizes all the girls on tour, their personalities, and the lifestyle that we live.

DO YOU THINK YOU PERFORM DIFFERENTLY IN AN EVENT - SAY SNAPPER OR SUNSET - THAT THE MEN ALSO COMPETE IN?
I think it's good for us to have a few events with the guys because I feel like we get more coverage that way. People who are logging online to check out the men might catch the girls too. It generates more attention for us. And then watching the guys [as a competitor] can help motivate the way we the approach a wave. It's good.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS HEADING INTO THE BILLABONG MAUI PRO AND PERHAPS ANOTHER TRIPLE CROWN?
I'm so excited. It's basically just going to be like having a holiday. Of course, I love Honolua Bay. It's one of the most magical places in the world, and to surf it with nobody out is really special. There's been a good swell around so I'm hoping we get some good waves too. Other than that, I'll probably play some golf and hang out.

Article from surfer website 12/3/09