CURL 22 by CURL magazine

CURL spring#22//all the hot bikinis for the coming summer

curl #22 spring $6.90 incl GST

girls surf & lifestyle magazine

Also featuring: Girls in Tahiti | Coco Ho Layne Beachley | Kelly Slater | Know How Bikini Guide | Music & More...

/-37/ «« &3%6(7,368 /-37/ 86-

main event 16. hawaiian princess, Coco Ho 22. the boat that rocked 32. surf in the city 36. layne beachley rides “ours” 40. two tanned girls in tahiti 50. kelly slater – for the love 56. californication 65. bikini guide 2009 90. paris whittaker

out the back

The Time Of YOur Life, KepT CLOse TO YOur hearT. The spree pendanT.

from the editor It has been a wonderful winter and although the water has been cold (some may say even freezing) the snow season has more than compensated. I was fortunate enough to attend the Salomon Lindauer Ladies Week at Turoa this season, a great way to really improve your skiing or boarding (check out page 86 for more). Some big news for keen boarders or skiers out there is that CURL is organising a ski and snowboard trip to Japan, so if you want to join the trip to some of the best powder in the world, then check out page 87 for details. While still on the topic of snow we have to farewell a wonderful member of our team (and my awesome stepdaughter) as she heads to Jasper, Canada

for the start of her OE. I know I’ll be at the airport fare welling her with a mixture of sadness and envy! Best of luck Sophie from everyone at CURL, you will be missed. Not everyone has spent the winter months hibernating or skiing. Some of the best in the world sought out the warmer climates of the Mentawai’s and Tahiti for their winter surf fix. Bec Woods shares with us her trip on “The Boat that Rocked” and we join Paige Hareb on her first ever trip to Tahiti. This issue we also feature the hottest new bikinis in our bikini guide along with our new section, “Know How” which will cover all the things you need to know from surf fitness to environmental awareness. Enjoy!

Lynne

MANAGING Editor & SENIOR PhotoGrapher Steve Dickinson //p.media@xtra.co.nz //+64 9428 2441 | Editor Lynne Dickinson //lynne@curl.co.nz //+64 9428 1193 ADVERTISING enquiries Margaux Ly//info@curl.co.nz //+64 9428 1193 | Art Director Nina Blackburn //p.media_design@xtra.co.nz | web guru Erik Baars //erik@erikbaars.com Distribution Gordon & Gotch AUS; IMD NZ | Publishers CURL Magazine is proudly published by Pacific Media Ltd., P.O. Box 562, Whangaparaoa, New Zealand. | Print DAI Printing | other publications: NZ Adventure, Ski & Snow, Prime Times | Editorial/Photographic Contributors: Emma Van Tuyl, Rebecca Woods, Nicola Atherton, Charlie Straumietis, Paige Hareb, Ellie-Jean Coffey, Kelly Slater, Paige Houden, Kym Campbell, Mikala Wilbow, Erica Taylor, Jenny Boggis, Adam Gosling, Ai Sumihira, Paris Whittaker, Swilly, Steve Dickinson, Matt Johnson, Ian McDonald, Lucy Brake. Editorial contributions and photos are welcome. Please email editor. Imagery should be provided as a 300 dpi high-res digital file, although good quality prints may be considered. All care is taken but no responsibility accepted for submitted material. All work published may be used on our website. Material or parts of within this publication may not be reproduced without permission. While the publishers have taken all reasonable precautions and made all reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of material in this publication, it is a condition of purchase of this magazine that the publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in this publication, or from the use of information contained herein and the publishers make no warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to any of the material contained herein.

nixonnow.com/spreependant

surfers hit snow!

sarah beardmore joins nikita

If you were up the snow in NZ this season you may have witnessed a bunch of girls “surfing” the mountain like a wave. The distinctive style of this group of girls gave away the fact that behind the hats, goggles and snow gear were world class surfers; Aussies, Rebecca Woods, Jess Miley-Dyer, Britains, Sarah Beardmore and Kiwi, Paige Hareb.

Nikita clothing would like to welcome Sarah Beardmore into the team. For more on Sarah see her adventures in the Mentawais on page 22. Photo credit Brenton Geach/

compliments surfing australia

dungeons delivers

congrats laura

*west giveaway

Need a new bikini this summer? West and CURL are giving away three pairs of the Californian Poppy Rio bikini. With a great crossover back, ideal for surfing, this is the perfect bikini for summer. To be in to win simply send your name, age and bikini size to lynne@curl.co.nz

compliments surfing australia

Congratulations to Laura Enever, who took out the Women’s divisions of the Fantastic Noodles Pro Junior at Waitpinga Beach, South Australia earlier this year. Laura’s win has allowed her to further extend her lead on the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series for 2009.

Maya pulled into the biggest wave ever ridden by a women at the notorious Dungeons break in Cape Town, South Africa, in August this year. Earning her and her tow partner entry into the 2010 Billabong XXL Global Big Waves Awards, an award that 22 year old Maya has already won three years in a row. With a wave like this it looks like she will be making this her fourth!

occy grom comp

Cody Kline (Kingscliff/ NSW) executes a perfect bottom turn on her way to an excellent 8.1 ride in her U16 semi-final. Congratulations to Tyler Wright who took out the girls event.

*hear it

Rebelution “Bright side of Life” Hailing from Santa Barbara, California, their new album “Bright Side of Life” is a great summer sound, blending reggae, rock and hip hop into a kick back, worry free vibe that’s catchy and engaging. www.rebelutionmusic.com

Careers in Adventure. • Ski/Snowboard Instructor Certificates • Avalanche Safety Certificates Stages 1 and 2 • Diploma in Outdoor Leadership and Management (Level 5) Year Two OR • Certificate in Outdoor Pursuits (Level 4) Exit: Year One

0800 762 786 www.otagopolytechnic.ac.nz Photo: Andy Thompson

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hinewai surfing mums nz

win with the body * shop Win one of four Coconut Body

Scrubs (RRP $34.00). This moisturizing cream-based scrub will get your skin feeling silky smooth and help restore softness and suppleness. To be into win send your name, age and address to lynne@curl.co.nz with subject line “The Body Shop”.

The winter surfing recession seems to be coming to a head and with summertime just around the corner Hinewai is very keen and excited to encourage all wahine to get out there, give it go, create surf friendships and have loads of fun. They meet at Manu Bay every Wednesday from 9am till 5pm and every day the surf is pumping. For more info check them out on facebook.

compliments surfing australia

rip curl grom search

Suppliers of quality custom made New Zealand surfboards plus imported legropes, deck grips and board bags. Wholesale and retail enquires welcome. boundee@infogen.net.nz

Victorian surfer Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island), who recently resigned with Rip Curl, will line-up alongside Australia’s hottest junior surfers in the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Snickers, which kicks off in Victoria in September.

curl magazine - yoga:Layout 1 2/08/09 1:48 PM Page 1

Photo: ASP/ROXY/Aquashot

roxy jam

Chelsea Williams in action at the Roxy Jam in Biarritz. Jen Smith went onto win the event and claim her second ASP Women’s World Longboarding title of her career. Aussie, Chelsea Williams finished in 3rd place, despite scoring the events highest scores on day one of the competition.

huge news for NZ! Come and join us for a unique yoga and surfing experience in a relaxing and supportive atmosphere specifically for women. Places are limited for 3-day weekend Surf and Yoga Retreats in Australia, so book now on

4471 7370 or visit w w w. t i d a l d r e a m i n g s . c o m . a u 02

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Piha will host the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Champs. To see the best junior in the world, make sure you head to Piha this summer. The event begins January 20th with the Parade of Nations and Sands ceremony, ending a week later on 28th January. See you all there!!!

win with * palmers

HAIR, BE GONE! Smooth away unwanted hair with Palmer’s No Blade. Unlike many other depilatories, they are less likely to irritate the skin and actually smell good! To be into win one of three packs send your name, age and address to lynne@curl.co.nz with subject line “No Blade”.

compliments surfing australia

aussie hit the slopes

Aussie Billabong team manager, Haylie Doyle and sister, Ellie took a break in NZ this winter and hit the slopes of Mt Ruapehu.

the butterfly effect

The Butterfly Effect celebrated its 12th event with the first ever Butterfly Effect Cabarete on the north shore of the Dominican Republic on July 22nd, 2009.

congratulations flik Felicity Palmateer took out the Women’s Chill Pro Junior at Trigg Point in Autumn. Epic waves saw Flik and Laura Enever battle it out in the semi finals before Flik went on to beat Angela Keighran in the finals.

compliments surfing australia

*hear it compliments surfing australia

tyler wright showdown

Tyler Wright proved she is a force to be reckoned with taking out both the Open and Junior Pro divisions of the All Girls Surf Showdown.

Photos: Annie Sims

The sounds of LEMONADE have been heard extensively across the Northern Beaches of Sydney and is fast gaining a popular following. Two LEMONADE tracks have been featured in “Surfing 50 States”, a surf film presented by Hurley & released worldwide!

2009 glass wave team challenge The winning Mount team, minus their u/14, u/16 boys & o/50 men, from top left; Phil Griffin, James Jacobs, Cale Tolley, Owen Barnes, Andy Jordan, Keiko, Quinn Matenga. Bottom left ; Demi Hewitt, Damien Galvin, Alex Dive, Laura Rishworth and Matt Hewitt.

just add * water giveaway

*aussie title to dimity

Congratulations to Dimity Stoyle, who won her first Australian Title at the Country Energy Australian Surf Festival in August.

beachbikes.co.nz is on a mission to bring you the freshest bike gear. As well as specialising in Electra beach bikes & accessories we also have a growing range for other style conscious bikers. Check in to see what’s new or email us at info@beachbikes.co.nz

Coming soon - Knog accessories arriving in October. 14

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*read it

Wave and Snow Finders by Barefoot Media These compact and easy to use booklets are little bigger than a pack of cards yet provide all you need to find the perfect surf or snow spot. We can’t imagine going anywhere without these little gems.

ashleigh mannix

Australia’s own designer swimwear collection. Innovator of “antiride” fit, choose your top and bottom size separately. One lucky entrant has the chance of winning this “Carribbean Keeni” valued at $99.95. To be in to win simply send your name, age, size to lynne@curl. co.nz with subject “JAWS”

Congratulations to Ashleigh Mannix on her successful tour of both Australia and Japan. Check out her website on www.ashleighmannix.com to find out when Ashleigh is performing at a venue near you. Ashleigh is a soulful singer songwriter you wont want to miss.

You wont have to “Hang ten” GREAT FOOD - QUICK SERVICE!

WWW.BREAKERSCAFEBAR.CO.NZ

SUP PAIG PORTIN E HA G REB www.curl.co.nz//15

Photo compliments of ASP

*[profile] coco ho

Interview by Emma Van Tuyl Images by Steve Dickinson

As close to surfing royalty as you can get and dubbed ‘The Princess’ on the World Championship Tour, father Mike Ho and Uncle Derek Ho are surfing legends so it is no surprise that Coco Ho is staking her place amongst the world’s best surfers. Watching Coco surf is something of a privilege, the power that the slight 5 foot 2 Hawaiian charger exudes would put even a large man to shame. To secure a space on the prestigious 17 woman world tour is not something that happens by chance, it is something that is earned and once gained respected. At just 18 years of age Coco is the youngest on tour and is already showing the veterans of the surfing world that this new generation of female surfers are fresh and progressive - a force to be reckoned with. Many girls your age would be intimidated competing against the so many past world champions, how do you prepare yourself? Anytime I’m in a heat with a past champion I take it in my stride. I have nothing to lose, I can only prove myself and if I want to be at their status some day I gotta start building now... You come from great surfing bloodlines explain how this effects you? If anything coming from such a strong surfing background only gives me perks. Because of my family I have a lot of fans just based of things my dad, uncle, or brother did. I have a lot of support from the older generations, a lot of useful insight from my family too. In the back of my head, when I lose or make a mistake, I think, “you blew it for your family,” but it’s not true. No matter what I do, good or bad, my family is always there and supporting me. You’re one of the most progressive surfers we’ve seen. Are there any specific new tricks that you are working on? My brother is always doing crazy tricks in our free surfs so I’m always trailing along doing airs and reverses. He’s the king of the air reverse and has been waiting for

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me to land one in front of him. So I’ve kinda just been working on my air reverses. I’d love to get the conditions to do more airs in heats! This year seems to be the year of the rookies, how do you feel about being part of the new generation of female surfers? It’s amazing! The five new rookies have been getting a lot of coverage and I’m really fortunate to have snuck on tour on that last spot. The girls I qualified with are all the same age with me being the youngest; I’m just so stoked to be pushing for my generation to be on tour. Carissa Moore and I always had talks about the tour and now I’m on it’s great to see her trying too. What has surprised you the most about the world tour? How different is it from the WQS? The World Tour is far more exclusive than the WQS. As a girl, you are part of an elite group of 17 amazing surfers. You travel to amazing destinations to put on a show and get paid. Who do you travel with? When I was younger my dad didn’t come to many events (we had to travel inter island) but once I started the QS he did. It’s been the best getting to travel with my dad and brother to the QS events. We always hangout with each other at home so on the road it’s that much more fun. Alana has been hanging out with us at most of the QS’ and World Tour Events. I get along really well with Steph, Jessi and Sally so I wouldn’t mind doing an event with them! There is a large space between WCT events, what do you do with your downtime? I’ve been doing each QS I can to strengthen my competitive skills and also stay extra busy working with my sponsors Volcom and Nike 6.0. I’m going on a few photo trips as well - Mexico, Bali, and Indo to name a few.

Photo compliments of ASP

Your generation is blessed with opportunities that female surfers before you didn’t have, is there a group of surfers or a particular surfer that you feel has helped pave the way for female surfing? Everyone’s paved the path for the girls on Tour today. I feel it’s unfair for me to list because I know there are lots of women before that of Lisa, Rochelle, Layne and Megan... Is there any particular surfer that have given you inspiration and why? Growing up with Carissa played a big role and gave me lots of inspiration to be a good person, work at everything I want, and stay humble. Steph Gilmore inspires me today to have fun with everything I do and surf strong. You’ve recently stared in a film “Dear and Yonder” with a group of top surfers, what was this like? It was so special, it was my second time to Indonesia and with the worlds best. We surfed a lot of lefts but had fun and laughed about it. We had such a good time free-surfing, trying to get the shot rather than worry about scores. What is it like to be one of the few female surfers in the Volcom family? It’s a privilege to be part of such a unique team with the likes of Bruce, Dingo, and Dusty. What is your favorite surf spot? In Hawaii I love Rocky Point. Around the world? I haven’t picked a favourite yet... I still have some ground to cover. Tell us about your worst wipe out? I don’t know if this counts as a “wipe out” but this winter after caddying for Dusty at Sunset - him breaking his board and me swimming in I went to Rockies. It was solid 4-6 and my friend Sage and I got caught inside. We ended up getting pounded, tangled, held down for two waves with a broken longboard above us. I ended up kicking off her head to get up for a breath. It was pretty embarrassing getting a two wave hold down at Rockies but oh well at least no one got hurt! Everywhere you go in Hawaii you see signs saying “keep the country country.” Why is this so important to the locals? It’s hard for

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Photo compliments of ASP

developers because they see so much empty land with so much potential and anytime an offer goes up the locals always win (fingers crossed). The North Shore has so much traffic on its two lane highway already with Haleiwa town and Foodland your only destinations. So if anything else was developed pretty safe to say it would be hell. It’s also important for locals because it’s already been so pricey and developed from early days so keeping it as ‘country’ as possible is what were all striving for. The aggressive localism in Hawaii is very different to anywhere else in the world, why is this? What was it like being a young female growing up with this? I think it’s like that because the quality of waves people are ‘battling’ for. Hawaii is also one of the only places in the world being invaded with tourists for a solid five months of the year. It’s hard for locals to enjoy their paradise with the continuous circus of surf die-hards. Being a female growing up in this I learned to deal with aggressive crowds, take what’s yours, respect, and stand your ground. It’s not easy! n Quick fire questions If I was reincarnated I would return as...Beyonce If I had a super power it would be...ability to read minds Women are...Queens Men are...Kings I’d be the happiest person in the world if...there was no such thing as drugs I’m the best at...SING STAR I love...dancing I hate...if my room is dirty I admire…Obama I respect....the respectable Shout out to…the Hawaiians

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* [surf trippin’] mentawai islands

Story by Rebecca Woods Photos by Simon Williams

Ornella Pelizzarri took off so deep on a wave on the second to last surf of our Mentawai Island boat trip. By midday she had been surfing all morning in the steady four to six foot barrelling lefts, sometimes falling, sometimes emerging from the barrel to let her fins fly free off the steep face. On this particular wave she had weaved through three sections on the foam ball and emerged into the super heat of the Indonesian sun as our boat erupted in cheers. Perhaps I have started a little toward the end of the trip. This year in early June eight girls, inspired by the fact that International Surfing Day fell in June, came together on the Mangalui-Ngulu boat to travel the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia. Our boat was a melting pot of cultures; made up of; Ornella Pelizzarri (Argentina), Sofia Mulanovich (Peru), Easkey Britton (Ireland), Sarah Beardmore (England), Kassia Meador (USA), and Serena Brooke, Nicola Atherton and myself Rebecca Woods (all Australian). Surfing to me, as well as being a sport, is a creative extension of self. Have you ever heard the expression ‘a wave is like

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a blank canvas?’ I truly believe this and love to watch and learn from all surfers in the water, no matter the level. Surfer’s expression often comes from people’s environment, culture and experience and you can see personalities being carved into a wave. Every girl on this trip offered a different canvas, it was so interesting to see it all come together in the assortment of waves and days as we travelled around the Mentawai’s. As a whole we decided to use the patriotism and individualism of every girl on board and compete for fun awards. Here are the awards and the stories behind the boat that rocked.

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Most Inspiring- Kassia Meador (USA)

Best Barrel- Sarah Beardmore (UK) So this was a tough one. It was a fierce battle between the goofy footers, who were sniffing out any barrel that moved on any left that broke. Special runner-up award goes to Ornella, however, it was Sarah Beardmore who came through with the goods. For someone who fell into surfing quite late at sixteen (because of a broken leg in another sport, which for her was seen as a mishap at the time but now can be looked upon as fate), she is doing pretty well for herself. Born in England (living there for five years) her family came to Australia (aka God’s country) to ‘give her the freedom she needed for her competitive spirit.’ She feels that the English surf scene is “in exciting times, everyone is so amped and excited about all aspects of the sport in comparison to other countries.” She speaks of how the UK has influenced

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her life and talks of her respect for English surfers. “You are a true soul surfer in the U.K, to surf there all year round shows a true love for surfing.” When she paddled into this one particular barrel, with such fierceness and commitment, the wave sucked backward off the reef and she made the drop and proceeded to weave her way through to the end section to stand there in a serious green room with all her competitive energy paying off. The ultimate reward in any surfers list is getting sprayed into the channel, for most surfers no one ever witnesses your best barrel and you only try to talk about it and the older you get, the better it was. Well luckily for Sarah she won this award, it is written about and photographed and to be honest I wish it was me but I don’t know if I can compete with this grinning pig in the barrel.

I have not done many trips with long boarders but the few I have done I learnt so much in a short period of time and this was no exception. Kassia is an all round crazy, fun and unique person and it shines through in her surfing. Kassia explained it to me in her cool cat Cali accent, “I have all this creative energy, I feel like I am going to explode and surfing is my creative outlet for that.” On this trip she rode uniquely different boards including; the Alaia, which to me looks like my tree shaven down in the back yard; a five foot nothing twin fin; a bamboo hand surfer; as well as her long board. It’s cool to say she rides them but she actually rips on them ALL. She draws unique lines and has a great unity with the ocean and her flow is one of the best I have seen, I guess because of her long boarding base. Kassia says, “growing up in Malibu and in Cali gave me a different perspective on the surfing world. There were super creative cats that just wanted to get weird, in the long boarding scene everybody is so different, and they all add their own flair.” You can tell her environment influenced her greatly when she was stalling her twinny in the barrel on the last day and doing grab rail tail slides on the Alaia. Surfing to her is more than just a sport; it is her lifestyle, her self expression and art.

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Best and Fairest- Serena Brooke (AUS) If you have ever seen the advertisements for batteries where the rabbits run around and slowly they all drop off, except for one, this one left running is the Serena Brooke rabbit! I honestly don’t know how she does it. She has been an icon for women’s surfing for over a decade; she competed in her first WCT event as a trialist in Hossegor France when she was eighteen and won the same prize money as they are winning today and she is still going strong! This can be attributed to her home environment; growing up

with five sisters will bring out the energetic, competitive rabbit in anyone. She was consistently one of the best surfers in the water, time and time again. Her forehand is so exciting to watch with full tail slides and complete turns accompanied by an aggressive approach to the wall emphasising the fierce competitor within. You can tell she is in a new and fun phase with her surfing and surfing with her is motivating, encouraging and just plain fun. Which is why, mirror, mirror on the wall, Serena was voted the best and fairest of us all!

The most Piratey Pirate- Easkey Britton (IRE)

Arrrrrrrr! Easkey Britton! Sorry, I can’t help but say that in a pirate voice because that’s also the way I impersonate the Irish accent, (all in good fun I promise, it’s one of my favourites). Easkey is multiple times Irish Women’s champ; she is an awesome surfer, always rising to the challenge and is actually named after her parents favourite surf break in Ireland. Imagine growing up in a place where you come in from the surf and your fingers are so cold they will actually not operate to unlock the car so you’re locked out until a passer by can help you. Well this may be an exaggeration on my part, but Easkey states that she “tries to avoid duck diving, which //curl spring #22

is worse because it gets you doubly as bad and opening the car door is a nightmare!” But surfing is in her blood, she was always by the sea and her family were some of the first surfers in Ireland so it was a natural progression for her to follow. She is the true hardcore water woman, arr thar is salt water in err blood! Easkey also paddled out in the Line-up with a bandana, an eye patch and a sword in her teeth. I thought she was some white local coming to kick us out of the surf but it turned out it was just pirate Easkey and gee you should have seen her surf with her sword, well we could see her but she couldn’t see much with that patch on!

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Boat bar bitch award - Nicola Atherton (Aus)

Charger Award- Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) Without a doubt Sofia lives the saying, ‘I go hard, I go home!’ You can attribute this to the intense passion and heart of the Peruvian and South American people. I must also mention she was the standout surfer of our trip and is one of the most inspiring people in the surfing world and world itself. On this particular wave she lived by the sword and she died by the sword. Well not really… but the charger award was passed to her on the last day with her intense dedication to a solid six foot Macaronis wave. It was Sofia’s priority, yes we were taking turns like good little girls, and this wave emerged from deep up the point growing as it got closer. It was honestly one of the biggest waves of the day with Teahupoo characteristics. Now I would not have even said a thing if she didn’t go the wave, I was just stoked it wasn’t my turn, but Sofia just turned and paddled. It was hers, it was mean and she was going (so Blue Crush), which is the mind set you need when approaching such a wave. As she paddled in an eerie silence fell over the line-up, everyone holding their breath

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as she went over the ledge. It was then that her nose caught a little chop in the face and she went down in front of it, she then got sucked up the face and back slammed as good as any WWF wrestler but into the coral heads. Sorry boys I don’t think a springy ground compares. As we watched on in horror we saw Sof lingering in the impact zone. “Swilly go get her she’s hurt,” screamed Ornella (South American’s always sticking together) but this was not the case, an embarrassed Sof was naked! The gigantic force of water had tore her bikinis from her leaving her stranded, only to be rescued by her Latin American amigo, Orni, who gave her some boardies. This neck breaking wipe-out was a no brainer for Sof, she got flushed down and around and was laughing about how smashed she got. She is truly an inspiring person with the most generous heart and such a strong positive energy, she even made getting smashed seem kind of fun. Fortunately I have had enough of my own that I know otherwise but good job Sof, you went hard and you went home.

Nicola is what I like to call a typical Aussie underdog and said when asked, “to be a professional surfer was my wildest dream but I never thought I could attain it.” She then won just about every accolade a surfer can win from junior phase and up; she even qualified for the WCT and won Rookie of the year and she is still only 22. But coming from Australia has had it’s difficulties and Nicola has never received the praise she deserves. This was her first time on a boat trip and the first night we were chartering she went a little green in the face and it was not because of any Midori. However, she survived the travel and was always one of the first in the line-up taking big drops. When Nicola takes off on a wave it is funny because everyone always turns their head and watches (which is rare for surfers because they can be selfish creatures and generally only care if they are catching the next wave). They do this because when Nicola sets a rail in the ocean you may as well go in because she has sent all the water into the sky and it will be raining for days. No seriously, she is the Occy/ Luke Egan of modern day women’s surfing and big things could be in Nic’s future if she wants it bad enough! Achievements aside she is also incredibly skilled behind a bar (being sponsored by Midori may have attributed to this) and anyone out there over the age of 21 can truly appreciate this. After a hard day surfing (yes I’m joking) Nicola was always there with the first drink cocktails of the evening in the beer garden. This is up the back of the boat and the perfect ambience was set to watch the pink shades of the sunset. From Midori splices to cosmo’s there was never a dull drink and never a dull moment. Nic is the first person I would pack in my bag on every trip to take away...

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Reef Inspector- Ornella Pellizzari (Argentina) I can give you one word for this underground little fire cracker and that is trouble! Everyone in the world should watch out because trouble is coming and it’s coming fast. Ornella spent her youth surfing through the Argentina summers and skated through winter because to surf was bitterly cold and she had no wetsuit. She laughs when she says the waves there are good training for the WQS because they are quite bad; two foot is a good day. When she says this I think of Serena’s comment about Kelly Slater and Lisa Anderson coming from the worst waves in the world. Ornella gives a hundred and ten per cent commitment on every wave and enjoys every minute of her surfing, coming from two foot slop I guess you would love it. This is why she became the reef inspector of the trip. She rides every wave right to the end trying to get one more massive fins-out gouge in the face or air riding every wave to it’s full potential and basically landing on coral. Often I would turn around and she would be standing on the dry reef picking her way back out to the line-up. I would scream at her to stop standing up and stop going all the way in but she’s just grin back and casually say, “but the last section was sick though!” Special mention must also go to Ornella for charging at Rags Rights. It was 6 foot on the coral heads, cross shore and what I call death! Orne paddled into the thickest wave, grabbed her rail, pulled in and comes out screaming, stoked to have not died, and then pops an air, lands back on the wave and disappears into the dry coral. How many times do we have to say STOP LANDING ON THE DRY CORAL!

Innovative Manoeuvre- Rebecca woods (aus) When Becs’ not busy being a pest (by turning the bunkroom into a strobe light disco by feverishly flicking the light switch on and off when you’re trying to sleep) she’s thinking, observing and analysing. I’d often like to give her a penny for her thoughts! This energy translates so effortlessly into her surfing. She’s always working on a certain manoeuvre or technique, which is why she has progressed into one of the surfing tours most fluid and dynamic surfers. Now I’m not saying her backside pig dog to sitting bus driver is an intentional addition to her repertoire, her off the cuff reaction resulted in one of the most innovative and hilarious manoeuvres

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written by “celebrity editor” Nicola Atherton

I’ve ever seen. When everyone else was surfed out and the cameras put away, she was out there by herself, trying airs, reverses and laybacks, demolishing any section that presented itself with radical gusto. But this is typical of the athletic Australian, she always tries to push her self! Whether it’s taking off steep and deep with Sofia, or throwing fins with Ornella on dry reef, she’s always using the people around her as a catalyst in a jovial rivalry! Always a standout in any condition; it won’t be long till we see this talented innovative little pest holding a trophy high above her head on the world tour podium, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving! www.curl.co.nz//31

* [surf trippin’] kuala lumpur

surf and t h e

city

From palm trees, perfect reef breaks and salty sea air to massive cityscapes, high-rise and big city lights. The contrast of environment could not have been any more extreme. Rebecca Woods tells of the jump from the natural based surfer’s paradise of Indonesia to the commercially created paradise in Kuala Lumpur. This day of man-made fun landed perfectly on June 20, Surfrider Foundation’s International Surfing Day where all surfer’s are urged to celebrate and unite through their passion for surfing and all the amazing experiences accompanying it. So celebrate we did! From the Mangalui Mentawai boat trip with eight girls, we were left with Nicola Atherton, Ornella Pellizzari, Easkey Britton, Sarah Beardmore and myself to play in Kuala Lumpur. To surf in a totally man-made environment has always been on my list of things to do, basically because it seemed like such an intriguing concept. How can the power of nature be emulated? And how do you design a wave, the way it breaks and the refraction angles?? Maths is not my strong point, so it was always going to be a mind- blowing experience and the Sunway Lagoon Sandy Surf Beach did not let me down!

The first night we arrived the city was bustling and our group stood staring in awe at the futuristic architecture and Egyptian themed entrance to our accommodation. From giant lion heads and sculptures of animals in attack mode to UFO platforms and ice-rinks, Malaysia seemed to be a concrete jungle of fun waiting to be explored! We were put up in four-star accommodation, which differed greatly to sharing one rocking boat cabin with eight noisy excitable girls! It was straight up and at it in the morning in Kuala Lumpur; the city was still asleep as we wandered down to the pool entrance. With Kuala Lumpur lying right near the equator, the combination of sunshine and humidity at seven in the morning made it the perfect time to hit the water; the water park as a whole offers much relief from the humidity all year round. As we rocked up Images by Swilly

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with boards in hand the beach (pool) was well, flat as a tack. “At least it’s offshore,” Nicola joked and when you think about it Sunway Lagoon is the only wave in the world that stays offshore all day, everyday! We all ran to get out the back because first in the ‘line-up’ caught first wave. Only problem was, we didn’t know where to sit or whether the wave was a left or a right (it happens to be an A frame wave so take your pick). The operator flicked the switch and we all sat facing a brick wall, a volcano and highrise buildings, waiting in anticipation for a bomb… You can hear the pumps churning a solid amount of water through the system and this only heightened the sense of excitement between us. Exactly five minutes later and WHUMP, the water shudders as a lump of water surges toward us. Ornella and Sarah were the first up after a historical drowning fight for first priority and we were all squawking like a pack of chickens. The wave peaks in the centre of the pool and the girls took off. We all went through our turns in much the same fashion, all paddling back out with grins from ear to ear and laughing about this strange experience. A few tips about the wave pool. Paddle at one hundred and ten per cent because the waves are hard to catch; you are also nowhere near as buoyant in chlorine so maybe ride a thicker board. Remember there is only one wave every five minutes, you can split the peak (colliding can be a problem, ask Ornella and Nicola) but if you blow your turn be prepared for the evil cackling from your friends as they scream “loss of priority” and

make you wait your turn all over again. Go with friends because the experience is so awesome you will want to talk about it for hours afterwards. This group of girls I went with had such a fun, competitive vibe willing each other to go faster, higher and more vertical on every wave. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better way to celebrate International Surfing Day and experiencing the waves at Sunway Lagoon is an experience every surfer should have. As we left the pool after all sharing the last wave we were all looking up and walking in circles staring in awe at the windows and windows of, yep you guessed it… shops! What more could a girl want, waves in the morning and the best shopping in the world all afternoon, they even had Top Shop! We also cruised some of the busy streets with our surfboards, Swilly our photographer in tow to capture some scenes where spot the surfer was quite easy. Surfers really do look like fish out of water when it comes to big crowds and man-made environments. This truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity; for me, one I will never forget. Any country out there lacking waves could have one of these pools, then International Surfing Day can truly touch every nation and then, who knows? Surfing could even become an Olympic sport! n

Ornella and Sarah were the first up after a historical drowning fight for first priority and we were all squawking like a pack of chickens.

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*[profile] layne beachley

Words and images by Charlie Straumietis If you look at this photo which shows a set wave rolling in as a container boat heads out to sea - and ask yourself “would I have the nads to backdoor that tube?” the reply would be a firm ‘no’ from 99% of male surfers. It’s that kind of place with a reputation to match. Wednesday May 13, was no ordinary day. A solid 6-8ft SSE swell on Sydney’s coastline was fanned by a light westerly offshore and

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Ours (‘The Cape’) was breaking at it’s biggest and best so far this year. I was at Wanda/Cronulla early that morning taking photos of the outer reefs which were firing when I received a call on the mobile saying that a radio station had broadcast that Layne Beachley was going to attempt to be the first female to surf a notorious break at Kurnell. I knew that spot could only be ‘Ours’ so I jumped back into my car and headed down to ‘The Cape’. When I arrived, Layne was sitting

in the line up with the local crew patiently waiting to pick off a wave - by paddling in. No-one, probably not even Layne, knew what to expect or what was about to follow. Apparently the previous night she had picked up an award with Sarah Murdoch at a show hosted by In Style magazine. According to one report in the media Layne said, “I literally swapped my Alex Perry gown for a wetsuit at dawn. I was on stage with the Bra queen

Sarah Murdoch late on Tuesday night, and then I was out charging “Ours” with the Bra Boys at dawn.” Quite a few sets went past and Layne seemed a little apprehensive. She took a while before catching her first wave which she soon followed by three more - the ice had been broken. Nothing spectacular, there was the odd compliment from some spectators on land as she rode each one out. Having seen her paddle in and catch the waves one of the Bra Boys invited Layne to a few tow-ins. Layne’s efforts had caught their eye and it was time for the next ‘step up’. Layne’s first tow-in was a reasonable size and there were some hoots from the water and land as she took the drop and rode the wave with what seemed a keen but conservative approach - no gnarly barrel but a massive, end of wave spit overtook her before she finally kicked out. Within a minute Layne was towed into a second but smaller wave. The speed at which she was travelling on the wave may have caught her by surprise and while trimming she hit some side chop and struggled to keep her balance. Her outside rail was fully buried in the face of the wave. To her credit Layne fought to regain her balance and narrowly avoided an ugly wipeout in the critical impact zone. She survived that one and returned out the back to regather her

composition. Had she fallen on that wave it could have been a totally different outcome. It was another 20 minutes before Layne’s third tow-in but it was worth the wait. She was slung into a monster from which there was no backing out. It was one of the biggest waves of the morning so far. Everyone both on shore and in the water knew ‘this was the one’. But ride it she did and she used every bit of experience from the two previous waves to slot herself into a monster tube which drained below sea level, alongside the shallow rock ledge which claims so many victims. Amazingly, Layne emerged from the tube triumphantly throwing her arms into the air as she kicked out beside the photographers in the zodiac. Everyone who witnessed that ride broke out into cheering, clapping and hooting - the spectators on land, and the surfers and photographers both in and out of the water. They had seen something special - Layne Beachley ride what was later claimed to be the best

wave ever ridden by a female in Australia. Everything after that wave was going to be an anticlimax for Layne. The sheer intensity of what she had just achieved was starting to sink in. Her heart would have been pounding with adrenalin long after that wave as she sat on her board, in the water beside the zodiac, chatting to the photographers. Nothing was going to top what she had just achieved and after soaking it all in for a while, Layne called it a day. Layne Beachley had taken women’s surfing up a notch - a big one at that. Meanwhile for the locals it was business as usual. There were plenty more gnarly drops to be had and tubes to backdoor. The Cape was going off and so was the surfing. It was indeed a day to remember as Ours continued pumping until dusk. n Charlie Straumietis is an expat, west coast, kneeboarder from the Willy Weaver, Piha crew of the late 60s and 70s. Heading to Sydney for a working holiday in ‘78 he realised it was better to be somewhere where the sou’westers were always offshore rather than onshore. He now enjoys sports photography as a pastime.

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Located off Cape Solander at the entrance to Botany Bay, Ours is a powerful wave that breaks over a shallow rock slab metres in front of dry rock. We caught up with Layne a few days after one of the “heaviest and satisfying” barrels of her life…. “Ours” became famous through the movie “Bra Boys” however, I hear that until recently you had never heard of it…Yeah, after travelling the world tour for 20 years, the last thing I want to do when I’m home is chase waves around so I tend to become quite lazy and just surf my local beach breaks. Can you describe the break for us? It’s basically in Botany Bay, just around the corner from where Captain Cook landed. It’s called Cape Solander and I can only imagine now that there must be several waves replicating this one all along the southern NSW coast line. The waves come in from very deep water, hit a flat rock shelf, double up and grow along the line, crashing into a jagged rock face. It’s an instant barrel that forces you to take off under the lip so timing is incredibly important, as well as commitment. The “Bra Boys” own the place, hence the name “Ours” which instantly gives it a heavy reputation and now after surfing it I can see that it’s warranted.

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What’s heavier, the Bra Boys or the wave? To be honest, the waves are heavier than the boys! The Boys were very welcoming and encouraging after Tim Bonython had asked them if it was OK if I came to surf it. There was no heckling or derogatory remarks and they continued to offer to tow me into a few after I had spent a couple of hours paddling in. It took me a while to work up the nerve to tow in as I haven’t been behind a tow rope in about eight years. I hear you had been out partying the night before Layne, how did that affect your surfing? I’d been at an awards dinner the night before where I had won an award at the Women InStyle awards for my charity and community work. Due to the late night and early start, I was quite tired and therefore relaxed. My exhaustion prevented adrenaline from taking over which ultimately allowed me to have such a successful session out there. I was patient, calm and present. I seriously felt like a super hero after that day. The night before

I was all glammed up in an Alex Perry gown and diamonds receiving an award with Sarah Murdoch and the next morning I’m pulling on a steamer and towing into some of the heaviest waves of my life! I was that relaxed I didn’t even know that I was on the foam ball! At first I was just happy to sit in the zodiac and watch the boys have all the fun but considering the amount of effort I went to just to be there I realised I had to give it a go, just for the hell of it. Obviously, I’m very happy I did. You have been at the forefront of women’s surfing. How does it feel to still be breaking grounds at this late stage in your career? I’m very proud of the fact that it has created so much attention, especially for me and women’s surfing. I certainly didn’t expect it! I went there with no expectations and came away with the thrill of a lifetime. It didn’t occur to me that I was creating history until I saw the photos that night. Sometimes I take myself back to the moment it all unfolded and my heart still jumps back into my throat.

This is not the biggest wave for you, having ridden a 25+ foot wave in Hawaii in 2001, but how did it compare for heaviest wave? It was definitely one of the heaviest and most satisfying barrels of my life. I have also ridden some bigger barrels at Honolua Bay in Maui. Having retired from the World Tour of surfing will you turn your attention back to big wave riding? I have always been a big wave rider but this experience has reinvigorated the passion for it. I’m such an adrenaline junkie and now that I know that there are waves like “Ours” right by home I’ll begin to make a concerted effort to dedicate a bit more time to chasing them down and fulfilling my need for speed.n

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*[TraveL] Tahiti

Up close and personal with the Tahitian wild life. Stingrays on Moorea

Tahiti is not often seen as a land of contrast, it is kind of the same temperature all year round, the people are mellow, happy and somewhat even in nature, but there’s an indispensable contrast to Tahiti.

Images by Steve Dickinson Words by Paige Hareb and Ellie-Jean Coffey

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When you think of surf in Tahiti you think of Teahupoo, the giant man eating wave that destroys all in its path, the wave that needs to be conquered. Just go on to youtube.com and type in Teahupoo wipe-out and be prepared to be scared. But there is another side to Tahiti surf and possibly no-one better qualified to highlight this than 19 year old Kiwi, Paige Hareb, presently ranked 3rd in the world and 14 year old, Elle-Jean Coffey, newly sponsored by Billabong. Elle-Jean had not been overseas before so the experience was new and fascinating and she took to the unfamiliar reef breaks like a duck to water. Although a seasoned traveller, Paige had not visited Tahiti before. The girls’ trip to Tahiti coincided with the Billabong Pro held at Teahupoo. One of the beauties of Tahiti as a surf destination was that no matter what was happening at Teahupoo the girls managed to find uncrowded waves elsewhere. With the backdrop of the formidable jungle covered mountains the girls rode crystal blues waves; each wave so clear, so perfect and so shallow and discovered the beauty and wonder of Tahiti both in and under the water….

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Paige hareb Heading anywhere for the first time is exciting but heading to a new place that you have heard so much about and dreamt about numerous times in your life makes you slightly anxious and excited all at once. I must admit, heading to Tahiti I didn’t really know what to think or expect and how to prepare for it. By now I reckon I could call myself a seasoned traveller but this time I felt like a true grommet (new kid on the block) all over again. The only photo or video footage I have seen of a wave out of Tahiti is the infamous Teahupoo. Yes, that big gnarly one that can zoom in unexpectedly from the West, suck up so much on the sharp, shallow coral reef that it sucks below sea level and then breaks from heights of 8-12ft plus. Well, that’s how all the media sells it anyway, so that’s what my little brain was thinking and getting anxious about before I got there. After being on the road for over a month and catching something along the way very similar to the swine flu, I was ready for a paradise break with no competitions, no hassles and no worries other than the odd bit of banter from Curl photographer and father figure who I call Uncle Steve. Arriving anywhere at night is always misleading, I thought that I had arrived in the middle of nowhere to some scungy place only to wake up to the most epic, joyful, beautiful (let’s just say all of the above) surroundings I could ever imagine. It seems so simple and clear in my mind yet it’s kind of hard to explain to people. So here I go; I’ll try. On a day like this, the ocean is so pristine and glassy and like a lake. The waves are anywhere from 200-500 metres out past and over the reef so it’s like a big lagoon near land. I recommend taking a pair of goggles and fins because the sea-life and even just the coral is amazing on its own. To be honest you don’t need goggles cause the water is that clear. On the whole island of Papeete (pronounced pa-pee-eat-ee) there’s not much flat land, just enough for a two way road around the coastline pretty much and then it goes vertical into the most extreme, dense, lushest hills ever; actually I would call them mountains. They really are a sight to see, like something out of the movie Jurassic Park. To really simplify it overall, there are mountains and then there is the sea. Some people don’t even have a car because they can only access their house by boat. Like I said earlier, I had only ever thought of the famous surf spot Teahupoo when I heard the word Tahiti but now when I hear it, I also think of the words

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playful and fun. Everyday there was some sort of surf. When Teahupoo was small, we blasted down the coast for about twenty minutes to a spot called Big Pass. It soon became our favourite spot as Ellie-Jean and I are both goofy footers so we were both on our forehand for this long peeling left-hander. Yes it was still breaking over sharp coral reef and yes that was where I gave the reef most of my skin. Don’t get me wrong, I was just getting cocky, the wave really is a moderate level and many surfers would easily be able to surf it. However, I like to push my surfing so Teahupoo and this new spot we found were the places to help me out with that. It’s the biggest, deepest, most hollow, best barrels I have had my whole life. I’ve been a fair few places and surfed a hell-of-a-lot so that’s saying something about this place. We all know Tahiti is the place to be for surf. Would I like it if

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I didn’t surf? Yes of course! We were lucky enough to have a full day of being true tourists. We were staying on the main island but caught a ferry to the island of Moorea. Ellie-Jean and I were lucky enough to meet and swim with a dolphin. It was one of the most surreal things I have done. The dolphin actually towed us under water. Definitely something I recommend to do. We also got to swim with stingrays and little sharks. I wouldn’t say it was a relaxing or fun swim but it sure was a very cool experience. It was a bummer for me though because I was the oldest out of Ellie and me, so I had to try to be the tough old one and not act scared for the grommet who was now clinging to me with her feet up trying to keep away from the stingrays. I must admit though, I wasn’t scared of the stingrays until I found out that my blonde theory of them being de-barbed wasn’t true! I honestly fell in love with Teahupoo and Tahiti; because of the epic waves, the scenery and landscape, the people, the food and the whole lifestyle there. I have travelled for a solid couple of years now and have been to at least over twenty different countries and this place is truly the best spot I have been to overall. I recommend it for any surfer or non-surfer. Teahupoo, Tahiti…. Ita pea pea (No worries!)

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Ellie-Jean Coffey

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Tahiti was my first trip overseas and I didn’t know what to expect, but I can now tell you it was amazing. The people are the most kind-hearted happy people you could ever meet, always laughing. They have a laid back casual lifestyle; they are not in a rush, they take everything in and when you’re there you do too. The first morning we woke up and boated out to Teahupoo, the renowned big wave break. I was a bit intimidated as we watched a few sets go through, then Paige and I paddled out. Paige didn’t waste any time, she paddled straight into a cover up barrel and came out. She is an amazing surfer and a great inspiration to me. That wasn’t so bad I thought. A smaller 3-4 foot set was coming towards me, I had butterflies in my stomach as I stroked into the wave. I jumped up and raced along the wave, the adrenalin pumping through my body. I could see the shallow crystal clear reef below me; I did a couple of conservative reo’s and pulled off, YES! I had caught my first waves at Teahupoo and YES! I wanted more. Over the next week we discovered there were heaps of fun reef breaks in Tahiti that were easy and ‘rippable’, my mum even managed to score a few… We were also fortunate enough to watch the billabong Teahupoo ‘CT pro from the Billabong boat, where everyone had to check in before their heats, so not only did we get a great view, we got to meet and have our photos taken with some of the best surfers in the world. One of the biggest highlights of my trip was getting the ferry over to Moorea Island where the water is so blue and clear you have to see it to believe it. Paige and I were lucky enough to go swimming underwater with the dolphins, they are such beautiful mammals. The dolphins look like they are always smiling at you - just like the Tahitians. Then we took a small boat to a nearby island to swim with the stingrays and black tipped sharks. I was so freaked out; this was scarier than some of the bigger days out at Teahupoo. I think there are only 2 places in the world where you can swim with stingrays in their natural environment and this was one of them. Overall my trip to Tahiti was unbelievably amazing; it will be hard to top and I am only 14. I have a lifetime of travel ahead of me but I will definitely be back to visit “Mooruuru Maoni family” (the loving family we stayed with) and to surf Teahupoo and the fun reef breaks in this beautiful paradise island called Tahiti. n Thanks to: Tahiti Tourisme, www.tahiti-tourisme.co.nz; Air Tahiti Nui, www.airtahitinui.com; Le Meridien, www.starwoodhotels.com; Moorea Dolphin Centre, www.mooreadolphin.com. Special thanks to Toriki Manyard; Pascal Bredin www.tahitiyacht.com; and Maire Teihotaata.

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Photo: Sean Davey

Claiming his 6th World Title at Pipeline Masters, 1998

Photo: Bruce Gilbert

Young guns 2 trip to Sumatra

Photo: Nathan Smith

*[profile] kelly slater

Watching the surf in France

Everyone in your book says that you are always late but Jack Johnson explains it’s out of respect for the person you are with rather than disrespect for the person who is waiting. What’s your take on it? I’m bad with time. I don’t mean to offend anyone. I read in your book that you’re not much of a drinker and don’t smoke and that’s one of the things that held you apart from the Aussies on tour. Is this one of the things that has helped you be so successful? How has it worked for and against you? That’s not necessarily the best way to say something or to suggest that everyone from OZ does that or that keeps a barrier there for that reason. I just don’t party much. I don’t know if a lot of the guys I compete with understand my life or how things work for me. That’s ok. It’s not a problem but I’m not close with many guys now probably mainly cause I didn’t grow up with them. Most of the guys I started with are finished with their pro careers.

Every sport has its icons, those that have somehow embodied the sport, either being involved from its conception or a larger than life character that has become the mouthpiece. But Kelly Slater has neither of those attributes; however he is without doubt the icon of surfing. By Lynne Dickinson

Sure he has won nine world titles and he has been the poster boy for Quiksilver for over a decade but more than that he has become what surfers ‘used to be’ - a renegade, a mold breaker; not by his outrageous behaviour but by his conservatism, to the point of almost being an enigma. As many of the surfing elite get caught up in the party and the hype, Kelly Slater has stood apart and let his surfing tell his story. His unique, somewhat quiet persona is the exact antithesis of his flamboyant surfing prowess. He is not slow to openly put surfing in a life perspective yet when anyone thinks of the persona of surfing, an embodiment of the sport, no one stands above Kelly Slater. The title for Kelly Slater’s latest book is a well chosen hook. We all know that Kelly Slater is without a doubt the most influential and successful surfer in the world, and he is loved and adored by surfers and non surfers around the world. But there have been times when Kelly has received his fair share of bad press; turning

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up late for events, his often off handed approach to mass press conferences coupled with his aloofness towards team mates at events. It sometimes makes you wonder why Kelly is still in this game, it certainly didn’t seem as if it was for the love. So it came as quite a pleasant surprise to read his latest book, “Kelly Slater, For the Love” and find out that Kelly is still intensely passionate about the sport that he has dominated for over two decades. Kelly’s latest book provides a real insight to certain snippets of Kelly’s life. This is by no means an autobiography, so don’t expect to read it and find out what makes Kelly tick. Instead, “For the Love” is a scrap book of people and places that Kelly has met along the way and how they have helped influence the man he has become today. Reading Kelly’s book you realise you are reading the words of someone who has experienced a great deal in life – he has definitely matured. Kelly is one of those people who although being admired for his surfing ability is often criticised for

his seemingly prima donna behaviour. However, reading Kelly’s book you realise that despite being a huge role model and a “hero” to so many, he is underneath, a normal person, dealing with all the same issues as the rest of us but in his case under the intense media spotlight. We were fortunate enough to grab a moment with Kelly, here’s what the man had to say…. The first thing in your book I could relate to was the sense of trepidation Phil Jarratt felt at interviewing you for the book. I feel somewhat the same simply by typing you questions for you to answer via email! Is this all media hype or do you really exist in “Kelly World” where only a select few are allowed in? Can you explain? I like to have my own space and I guess I just move to my own beat that no one that uses a clock understands at times. I am also sensitive to how people approach me and can be a little unsure of intentions sometimes so I just keep my space.

How did you feel about the picture that appeared in the Aussie mag with you “supposedly” smoking? What’s your general take on smoking and other vices? I thought it was funny. I don’t smoke. My dad died from throat cancer. Why do you need to put anything in your body or change your reality when there is more than enough to trip out on in a normal frame of mind? Most people smoke cause they can’t deal with that reality, I believe. Women’s surfing has come a long way and in your book you mentioned the impact of Lisa Anderson and Layne Beachley. Now there is a new generation of surfers who are benefiting from the groundbreaking work of the likes of Layne and Lisa. Do you think the young surfers of today (especially the girls) have it much easier than when you (and particularly Lisa) started out? There’s a whole industry and world out there now of young surfing girls. It’s much easier to fit in now for them. When I was young it wasn’t nearly as prevalent.

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In competition mode: Image Steve Dickinson

Reading Kelly’s book you realise that despite being a huge role model and a “hero” to so many, he is underneath, a normal person, dealing with all the same issues as the rest of us but in his case under the intense media spotlight.

What is it about female surfers that you think prevents them charging as hard as the men? Is it the fear factor or does it simply come down to the physiological differences? Mental comfortability cause of the physical ability you need to be comfortable with. It’s just a little easier for guys to handle and be used to being thrown around. You are without a doubt the most influential surfer in the world today with alot of people naming you as their inspiration or role model. I read in your book that your first surfing hero was Buttons and then Martin Potter, who do you think the young groms will see as

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their surfing idols in the next few years? Probably Dane Reynolds and Julian Wilson. Your book is called “for the love,” do you think you have finally found it? For the most part but there’s always more to learn. You are without a doubt the most photographed surfer in the world. What in your opinion makes a great surf photograph? Color, contrast, wave, style, story. We took Donovan Frankenreiter surfing when he was in New Zealand recently and were surprised at the stoke he got out of surfing 2 foot slop at one of

our local beaches. Do you still get enjoyment from just being out in the water surfing? Absolutely. I love it. Usually the crowds are better also. Two of the best waves have been taken off the women’s tour (Teahupoo and Cloudbreak). Do you think world class waves like this need to be a part of the female surfer’s repertoire or can the women’s tour survive without having to hold their own in big waves? Unfortunately, I don’t think Teahupoo showed the best side of the women but they seemed to do pretty well in Fiji. I think they’re fine without them though. We lost Fiji also and we’re fine without it.

We heard a “rumour” a few years back that at the peer poll awards you were asked to give out the award to the best female surfer and when Steph won the “popularity” contest you refused to hand it out. The “word” was that you thought it should have gone to Layne who had just won her 7th world title. What’s the truth behind that gem? I’ve never heard that and it’s completely false. NZ is considered one of the friendliest places in the world. Any plans to come visit? For sure when I have time. I’d like to spend quite a bit of time there. I read you spend a bit of time bodysurfing, do you

also longboard or body board or are you a hard core shortboarder? On occasion I will longboard. If you could go back in time and tell your thirteen year old self something what would it be? Don’t be so serious about much of anything. What are some of the traits you admire in people and why? Honesty and purpose. Principles. What are the traits that turn you off people? Ego and selfishness, although I have both at times. What to expect in the future from you? 10th world title? Board shaping? Just doing things I love to do. Okay, some quick fires for you...Men are? Dumb.

Women are? In Charge of men. If you could have super powers what would they be? Invisibility, night vision and Flying. What makes you happy? Smiling. What makes you sad? Misunderstanding. What makes you angry? Traffic. What do you fear? Incompleteness. What do you see as your biggest strength? Different points of view. What do you see as your biggest weakness? My abs. If you weren’t a pro surfer what do you think you would have done/become? Alternative thinker. n

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PHOTO: WONG

!VAILABLE AT ALL LEADING SHOPS s WWW EXITSURF COM

*[road trippin’] california

Images compliments of Billabong and Paige Houden

The Red Hot Chili Pepper’s song ‘Californication’, sums up the crazy, outrageous, attention seeking and slightly over-thetop drama of the Golden State as seen through the eyes of first time visitor Paige Houden. Being my first time in La-la land and not having too much insight into this American state, I thought this song would be right on target about California. However, I’m sure it would have helped if I found out that the Chili Peppers might have perhaps been hanging with Alice in Wonderland before penning their view of California in song. So to make sure you don’t do a “Paige Houden” and hit California like Alice herself, I put together a little guide on the place, people, sights, waves, tastes and sounds of California so you can rock this state like a true wanna be rock star local.

Most beaches in California have a system of black balling; trust America to go bigger and better with everything! Just like we have the red and yellow flags for swimming, which allocates the safe areas to swim and keep out of the surfer’s way, black balling is basically closing the whole beach to surfers so the swimmers have free range. The black ball flag is a yellow flag with a black ball in the middle like the Japanese flag. You can find this hanging on lifeguard towers between the hours of black balling which is usually every day from 12 till 5 (it may start earlier on weekends). Be aware the fines are not pretty and I hear using your adorable Aussie accent to play dumb doesn’t work. Huntington Beach Ah… the picture perfect view of a classic all American beach. This beach stretches out for eight miles, with every square inch usually covered in people during the summer weekend breaks. The wave itself is a fun linking clean wave that is best surfed when it’s 3ft. Smaller than that, it’s still fun but doesn’t link as well through the flat section. Waves bigger than 8ft can become slightly closed out and very dangerous near the pier as the current will pull you right over. The pier can be dangerous with bigger waves, but it’s more than friendly, as a rip runs straight through the middle to work as an accelerator out the back. The best peaks to surf are on either side of the Pier. A right running into the Pier on the South is a little deceiving. It runs into itself so you sit close to the Pier, but when you’re out there you think the further away you are, the longer the ride and you’re on the right peak- so keep that in mind. On the north side there is a left that can carry you through the Pier poles if you are brave and is punchy and a right that runs and links well. Being a beach break the banks will change depending on sand movement, however the two peaks next to the Pier are always about. When you are all surfed out, get on the pier and walk to the very end where you will discover Ruby’s Diner -- the very reason I got out of bed in the morning

//curl spring #22

on rainy days. Ruby’s has amazing Milkshakes and is set in the era of the television series ‘Happy Days’ so it’s just a fun place to eat. Newport Beach Newport is a really nice area. If you are staying longer than two weeks or just want to rent out a holiday house for a while, this is the place. It’s a cool little neighbourhood with a guaranteed smile from the locals. The streets are named by number e.g. 34th street and 65th Street etc, so it’s very hard to get lost. Newport Beach is longer than Huntington however, just like the streets, the beach is also sectioned up between mini rock walls. All of these sections are named after the street they run off. The best places to surf at Newport are 54th and 65th Street. If you venture down past 1st and down to where the beach is cut off to the harbor you will find ‘the Wedge’. This spot is for the very experienced surfer and body boarders only! The wave will surge and break right on the shore where the ocean floor shallows. This wave is amazing to watch when the pros are out - like I said, pro-surfers only, not for beginners or the mediocre. If you feel like you would like to give it a go, start small and build your way up. San Clemente - Trestles Trestles or Lowers is a loved wave by thousands and when you rock up to surf it you see why. The peeling clean waves that split the peak left and right is a favourite. With a large pebble rock bottom and desertlike surrounding this place is really nice to come and surf and spend the day. Getting down there are a few rules you may want to remember: 1) Parking near the Rip Curl shop which is off the highway to your left opposite Trestles, don’t use the shop parking, your car with be towed away or down the other end of Trestles beach! 2) It’s about a 30min walk down so avoid going bare-foot and bring a backpack of essentials, water, food, sun cream etc., ‘cause its a long hot walk back and 3) Watch for trains when crossing the train-track. It’s not so cool to get hit. There are porta-loos down there that are surprisingly clean and the beach had a few random peaks to it rather than the main one that everyone is on. Surfing this place is really so much fun even the small ones run and have some kick. I found out that I do not like seaweed after surfing here though, as the seaweed at Trestles has a mind of its own! Its long, creepy and tangles . If you run into it, which is kinda silly but I did, the weed will tangle around you and your leggy like Rapunzel’s hair in a food fight! But of course this incident didn’t make me not love the place. Trestles is a must go see if you are keen bean for surfing. www.curl.co.nz//57

“The sun may rise in the East At least it settles in the final location, It’s understood that Hollywood sells Californication”

me that the jeans here are fab and she was so right. It has high end fashion and it’s both edgy and good quality. I found the jewellery here a little overpriced compared to say Forever 21, however, the clothes, bags and jeans are your focus.

as well. It’s by far the best surfing event to go and watch. Watch out for the parking police they are mean. If you can’t get a park at Huntington Beach. Park at Dukes, just run in grab a quick bite and come back when you’re ready.

Billabong Shop/HSS At Surf City in Huntington Beach, the Billabong shop has all your surf needs. This is the place to go. They will set you up with bikinis, surf wax, sun cream, dresses whatever you need to look hot to trot at the beach. Walking across the road you will see that the first block is all surf shops so you can take your pick but I found this my favourite place.

Movies Sure we get movies at home, but do we have the same movies all showing at the same time? No! You can watch movies here that don’t come out at home till five weeks later! Plus you can buy jumbo cokes, yum!

Sixflags Hurricane Harbour I wrote about this one in my blog on the Billabong website. I went to this water park on my last day and oh man, I was so sleepy after. Some of the rides include ‘Black Snake Summit’ featuring five watersides, including the two tallest, fully enclosed waterslides in California. ‘Bambo Race’ was fun, ‘Forgotten Sea Wave Pool’, ‘Lost Triple Rapids’ and a few more little bits and pieces. Weekends are death so opt for a weekday and do not forget sun cream. The park is pretty much in the middle of the desert and the sun will burn you to a crispy chip so slip, slop, slap people!

--Red Hot Chili Peppers

Six Flags Magic Mountain With ‘Batman the Ride’, ‘Dive Devil’ and the tallest, fastest, longest, coaster on earth! This place is better than Dream World. Go on to the Six Flags website for directions and also if you book on line it’s quicker and cheaper. Note: If you head out in the morning and even on a weekday you will avoid the lines.

Knott’s Berry Farm People rave about this place and now I’m joining in, its tops! The buildings in Knott’s Ghost Town have been brought there from real ghost towns... eerie. The rides are all time amazingly awesome. Try the Ghost Rider. It was rated the number two best roller coaster in the world! Knott’s goes on for 150 acres and is full of super riders, live entertainment, one-of-a-kind shops, yummy food and exhilaration all over the place. Perilous Plunge is called the tallest steepest and wettest ride ever. Don’t worry if you wet your pants, no one will know! If you have more energy than me on Red bull then wow!! But head to socalfunplace.com for some more little bits and pieces, whether you be an exhilaration junky, a chilled cucumber or maybe just an explorer.

• Insist on a flight that departs at night. This way you can sleep through the flight and be there and kind of beat the jet lag.

• Passport must have 6 months left before the expiring date otherwise you will be on the next flight home.

• Know your address of your hotel or the pad where you are staying, this is important!

• LAX is a zoo of people! There are people everywhere any time of the day and

Malibu Although I just chilled around my little safe-zone, I got some points on surfing Malibu from some locals I can pass on to you. The first thing they said was crowds. It gets packed in, out and around the water with locals, tourists, travellers, seekers, and aliens. Morning surfs are recommended to avoid the rat race. Rincon is the most popular point break and the most crowded and I’m not going to make the crowd better by writing this but hey it will make your trip fun and more waves surfed. There are 3 sections to this wave and they all can link up to make one long, long, long wave. It’s best on mid tide. There are a few breaks down there so go exploring and most waves are really fun. Be nice to the locals and you will be fine, of course this applies with all breaks wherever you are. The shopping rocks!! Malibu is an up market place so you might catch a glimpse of a movie star.

Ra sushi If this place was a boy I would marry it! Elegant and edgy with yummy sushi and gourmet rolls. Always have good lunch specials and great service. Unlike most American restaurants, the meals are portioned - one meal is not big enough to feed eight people. Thank God! Ra is located in Huntington on 5th Street. If you are on the Pier with your back facing the water walk left past two streets. It also is a bar at night so you can enjoy a glass of wine with your Cali roll, but the drinking age is 21. If you’re a Sex in the City fan you may remember the scene where Samantha Jones meets Smith. It was filmed here. This place just gets better and better! Mexican Food Mexican food in California is astonishing. Pretty much all the Mexican restaurants serve fantastic food! A favourite of mine is at Newport around 4th Street. It’s a little place, can’t remember the name but its small with a yellow roof, people will line up for 30 minutes just to eat there. I love, love, love it! You can’t go wrong. America’s Cup This place is a little like Cold Rock however; it’s yoghurt not ice cream. You can have as many toppings

//curl spring #22

as you want, not just one, for an extra 80 cents. There are more choices of toppings and instead of paying for the cup size, they weigh and you pay. This place is awesome! You can have your morning fruit yoghurt and muesli then your 3 o’clock sugar fix and your dessert with blueberries and snickers. I’m never going back to Cold Rock again! Groceries I’m a bit of a health nut and the first thing you will notice is how most foods have hidden sugar and lots of preservatives. Every cartoon that has ever lived has its own cereal. So Mothers, Trader Joes or Whole Foods are all supermarkets that stock health foods. Albertons is kind of like our Coles but there are heaps everywhere and the food is really cheap so you will not die of starvation.

Hurley US Open This is a real spectacle to watch. The surfing, thousands of spectators and the atmosphere is unreal. To actually surf in the event is huge, but even just to sit and watch is a great feeling. The 2009 Open Men’s winner Brett Simpson walked away with a historic win of $100,000 this year. Courtney Conlongue took $4,500 for first place in the Women’s event. Stadiums are set up for surfing, snowboarding, skating, motocross, BMX, bands, trade shows, fashion shows, giveaways, it’s huge! Across the road at Surf City there is always daily team autograph signings so you can meet your favorite surfers and grab some freebies

you cannot avoid it! So have a lift already arranged.

• Getting your boards through is fine, but pack them tight and padded. Also

•

• •

double check with your airline of choice that they allow boards some only allow 2 boards per bag so check before you book. Buy an American phone; using global roaming is too expensive. You can pick up a phone pack for $22 from most seven eleven or convenience stores. Go with the AT&T as they are the biggest and the best! If you are here for a while and don’t have a car buy a cheap bike. It’s the best transport and everyone gets around that way. However, bike thieves are about so chain your bike up! Also have respect for the locals. I know you probably already know this but it’s very important to always respect their ways and how they roll. All the locals are very nice and welcome anyone and they love the Aussie accent. Bring a wetsuit. Yes it was summer when I was there but there are odd little spills of cold water every now and then. So bring a full length and you won’t regret it. Avoid J-walking. I got pulled up for this last year! You must always cross at a crossing other wise you get a $55 fine and as silly as it is, it’s the law. Don’t forget your chargers and of course you power point plug converter.

Forever 21 Imagine Sports Girl but bigger, cheaper, nicer, and really cheaper! Forever 21 is at Fashion Island, Huntington and around America. You can also look at their website to get you inspired to spend. Some of the jewellery I got was so beautiful and the presents for family and friends were not only an amazing price but stylish and very cosmopolitan. Fashion Island The name says it all. Fashion Island is a huge shopping mecca with stores like the Apple Shop, Bebe, Betsey Johnson, Express, Forever 21, G Star, Juicy, Lucky Brand Jeans, Macy, Nike, Urban Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret and Wet Seal just to name the ones I spent time at. There are a lot more places and some really nice cafés and coffee shops so you can refuel and keep going all day. You can do everything you need and want here in one day. It’s best to go here during the week as weekends can Californication be slightly busy. Victoria’s Secret Ah, we have all watched the VS catwalks shows or have seen pictures of these long legged slim models strut the catwalk in their glory and often wonder how we can have their bodies. Well drop in to the VS shop. The body section is fabulous. I got so many moisturisers that smell like heaven, the bras and lingerie are just as gorgeous, so go nuts! At Victoria’s Secret you can walk out looking like Miranda Kerr without spending like her. Urban Outfitters! Oh I die, I die! I love this place too. It’s like a General Pants but they always have this crazy $5 dollar rack and it’s a gold mine! Nicola Atherton told

www.curl.co.nz//59

I can’t adequately capture the experience of bodyboarding in words, for me and many of my surfing friends it’s almost impossible to describe the beauty of the dance of waves, the incoming sets, the calm, the energy and the unknown…. Words by Monique Farmer | Images by Ruby/Pollard

Emma Roby inTahiti

Neymara Carvalho at SandyBeach

The first time I bodyboarded I was naked; running up and down the secluded south coast beaches with nothing but a smile on my face and a Target foamy under my arm. Being three years old, I only got as far as the shore dump. But I was definitely one of those kids who dared to go that little bit further every time. Thirteen years later, after giving stand up surfing a go, my brother and dad - who were my main influences to start bodyboarding, encouraged me to go out one day in some 4 to 5ft surf. I grabbed my brother’s hand-me-down bodyboard to see if I could get some bigger waves that I had never caught on a surfboard before and try to get barrelled. I’d never been barrelled before nor been out in surf over 4 ft so for me this was pretty big stuff. When I finally made it out the back waiting for a wave, I didn’t really know what to expect or even how to hold a bodyboard. But that’s what made it exciting! I got a wave, it was a right, I took the drop pulled in and some weird feeling just came over me. It was like a rush. So exciting, so fast, I was in the barrel. And about 2 seconds later I was dumped, eating sand. But I didn’t mind, I spent that whole day smiling and annoying my older brother by not shutting up about how awesome it was. It was like nothing I had ever felt before and I knew from that day on that I wanted more. I spent the rest of that summer addicted to bodyboarding, and the more I

bodyboarded and experienced how much fun it was I started to wonder why there weren’t more girls in the sport. Over the past 10 years, women’s bodyboarding has taken a backseat to surfing, but the girls have still been there. Bodyboarding has become more underground. The bodyboard girls that are getting the most recognition are the ones taking off on the craziest waves! More recently, the sisterhood of bodyboarding has grown. There is a new talent of girls popping up, along with a new girls bodyboarding club, the Women’s Bodyboarding Association (WBA). I still remember my first WBA competition, it was held at my local beach in Cronulla in 2008, and I had a blast! There was a division for girls of every ability, everyone won prizes, and there was no pressure to perform. It was great fun hanging out with other girls that share the same passion for the ocean as I do. It’s also a great way to get into the more competitive scene of the Australian Pro Tour and IBA world tour. After a few years of competing I now have

more confidence in surfing breaks around home like Shark Island and Suck Rock and I would love more girls to be out there with me! Even if you are more interested in trying surfing, bodyboarding can be a great stepping-stone into surfing as it’s cheap and easy to learn. You learn wave knowledge and coordination to help you get familiar with the waves before trying surfing, or if you find you love it as much as I do, you can stay with it, increasing your skills to barrel riding, busting airs, and maybe even go on to become world champion!! And you know what, it’s an all over body workout, so forget the greasy hot gyms! And like surfing, it’s a skin cleanser, a hair bleacher and solarium all in one! Bodyboarding is the best sport! I know I’m bias but it seriously is! Its cheap, it’s easy to start, you can do it by yourself or with a group, its fun, you meet amazing people, its outdoors and it’s all year round! I could go on forever! Any girls interested in trying bodyboarding, and don’t know where to start, head to www.womensbodyboarding.com. Give bodyboarding a go. You won’t be disappointed! n www.curl.co.nz//61

*[bodyboarding] girl in the curl

Why bodyboard?

*[listen up] kym campbell

Kym Campbell’s music is a reflection of a lifestyle of travel, sun, ocean and song. Originally from Seattle, this singer/songwriter has made Australia home.

* We recently caught up with American ex-pat Kym Campbell and here’s what she had to say... You were born in Seattle, what made you relocate to Australia? I originally went over to Australia as a study abroad exchange in 2001 and just fell in love with the lifestyle. I started surfing and living on the beach and really got into my music and there was just no turning back from there so I kept coming back every year until I just ended up staying. You now live in Australia, are you a true blue Aussie yet or do you still call America home? Even though I don’t have the accent I definitely consider Australia my true home! I got my permanent residency about a year ago and at this stage I can’t really ever imagine myself not living in Australia -although you can never predict the future, but at this point I don’t see it happening. When you think of Australia, you think about the ocean, sun and beaches, however, Seattle brings images of cosmopolitan cities. How do the two places compare for you? I think they are both beautiful places in their own ways. Seattle has an amazing amount of culture, good food and music and you can drive to the mountains to go snowboarding or hiking within 45 minutes, which is great. Australia, however, and especially the Gold Coast where I live, embodies the lifestyle I have always looked for. It has beautiful beaches, friendly people and the weather is perfect all year round. Besides there is definitely no surf in Seattle!

//curl spring #22

At what age did you learn to play the guitar? How did you get started? I picked up a guitar for about a month when I was 12 but it wasn’t until I was about 20 that I started really playing and singing. It was after one of Ben Harper’s concerts in San Francisco that I decided I was going to start playing. I had a lot of friends around me that taught me songs and then when I moved to Australia and started travelling I really started to get into it and started writing my own music. Where do you get your ideas for in your lyrics? Whenever I am going through something like a break up or really anything that makes me feel emotional or inspired I tend to just free write and get all my thoughts down on paper. Later on I go back to what I wrote and then craft it into something a little more structured or take my favourite sentences and put them together to eventually form a song. Many people listen to music as a way to escape the everyday routines of life and relax, what do you do to get away from everyday life? Surfing is usually the best thing for me to do when I feel like escaping and it has always served as a great form of meditation and relaxation. What do you think it is about music that crosses so many boundaries and reaches so many people? I think music has a really unique form of energy that

somehow gives it the ability to transcend boundaries more so than anything else I know. I always travel with my guitar and now matter what country I am in, when I take out my guitar and play for people or jam with other people it becomes the most powerful way to connect and make friends. The beautiful thing about lyrics too is that everyone can interpret them and connect with them in their own personal way which is what makes songwriting so special to me. When you get up and play a live show there is nothing more amazing than all the energy you get from the people there listening who are connecting with you personally and each in their own way. Where does your musical inspiration come from? Songwriting for me has always had a close affinity with the ocean because that is where I started writing and the lifestyle of sun and surf is definitely evident in my music. Obviously my personal experiences with love, loss, family and friends influences and inspires me to write, as well as being a big advocate of staying positive and following your dreams. What’s on your ipod? Who do you like listening to? At the moment I’ve been listening a lot to Hayley Sales, The Beautiful Girls, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, The Waifs, John Butler, Tristan Prettyman, Newton Faulkner, Katchafire, Ben Harper, Angus & Julia Stone.... The list goes on and on! n

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This fragrance embodies a different side of the ROXY Girl. Dynamic, astonishing, sparkling, audacious, really into action, Roxy Love fits the girl that dares challenging the elements.

Skullcandy Ti Tokidoki

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Piperider Xcel Superlight 3/2 GBS

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www.xcelwetsuits.com RRP: $279.00 Superlite nylon-2 neoprene throughout. Wind resistant textureskin front and back chest. Pre-bent sleeves and articulating DuraFlex knee panels.

www.piperider.co.nz (07) 574 8585 The unique Piperider™ wave type action simulates pumping turns on the perfect wave, carving powder turns in the snow or riding the bowl at the skatepark, without even leaving home or getting wet!

XCEL Infiniti 3/2 OS ZIP www.xcelwetsuits.com RRP $499.00 OS-ZIP short back zipper offset at the neck, with inner Water Shield dam to prevent flushing. Spine guard zip panel, Smooth Skin Velcro wrap collar, and reinforced zipper base.

www.curl.co.nz//75

mikala wilbow [gallery]

Surf Photographer

mikala wilbow

Ever since I made the decision that I was going to be a photographer I’ve felt like a bit of a nomad. Growing up miles away from the beach gave me the freedom of being on the open road at any hour searching for the unknown, living out of my car and roughing it up. The moment I create an idea and focus on it, there is nothing stopping me, my determination is unbreakable. It’s what really gets me up in the morning and that is probably the best way to describe myself. I started by working for a wedding and portrait studio while spending my free time photographing the beach lifestyle up and down the coast of Australia. Eventually my passion for photography and surfing came together and my journey so far has given me so many amazing experiences and shown me breath taking places. Surf photography and shooting in the water has introduced me to a new world and brought with it a few challenges as well as opportunities as a photographer and as a girl. In the water I find myself shooting blind at times whether it be losing my goggles or just not being able to look through the view finder. Treading water for long periods of time, getting thrown around by the waves and holding onto what’s left of the air in my lungs is all part of the fun. Swimming against the rips that are so determined to take me and my gear out to sea, dodging surfers and sharing the water with the unknown, are all the challenges that keep calling me right back in there. I have this incredible appreciation for what photography is and I am driven by it. I focus my photographic style on the lifestyle of not only the surfer, but surfing itself; the adventure and freedom that it brings to so many people. For more on Mikala check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/ mikalawilbow/ or contact her on blueodysseyphotography@gmail.com

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www.curl.co.nz//77

w o H know reader’s story

etiquette

Ellie-Jean demonstrates the perfect paddling position. photo: Steve Dickinson

booters to barrels

* It turns out that barrels and booters have less in common than Erica Taylor initially suspected.

My first few surf attempts had the usual to chest-high waves. Delusions of grandeur must have accoutrements of a 7’8 water-logged, flower sprayed, overtaken the reality of my skill level as my surfing mates 6th hand mini-mal, and an ever-patient boyfriend. After asked me one day why I was riding like a bowlegged a couple of pointers and BF wave push-ins, I decided to cowgirl. I feebly argued that a wide stance aided my go stake my spot at a local Sydney beginner line-up for balance and search for the centre of the wave. It was my first solo session. My first wave had all the makings clear that surfing and snowboarding are two different of a successful ride; a quick, nimble turn around, a deft beasts; a tighter stance invariably allows more freedom to paddle for the incoming mini wave and even a 10-point improvise on the wave. It took a while to nullify a few carry stand up. However, it turned out another woman had over snowboarding habits; however, once I managed to the same idea. As she trimmed down the line left of me, train myself to tuck in that back leg, I began to discover I blankly watched my 7’8 board get sucked out from the exhilaration and true pull of a turn. under me and come down on her back. Naturally, she I also discovered the humbling nature of surfing. Just proceeded to hassle me for dropping in on her and told when you think you are catching on, the ocean dumps me I shouldn’t be out there if I didn’t know how to surf. your confidence into remission. I have learned why true Avoiding the verbal wrath and the spittle was fine, but surfers never claim expertise, but instead display an the clenched fists and stream of profanities worried me unchallenged ease and subtle inner peace in the crow’s somewhat. Welcome to surfing. I apologised profusely feet of their eyes. Feeling good enough to venture out and scampered away with my tail between my legs to into different, uncharted breaks independently, I planned retrieve my board. While I was entirely aware of my rookie a surf trip to Byron Bay with the girls. We hit Tallows the mistake (as we were standing in 1 foot of water) I couldn’t second day where the waves were a little larger than help but question that if I wasn’t supposed to learn here on the small Last year I made my transition from the slopes waves, where was I supposed to to the sea thinking that learning to surf would learn? Where were the trail arrows and green circle indicators offering be a good challenge. I was determined to beginners some direction? I forced take up surfing within a year. After teaching myself to paddle back out, where I snowboarding internationally for five years, remained out the back for the rest of the session. From there I could how hard could standing on the water be? hear echoes of the woman’s seagull cries ‘mine!’ ‘mine!’ every time a set rolled through. Whenever I go out, I still scan the horizon normal, but seeing swathes of grommets handling the for any short blond haired, middle-aged women, tagging conditions quite comfortably I assumed I too would be their waves. fine. I waited for the right set to roll through, paddled… Things improved as I upgraded to a 6’4 CD style and got thumped, again and again. An hour of a lathering Walden, which I promptly fell in love with, and so named saw me rag-dolled to shore where the girls sat watching - the Badger. It was shorter, but wide and blunt, sort of with scepticism, likely questioning the excess luggage like my beginner style. The board took my surfing to a fee I had paid to bring my board. I slumped in defeat new level as I was no longer surfing a dock. With the as surfing had promptly reminded me again who was realization that I would now do less damage to those in control, because clearly, it wasn’t me. To add to the around me my confidence surged. I acquired more agility, bruising, later on in town, a surfer whom I believed to better timing, and was standing up regularly on waist be admiring the Badger, turned to me and enquired

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rather delicately on my fin placement, and the peculiar positioning of the foil pointing towards the nose of the surfboard. I had surfed for two hours with the fins on the wrong way. Becoming practiced at swallowing my pride by now, I resolved the only way to hold my head up, was to attribute my poor performance on the directionless fins. There was hope. Today surfing has taught me a multitude of lessons; from the basic water etiquette to reading the ocean, understanding rips, and even how to screw my fins in properly. And though in the two years that I have been surfing, I have not graduated to near the level I anticipated, my appreciation and lust for the sport has only increased exponentially with every wave I’ve caught. Surfing is for all ages and demographics and globally, women seem to be taking up the sport in greater numbers these days. According to local surf school instructor James Phillips, at Manly Surf School, the number of females taking lessons is pushing the 50 percent mark, whereas 15 years ago their presence would have been minimal on the Northern Beaches. This move to surf could be attributed to various theories, but perhaps it is the familiarity of a pulsing feminine force, or the cyclical nature of the sea that women are drawn to. There is an amniotic connection between surfing and the surrounding marine environment that has shed light on so many other areas of my life; in the grand scheme of things we are all interlaced and just paddling along hoping to catch the perfect ride. Surfing and the sea have taught me the relevance of true perseverance, sea skills and diligence, but it has also taught me that the journey to get there is sometimes the best part of the ride. n

learning to surf I used to find it so strange that there were rules surrounding surfing. With surfing being all about “freedom” it seemed incongruous to have rules. However, the more I became involved in surfing the more I realised the need for some basic codes of conduct to keep everyone safe in the water. Each issue we’ll provide you with a few basic rules to help keep you and your fellow surfer’s safe in the water this summer….

*win surf lessons

Want to learn to surf? NZ SURF TOURS is giving two of our lucky readers a free day’s surf school voucher, valued at $120 each. To be in to win, simply send your name, age and address and reason why you should win to lynne@curl.co.nz. (Details will be forwarded to NZ Surf Tours and lucky winners notified by email)

Body positioning for paddling You can often tell a beginner surfer before they even begin to paddle simply by the way they lay on their board. A real beginner will be unsteady and unbalanced on their board. Here’s a quick tip to help you find your sweet spot for paddling: Make sure you are not too far forward or too far back. The nose of your board should be just above the surface of the water, (no more than 5cm) and your legs in line with the centre line. When starting out, take the time to learn your correct paddle position as it will make paddling that much easier.

wave etiquette Who has right of way when paddling out? The person paddling out or the surfer? Paddling out can be a bit of a challenge at a busy break and with a surfer flying down the line towards you you need to know what to do. The basic rule of thumb is to paddle wide of the break if you can. By that we mean paddle out away from where everyone is surfing and then once out the back paddle into the lineup. If that’s not possible (often when there is a beach break) then make sure you paddle around behind the surfer heading your way. For example, if you are paddling out and you see a surfer coming towards you, start paddling towards the tail of their board. This may mean you get pummelled by the white water yourself but it is your responsibility to get out of the way. If you are at a break where there are a large number of beginner surfers then you will find that most of them surf straight into the beach, rather than along the wave. In this case simply make sure you do your best to get out of their way, whether that means holding your ground or simply paddling straight out. The most important thing to remember is that it is your responsibility to get out of the way. You can not assume the person riding the wave will manoeuvre (or even be capable of manoeuvring) away from you, so make sure you stay clear. If you do find yourself in the impact zone or about to be pummelled or collide with another surfer, whatever you do hold onto your board; flying board will do even more damage. www.curl.co.nz//79

w o H w kno fitness

surf fitness

* with summer almost upon us, it’s time to get fit.

John and Joe from AmpedSurf™ have 4 new exercises to help keep you fit and riding more waves this season.

*warm-up

trunk *rotation

A great upper body warm-up that helps develop your core flexibility. Begin in board stance with hands on your hips. Keep your hips and lower body stationary, arms up at your sides parallel to the floor with elbows bent slightly, then gently twist your upper body to one side as far as you can. Repeat to other side.

15 REPS x 2 SETS REST 20 SEC

alternating *horizontal row

*workout

This exercise helps strengthen the lat and shoulder muscles you need to maximize paddling power and endurance. Start with feet shoulder width apart, arms extended straight forward, and resistance band handles in each hand with palms facing each other. Keep elbows close to body, squeeze shoulder blades together, and pull resistance band handles in toward chest, one arm at a time. Return to starting position and repeat.

8 REPS x 3 SETS REST 30 SEC

*lateral lunge

Helps strengthen your lower body while testing your balance. Stand with feet together and hands on your hips. Step out to one side keeping both feet pointed forward. Drop the hips back and lean off to the side that you stepped towards. Push off the outside foot back to standing. Repeat to other side.

6 REPS x 3 SETS REST 30 SEC

*workout

*stretch

side lying * trunk stretch

This position helps stretch and relax your core muscles. Kneel with the stability ball at your side then slowly roll the side of your body over the top of the ball until it is between your shoulders and hips. Hold the position. Stagger your feet, one in front of the other, to provide a wider base of support. Repeat to other side.

30 SEC x 2 SETS

coaching

small wave surfing * Jenny Boggis tells us how to advance your small wave performance.

It’s finally the weekend and you’re amped to get into the water for a hard earned surf. You rock up to your local break only to find that only 1-2ft waves are on offer! What would your reaction be? Most of us would cringe at the thought of this scenario but surfing small waves shouldn’t be associated with negativity or disappointment. In fact, learning to surf small waves well, can be a lot of fun and helps create a surfing style that is energetic and fast and appreciated by all those who watch your surfing. Surfing small conditions can help you develop and improve all aspects of your surfing performances. The reason for this is that in order to surf small waves well, the surfer needs to create speed and acceleration. This is done by correctly moving their body, source the limited power from the waves caught by making correct manoeuvre decisions and reacting quicker than may be necessary in larger surf conditions. These three skills; correct body movements, correct manoeuvre decisions, and faster reaction times are all skills that will enhance performance in all other surfing situations. When surfing small waves we must create speed and maintain that speed for the wave’s duration. Here are five simple strategies that can help you achieve this aim: 1. Attack the takeoff: When you decide to paddle for a wave, paddle fast and kick your feet to create maximum entry speed onto the wave. Too often surfers paddle for small waves at the same intensity as they would for a larger wave. This is a mistake as small wave surfing requires a different approach into the entry of the wave. Full commitment is the go! 2. Lift your arms at takeoff: As maximum horizontal speed is required to set up the first major manoeuvre of the wave, you should forcefully lift both arms forward as you takeoff. This lifting motion takes weight off the board and allows the board to accelerate more rapidly. Once the speed has been created, it is important to follow through with step 3.

3. Perform speed moves: Choose manoeuvres that will maintain the speed that you have created at takeoff, e.g. floaters, head turn snaps and cutbacks where there is a rebound off the foam are all manoeuvres that maintain speed. Poor manoeuvre options include half cutbacks with no rebound, layback snaps, no head turn snaps. These manoeuvres cause the surfer to stop at the end of the manoeuvre creating a stop start style of surfing where there is little flow occurring between manoeuvres. 4. Surf rail to rail: When surfing through flat sections on waves, maintain your speed by surfing rail to rail. This approach is more efficient and looks so much better than the commonly used approach of bouncing or hopping through sections. Bouncing through flat sections should be the last approach used - never the first.

5. Hit the lip hard: Your goal should be to hit the lip or foam with enough speed and height so that your front foot reaches above the ‘lip line’ or top of the wave. Simply having the intension to hit the section hard improves a surfer’s commitment and success. In addition to these strategies you can enhance your small wave performances by having a positive and focused mindset. Set goals or targets before entering the ocean like seeing how vertical you can get while surfing along the wave or see how many manoeuvres you are able to perform. Try to surf the waves you catch for the full functional length and maintain speed for the waves duration. Achieving the goals that you set will help you improve at a faster rate. Approach surfing small waves using the above strategies and you will be blown away with the way your overall surfing will improve. n

HIGH PERFORMACE SURF COACHING Surfing Australia Level 2 Surfing Coach Qualified Personal Fitness Trainer Surfing Australia High Performance Centre Coach Team Australia Coach

Lennox Lennox Head Head -- Byron Byron Bay Bay Australia Australia 80

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Novice/Intermediate/Elite Surf Coaching Individualised Packages (Coaching &/or Fitness) Utilising Silicon Coach Pro Coaching Software Individual Sessions, Squad Training or 2-4 Day Intensive Camps Cabin Accommodation Available

Call Jenny Boggis (JB) Tel: +61 (0) 439 493 709 Email: jennyboggis@hotmail.com www.jennyboggissurfcoaching.com

ow!! N k o o B www.curl.co.nz//81

w o H know environment

humpback whales

Words by Adam Gosling | Images compliments of NOAA

When I kicked off my Marine Science studies, there was an opportunity to participate in some research involving humpback whales migrating past Byron Bay.

go green It’s warming up out there, so to help you look hot at the beach this summer, but still keep our planet cool, Curl has taken a look at what ecofriendly beachwear options are available. Words by Lucy Brake Photo by Steve Dickinson

For dealer enquiries contact Exit Surf Ph +64 3 3842 789 www.exitsurf.com

As surfers, protecting the natural environment is of paramount importance and environmentally friendly swimwear collections have taken off over the past few years. Using the latest technology, companies are able to conserve natural recourses through recycling and reducing toxin emissions. By sourcing polyester yarns made from materials such as plastic soda bottles, companies are able to divert waste from landfills and reduce toxic emissions from incinerators. It’s great to know the world’s most sophisticated technology can be used for chemical recycling which means that your old plastic bottle can be made into pure polyester raw material and then that hot bikini without spilling an unnecessary drop of oil. We all think of cotton as a great natural fibre, but conventional cotton farming is one of agriculture’s most environmentally destructive activities. Growing and harvesting cotton fibre takes an enormous toll on the earth’s air, water, and soil, and significantly affects the health of people living in cotton growing areas. The toxic pesticides and fertilisers can end up in the ocean. Alternatives, which are now available, significantly reduce the toxic chemicals produced and are available in many organic cotton tee shirts and cover-ups. There are a number of companies who have already taken up this initiative with some great new pieces of eco-friendly swimwear using recycled products available. On a recent count, Billabong has recycled 4,600,000 plastic bottles globally! As Billabong say “Be the change you want in the world”. Loving our environment is something that comes naturally to surfers and with the welfare of our planet and oceans at the forefront of our minds – by buying ‘green’ products we can really effect change. So when you are choosing your new bikini or board shorts this summer – think about how the making of them has impacted on the environment as well as how great they look on you! n

all up in Australian waters as they travel from and to Antarctica and therefore we have a great responsibility to protect them. They swim pretty close to the coast most of the way so there are plenty of headlands that we can catch a glimpse of them. And if you are lucky you will see some of their energetic displays including breaching, fin or tail slapping and spyhopping.

To tell you the truth I was frothing! I had never seen a humpback whale up close and when I set out in the dinghy for the first time to record scientific data, I was so excited! We motored around for a while until we spotted the first blow from a passing humpback. Motoring cautiously towards the sighting I felt like David Attenborough, the king of nature documentaries. I couldn’t quite pull off the accent, but felt like I was on a great adventure all the same. However, I don’t think I was expecting to experience the emotion that I did when we got close. I was in awe! I was blown away by the size and gentle and playful nature of these marine mammals. We tracked this small group (pod) of humpbacks for a while at a safe distance (for us and the humpback) when suddenly a humpback leapt from the water only 50m away from us. Now we’re talking about a 45,000 kg creature leaping clear of the water with only a few Humpbacks whales are one of a number of thrusts from its powerful tail. After that the small pod species of baleen whales and have the ability to of humpbacks just chilled, poking their heads above expand their mouths during feeding, thanks to a series water to have a look at us (known as a spyhop), and playfully slapping their pectoral fins It turns out that we are actually really lucky to on the surface of still have the humpback whale with us. It was hunted to the water. They put the verge of extinction throughout the world’s oceans on quite the show. Since then I have during the 19th and 20th centuries. endeavoured to find out as much of grooves or pleats. The blue whale is the largest of as I could about this majestic creature. It turns all baleen whales and the largest animal to ever grace out that we are actually really lucky to still have the our planet. Baleen whales engage in what is known as humpback whale with us. It was hunted to the verge lunge feeding. Baleen whales are so named because of extinction throughout the world’s oceans during the of the comb-like plates of baleen, which is made from 19th and 20th centuries. An estimated 95% of the keratin, hanging from their upper mouth. Keratin is population was destroyed. Over 200,000 humpbacks

“

”

the same stuff that our hair and finger nails are made of. The baleen acts as a filter as they engulf huge amounts of sea water (up to 2,000 litres at a time) and captures their food. What blows me away is that these massive baleen whale’s main food source is Antarctic krill (shrimp). Now krill are pretty bloody small. They grow to a maximum of about 6cm and weigh a maximum of 6 grams. This means they need about 500,000 krill every day during the feeding season. So lucky they don’t have to peel them! They store a lot of this food as fat which provides them with the energy for their massive journey from Antarctica to their winter playground and back again. They pretty much don’t eat for most of their journey which can be as long as six months. Guaranteed they’re pretty peckish by the time they get home for a feed again! Like all whales, humpbacks form an essential part of today’s marine environment. As whales are the largest animals on earth, their importance, not only to the marine food chain, but also of the sheer enjoyment and pleasure they provide, can’t be underestimated. Not only have they been a totemic species for a lot of indigenous cultures, they have also become an iconic species for the conservation movement. It is actually such a special thing when you realise that the largest creature to ever set foot or flipper on this earth, is also the most gentle. What a perfect reason to make sure the humpback, along with all other whales, lives for future generations to appreciate that, and for the opportunity to feel for just a brief moment, like David Attenborough! n Adam Gosling is a Marine Scientist working for WetlandCare Australia, a not-for-profit non government organisation whose mission is “Supporting the community to protect and restore Australia’s wetlands”

were slaughtered in the southern hemisphere alone! They were killed mainly for their blubber (which was a source of oil), their baleen (a strong flexible substance used for the fashion industry), and for their meat. Whales were an important resource and cultural icon for indigenous cultures like the Aboriginals and the Maoris, but when modern society built larger, faster whaling boats – populations of whales were decimated. It became a race to catch the most whales. Since those days humpback whales have become a flagship of the international whale watching industry. The most amazing thing about humpbacks is their migratory potential. Individuals can travel up to 10,000km between summer feeding grounds in Antarctica and the warmer winter breeding grounds in tropical waters like the Great Barrier Reef or in the South Pacific Islands (great places to spend the winter months!). They spend about nine months a year

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w o H know environment

Ahipara Each issue we hope to bring you one of our readers local hot spots. This issue Ai Sumihira shares with us her favourite surf town of Ahipara. About Ahipara Ahipara is a small town with a population of a little over 1100 people, located almost at the top of the North Island in New Zealand. The town sits at the on the southern end of spectacular 90 mile beach. I stayed in Ahipara for 3 months last summer, during my semester break from university, and I absolutely fell in love with this place! Ahipara is home to several excellent surf breaks, and is well known for Shipwreck Bay, the long lefthand point break which, on a good day, will give up some amazingly long rides. I remember clearly that the first green wave I caught was in the Shipwreck Bay

(I reckon that every surfer remembers that special moment!). Although it is on the “wild west “coast, most of the beaches in the town are safe and good for both beginners and competent surfers (I learnt surfing at wild wild Piha, honestly I wish I did it in Shipwreck Bay, my life would have been much easier…). Ahipara has a number of different surf breaks: such as point breaks, beach breaks, and reef breaks. Travel south from Shipwreck Bay, around and over the rocks (4x4 vehicle recommended), and you will find some very nice point breaks nestled in between the old lava flows. And if you are a more advanced surfer, there are some wicked reef breaks around here as well. To the north of Shipwreck Bay the beach breaks are too numerous to count as Ninety Mile Beach stretches for 88 km. In addition to the various breaks around Ahipara, a pleasant drive of about an hour takes you over to the East coast. So if there is nothing going on in Ahipara, you can drive over to Taupo Bay or Rarawa Beach and find some waves over there. The number of quality breaks around Ahipara and its proximity to the East coast really makes it a truly awesome surf destination. I was able to improve my surfing skills heaps during my three month stay, as I was able to surf every single day. While I had heaps of fun riding waves around Ahipara, what really makes it special to me are the people and the atmosphere. It never gets over crowded (it get busier, but never be like, let’s say Bondi Beach or somewhere in Hawaii), and very peaceful. Local surfers are very polite; I haven’t seen any of locals dropped in on the other’s waves (However, a lot of tourists do!) The surfers who live here know a lot about surfing, so I always enjoy having a chat with them in the water and soaking up some of their surfing wisdom. There are a lot of surfing events organized by local surfers, such as “Kids Day Out” and “She Surfs”, which is a competition for us girl surfers.

I love surfing in New Zealand because we have such highquality surf breaks all over the country, and the beaches are kept clean most of the time. Often the breaks are uncrowded (or empty, even!), and the people you meet in the water are so friendly. It is amazing that we have such beautiful beaches and people everywhere in New Zealand; I feel privileged! n

www.curl.co.nz//85

w o H w kno coaching

*Join Curl in Japan

rising from the pit of despair

When you’ve been skiing for over 20 years, changing your technique is not as easy as you’d think, even with the best instructors in the world. The learning curve actually dips before climbing back out again and that step backwards puts you way out of your comfort zone and into what feels like the pit of despair. Story and images by Lynne Dickinson

The first day of the Salomon Lindauer Ladies week was truly a humbling experience. Ten enthusiastic women met at the top of the Alpine Café at Turoa, for complimentary tea, coffee and morning tea and to meet our instructors and fellow participants. It turned out we were all competent and fairly confident skiers but all wanted to refine our technique to enable us to ski with a little more ease and finesse. In limited visibility the ten of us headed up the first chair to be thrown straight into the pit of despair.

The ski report on the first day boasted 20cm of fresh new snow, but unfortunately with it came heavy cloud cover, resulting in limited visibility with the clarity resembling pea soup! I joined the skiers while the snowboarders headed out with their instructor, Ocean. After a couple of runs down the pomma, Mich our patient and talented instructor, pointed out our first technical failing. In typical female fashion all of our butts were sticking way out the back leaving us out of alignment and pushing us all back in our skis (not good for control!). So poles were abandoned so we could isolate our upper bodies and concentrate on feeling the ski’s through our feet by stacking ourselves over our skis. This required a pelvic floor thrust, fondly referred to as ‘pushing the bush’! The ice had been broken in record time and the group of individuals instantly became united. The first day was spent trying out some of Mich’s various techniques to help us find the correct stance; it was humbling to go right back to basics. We finished the

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first day feeling like we had all dropped into that pit as we tried to change some lifelong bad habits. That night we were treated to a technical session held at the Snow Centre in Ohakune, complete with nibbles and of course the mandatory Lindauer bubbles, an essential part of each day! It was great to have someone explain all the advances in ski and boot technology and I personally learnt so much about the importance of the right skis, and yes, your weight does matter!! The second day we were blessed with much improved visibility which enabled us to get up to the top of the mountain. We practised all the techniques from the previous session but this time on the steeper slopes. Mich had a way of making everything fun and easy to understand; like the way we all skied down the slopes with our poles tucked under our armpits pretending they were ‘tit bazookas’ in an attempt to keep our shoulders pointing down the slope. During the day Mich videoed us skiing so we could analyse our technique at the beginning of the following day. The day finished in the Alpine Café sipping on Lindauer and discussing our progress. We met on day three at the Alpine Café for the video analysis of our skiing and boarding. Mich went through each video and explained what we needed to do to improve. Despite thinking that I had finally managed to start skiing with my legs further apart (yes I learnt to ski in the 80s!) the video showed otherwise. All the girls found the video session hugely beneficial and gave us all a focus for our third day up the mountain. The sun was shining and it was a perfect blue bird day. We also got to try out some demo skis; with my personal favourites being the new season Salomon Ladies Topaz skis, and with great discounts offered at the Snow Centre a few sets of skis were purchased during the week. Our instructors also set out a slalom race course for us to try throughout the day which provided us with something new and challenging. By the end of the third day as we sipped our Lindauer, we realised that Mich’s coaching was beginning to pay off and the pit wasn’t feeling quite so deep. The final day everything seemed to come together. The mountain and weather was once again perfect and everything just clicked. We spent the day exploring

the different runs and really feeling the changes in our skiing. Just before lunch we were taken down to the small terrain park where Mich showed us all how to take a jump safetly. Peer pressure got to most of us as we launched ourselves off the jumps, some more cautiously than others. Unfortunately the week came to an end too soon and I was sad to leave the luxury of our own personal ski instructor, the ability to join the ski school queue for the whole week and the many new people I had met. The Salomon Lindauer Ladies week is always something I would recommend to anyone. Whatever your level of skiing there is something new to be learned. Skiing for a week with a group of like minded ladies all keen on improving their skills was fantastic and now I am saving up for those Topaz skis! n

e m e k a T apan toJ

THE CURL MAGAZINE

What is included?

• Return flight Auckland to Chitose with Japan Airlines • Return private transfers between Chitose Airport and Hirafu, Niseko. • 10 nights quad share accommodation in a 3+ star Hokkaido Tracks Apartment. (Two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with two beds in each bedroom, a full kitchen & living area, just a few minutes walk from the slopes, restaurants, bars and shops.) • 24 hour in-resort guest services help desk. • 6 day Niseko United all mountain lift pass. • 1 day with a mountain guide in Niseko. • 1 day at Rusutsu ski resort including private transfers and guide & lift pass. • Sapporo Day Trip including private transfers, guide and visit to Sapporo Ice Festival. The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan’s largest winter events. For seven days in February, ice statues and sculptures turn Sapporo into a winter dreamland. •The trip will appear as a feature in the winter issue of Curl magazine.

Ever wanted to be part of the action? Part of a group of just females? Just raging in the Japanese snow? You have seen how good it looks in the magazine NOW be part of the next feature yourself. Curl has organised a trip for female skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. Come on your own, come with a friend, come as a group.

ALL GIRLS JAPANESE SNOW TOUR

*in conjunction with Ski Traveller

PLACES ARE LIMITED! When are we leaving? 6th – 15th February 2010 Niseko, Japan

Of course I want to go how much? NZ $4,800 per person* + airline taxes $100** AU $3,700 per person* + airline taxes $80***

To confirm your place on the group and guarantee your airfare we will require a NZ $500.00 deposit. PLUS, for a chance to WIN free return flights ex Auckland to Chitose, book your place on the tour before 30th September 2009.

Where do I sign up?

Please contact Sarah for more information for the CURL TRIP or to book your place in the group. Email: sarahh@skitraveller.co.nz Toll Free NZ: 0800 11 22 99 NZ or from Australia 1800 15 95 25 *Package does not include equipment hire, lessons, meals or ski holiday insurance. Currency fluctuations may result in an increase or decrease to your final balance due until paid in full. Airline taxes are subject to change until paid in full. | Flights are subject to availability so contact us now to qualify for this airfare as these flights are selling fast. | For terms and conditions please visit our website: http://www.skitraveller.co.nz/groups ** Flights ex Wellington or Christchurch are an additional NZ $116.00 *** Flights ex Australia to Auckland are not included to meet up with departing flight to Japan.

www.skitraveller.co.nz

[loveyourskin] s of Ripcurl. Image compliment

curl 22 | love the skin you’re in

Coconut Body Scrub 200ml This moisturising, cream-based scrub contains coconut husk and ground coconut shells to help remove dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling silky smooth. RRP $34.00

Schic revoluk® Quattro fo and trationary razor Women® Tr NZ$15 nsform wit r that allow imStyle™, a h a sim s .95 ple flipyou to shave , of the handletrim . RRP

Palmers No Blade RRP NZ$9.95 Smooth away unwanted hair with Palmer’s No Blade. Unlike many other depilatories, they are less likely to irritate the skin and actually smell good! Available from selected pharmacies nationwide.

//curl spring #22

Sunsense Self Tan RRP NZ$22.36 Contains colour to indicate areas of application and helps to give an instant effect. 0800 DOUGLAS (368452) www.douglas.co.nz

If you’re anything like me, then your legs have probably been hidden behind layers of clothing for most of the winter. With the excitement of summer comes the dread of exposing those often dry, definitely white legs to the world. We have come up with some great tips to help get your legs and body ready for the summer ahead... Exfoliate: Exfoliation is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells to expose the more youthful skin beneath. It can be achieved through scrubbing the skin with an abrasive cream or cloth or through chemical crèmes that will remove the dead skin cells. Smooth it! Once you have exfoliated its time to get rid of that extra winter layer that you may have been harvesting… Yes, it’s a well known fact that many of you grow those leg hairs over winter, either to keep you a little warmer or simply because you can get away with it. Well enough is enough. Treat yourself to a spa session to get those legs waxed or buy yourself a new razor or tub of hair removal cream or gel and get going. hydrate it! Now get moisturising. Lather those legs with a good moisturising cream or lotion to keep them soft and supple this summer.

Sunsense Pre Tan Moisture RRP NZ$13.90 Keep your skin hydrated before and after self tanning with Sunsense Pre-Tan Moisture of the Sunsense Self Tan System. 0800 DOUGLAS (368452) | www.douglas.co.nz

Fake it! Now your legs are smooth, lets get a little colour into them with the help of a few good fake tans. Nowdays you can get a wide range of fake tans to suit any skin shade so there is no excuse.

*[gromwatch] paris whittaker

finally camping doesn’t mean roughing it

Out of my way grandpa! A new breed of surfer is beginning to make an impact on the Australian surfing scene. Story: Lynne Dickinson | Photos: Matt Johnson and Brad Whittaker

www.colemannz.co.nz

THALGO ADDS AN ORGANIC TOUCH TO YOUR BEAUTY RITUAL...

Welcome to the age of Sustainable Beauty

A natural brand from the beginning, Thalgo has always worked to protect the Earth’s resources. Since 2007, Thalgo have been committed to Sustainable Development. Thalgo is an Eco-Citizen with an Eco-Designed range. The natural formulas are certified organic by Ecocert and comply with the Cosmebio charter. The boxes and leaflets are printed with plant based inks and are made of cardboard with FSC* label from sustainable managed forests. As for the future, it is with these eco-citizen values in mind that Thalgo offers you this excellent NEW organic range.

terre & mer by Thalgo

Because we make the future together, we would like to share our values with you.

» A tribute to the Mediterranean. » A concentrate of efficacy: Essential Oils and Preserved Algae. » A genuinely natural veil for your skin. » A new beauty ritual: Activate your skincare cream with our Essential Oil Concentrates. » A comprehensive range: 8x retail products to offer the skin a protective natural environment and 12x professional products to create an organic universe in salon or spa.

For your nearest Thalgo Beauty Therapist for FREE Terre & Mer Skin Consultation and Product Samples, ( 09 362 0882 or info@infinisea.co.nz

These fresh faced kids are dedicated, committed and passionate surfers. They see no boundaries to what they can achieve in the future and importantly are more focused on getting into position for the next set than believing they are for some reason not worthy of a place in the line up. Innocently oblivious to the efforts surfers like Margo Uberg or Rell Sunn (in the early 70’s) played establishing Women’s Pro Surfing and unaware of a beach culture in the 80’s that discouraged girls surfing altogether. There is no doubt this new generation are beneficiaries to the foundations laid by the likes of Jodi Cooper, Pam Burridge and Layne Beachley, although the past is not a place they spend much time in. You can expect these surfers would not be afraid to take off 20 foot inside a baby boomer on his longboard. Infact they may actually call him off the wave. Their walls are plastered with posters of surfing superstars like; Stephanie Gilmore, Sofia Mulanovich, Laura Enever and Sally Fitzgibbons and even though girls are reported as fuelling a multibillion-dollar surfwear industry, within this crew is a focus on wind and swell not shopping centres and sales. Like never before in the development of surfing, today’s junior girls have an amazing opportunity to develop their surfing in a friendly atmosphere. Targeted programs are available that encourage and nurture, coaches refine techniques and parents ensure loads of water time for both sons and daughters. At age 11, Cronulla’s Paris Whittaker has much to learn before she can be compared with the likes of Sally or Laura. Nevertheless Paris is a great example

of a new generation of junior female surfers that love surfing and have the opportunities once only dreamed of by their predecessors. In our Autumn 2008 edition of CURL, Paris’ father wrote; “It’s 5.30am, I can sense the wind is onshore and can hear light rain falling on the roof but as I roll over and pull up the blanket I hear the floor boards creaking in the hallway. My surf crazy daughter appears at my bedroom with a grin on her face saying “com’on dad lets go surfing.” As a dad, saying “no” to your daughter is hard most of the time but when she wants to go surfing, it’s impossible. I love her excitement and watching her learn new things every time we are in the water together. In fact, I think I get more enjoyment out of watching her surf than I do getting waves myself.” Like any inspiring athlete, loads of hard work, effort, dedication, hopefully some natural ability and supportive parents all need to be on the menu in order to crack the big time. Thankfully for girls like Paris the future is looking bright and they are free to feel equal and live their dreams. n

*5 mins with paris

Where do you live? Cronulla How long have you been surfing? 6 years Where’s your favourite surf spots? Keenely’s Reef – NSW South Coast; North Cronulla – Beachbreaks; and Superbank – Gold Coast. Are you involved in Club surfing? Not really. I go in a few events with North Cronulla Junior Boardriders and may enter some comps this year. I just like surfing for fun at the moment. Favourite international surfers? Kelly Slater, Laura Enever, and Sally Fitzgibbons Favourite manoeuvre? Cutback, tube ride School is…. Pretty fun Best advice from coach? Always be confident and go for it. Favourite moment? Getting a week off school to go to the Quiksilver Pro with my dad. I surfed for 7 hours every day. My dad was too tired but I kept pestering him to come out. All the Pros were surfing and the water was really warm. Any overseas surf trips? Not yet but I would really like to travel to some surfing destinations outside Australia. My dad went to Nias with Bethany Hamilton and I would love to go there one day. What boards do you ride right now? 5’8” Force 9.

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• Muriwai Beach on Aucklands West Coast • Qualified, professional instructors • “Introduction to Surfing” Lessons held twice daily • Individual intermediate & advanced lessons • School holiday surfing programs • Huge range of boards and wetsuits for hire • Gift vouchers available • Free surf magazine if you mention this ad

Quay Eyeware NZ $39.90 available at Surf and Street Stores now. Enquires to Hydro Surf P: 03 4773965

//curl spring #22

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The fun and adventure of surfing

For a booking phone 021 478734 or email info@muriwaisurfschool.co.nz www.muriwaisurfschool.co.nz

Surf Coaching - all levels 1-7 Day Surf Courses Girl’s n Kids Clubs Surf Safari Camps Gift Vouchers Mark 0272766893 Simon 0210704344 mark@surfinsafaris.co.nz www.surfinsafaris.co.nz

www.curl.co.nz//93

next issue

Issue 23 on sale December 8th

[subscribe] curl 22 spring 09 | don’t miss out on the latest cool stuff with curl |

Subscribe to CURL Magazine and be in the draw to win Sticky Bumps coloured art wax! New Sticky Bumps coloured art wax is here!

“Artwork for your board" waxes. - Soy Wax Formula (all natural) - Available in two temperatures: Warm/Trop & Cool/Cold - 7 Different colours - mixed in each Case - Case quantity will be 48 bars

Issue 23

A look into the graceful art of women’s longboarding with profiles from some of the best longboarders in the world.

plus

* All the hot action from the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic in Deewhy * Action from the Caltex Honey All Girls Surf Fest in Cronulla. * Girls go wild on Stradbroke Island Schuyler McFerran

photo compliments of Billabong

n “Artwork for your board” waxes. n Soy Wax Formula (all natural) n Available in two temperatures: Warm/Tropical and Cool/Cold n 7 Different colours SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Is this a gift subscription?

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www.curl.co.nz//95

Audrey / White

PHOTO: KENWORTHY/A-FRAME