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Image courtesy of nick / NRH Photos.
Sunshine Surf Gir ls The freesurf magazine
In this issue Mahina Maeda Making big waves
Surfing Iran
Rising above the social norms
Freya Prumm
Au t u m n 2 0 1 5
Pushing the boundaries in style Shortboard
Longboard
2
SUP
www. s u n sh i n e s u r f g i r l s .c o m
Sunshine Surf Girls
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Image of Heidi O’Brien, courtesy of Ben Osborne @Benosbornephoto
Contributors Words
Liz Davison Maddie Buresh Kelly Fielding Denis McCarthy Serena Brooke Claudia Hirschberger
Images
Ben Osborne Nick / NRH Photos Fran Miller / Girlsurfnetwork Tracey Heasman Easkey Britton Bella & Bhakti Michael McGuire Gemma MacKenzie Standuppaddleboardtraining.com Chris Grant Surfographer Cait Miers Michaela Skovranova Photography
With Thanks
Mahina Maeda Freya Prumm Jess Santorik Easkey Britton Jenny McCarthy Ke’ale Dorries Serena Brooke
WIN Be st le t te r to th e E d wi ll wi n a
"Beach day" prize pack i n clu d i ng: I sl an d Gypsy towe l, SpaTap, Live Li ke Sally book & Be e s Kn e e s Su rf Wa x . editor@sunshinesurfgirls.com.au
A note From the editor
We’re super stoked to bring you this new edition of SSG. As a quarterly mag, it feels like so many things have happened since our 1st edition came out! Among other things: Steph won her 6th World Title, Paige Alms rode one of the biggest barrels ever at Jaws, and women surfed Pipe in the Pipe invitational for only the second time ever at an elite level. Women’s surfing seems to have taken a huge leap forward in the past 18 months and we’re excited to be part of it. Surfers like Freya Prumm and Mahina Maeda are stepping up and taking short-boarding to a new level while SUPing is being revolutionised by surfers like Ke’ale Dorries. It’s not just the pros though who are behind this change. Easkey Britton is using surfing as a tool for promoting positive social change while Claudia Hirschberger is working to change the surf industry from the inside out. For us, we’ve changed our logo to really represent all that we encompass: short-boarding, long-boarding, SUPing and our love of the ocean. We hope you’ll find inspiration here to really celebrate your surfing and would love to hear how surfing has changed you too. Thanks for joining us on the journey.
the tea m at SSG
Contents 06 Mahina Maeda 08 Freya Prumm NZ Carver 10 12 Waves of Freedom
Gives us the lowdown on towing-in at NazarĂŠ
Bringing her air game
Jess Santorik carves in and out of the water
Surfing the most remote region in Iran
14 food 16 Nourishing for an active life Destination Fiji
Would you paddle out in 10’ Frigates?
Some tasty advice
18
Product Reviews
Find out how you can WIN some of our fave products
20 Stoked as Ever
Retaining that cheeky grommet stoke!
Image of Li Bowrey, courtesy of Ben Osborne @Benosbornephoto. inset images:nick / NRH photos, Michaela Skovranova Photography, Tracey Heasman Photographer.
21 22 SUP Lady
Yoga for Surfing
Warming up the right way
Ke’ale Dorries sets her sights on the SUP World Title
24
Tips and Tricks with Serena Brooke You’ll never look at closeouts the same way again
The team Editor: Liz Davison Advertising: advertise@sunshinesurfgirls.com.au Publisher: Sunshine Surf Girls Emma Krusic & Gemma MacKenzie Graphic Design: Melanie Kilby ABN 14 452 593 792 Contributors opinions are not necessarily those of Sunshine Surf Girls © All rights reserved
26 Venus Goes Gidget
An inspiring Surferpreneur from Austria Sunshine Surf Girls
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Mahina Maeda interview by Liz Davison and Images by nick / NRH Photos
At just 16 years old, Hawai’i’s Mahina Maeda is ready to take on the world. In January, she won the first round of the Women’s World Qualifying Series in Hainan, China. Last year, just one week after winning the ASP World Junior titles in Portugal, Mahina became the youngest surfer and only the second woman to tow in at Nazaré, one of Europe’s most well known big waves spots, a ride which earned her a Billabong XXL Big Wave Award nomination. We caught up with this inspirational young woman to find out what drives her, and what her future holds
Congratulations on your win at Hainan and your World Title Mahina! Now you’ve won the Pro Juniors and you have a wildcard entry onto all the WQS events, do you have your sights on the ASP World title? Yes! I'm really excited for this season and I'm hoping to qualify for the WCT tour this year. Last year, I finished top 18 on the QS and I only surfed in 4 events. I'm still 16 and this year I'm hoping to learn more and qualify for the world tour. I tried to gain as much experience last year and learn, so then this year I will be prepared. My ultimate goal is to be a world champion. I'm looking forward to what the future has to offer. You must be pretty stoked to have got off to such a good start this year then! Yes, especially after traveling for more than 24 hours and being stuck at the airport and my boards not coming in time! The win definitely made up for all of it. Hainan is super cool and the palm trees remind me of home. The wave is rippable and a left! We were lucky, we got some pumping swell. I was so blessed to be there and to surf some awesome waves. Starting off the season with a win is amazing, and I'm looking forward to the next event and hoping to make the 2016 World Tour.
Is there any location you think the women’s tour should surf that they won’t be visiting in 2015? I think they should bring the Triple Crown back for the girls. I feel that they should have it back because it would give more of the Hawaiian ladies opportunities to enter pro events. It's the birth place of surfing so why don't we have more events in Hawaii?! So who do you think will be your main rivals this year? I think everyone will be my rival, myself especially! Last year, I would have amazing events and then I would do poorly in another. I want to learn to be more consistent and learn how to act in different situations. I need to keep on learning new things each day so I won't just be keeping up with the generation. Sounds like you want to be a leader not a follower! You’ve got a pretty amazing quiver, what’s your favourite board at the moment? My favourite board at the moment is my personal model Mahi 5'8" shaped by Pyzel Surfboards and the Bastard 5'8" and 5'10" also shaped by Pyzel Surfboards. John Pyzel has been amazing to me. It's cool to be working with him and also being on the same team as John John.
The women’s tour seems to be getting so much better, it’s really pushing the level of surfing. Do you think we’re going to see more critical maneuvres, like airs, in women’s events this year? Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing my really good friend Tatiana Weston Webb totally blow up on the tour. And Silvana Lima. Her air game is strong and she can pull a rabbit out of a hat. So I'm excited the newer generation is going to open everyone’s eyes. What’s your favourite manoeuvre? My favourite manoeuvres are frontside carves and backside hacks. And what ones do you really want to nail but haven’t yet? I really want to learn how to do airs and reverses. If I want to be on the world tour I need to challenge myself to do these things. You seem to be pretty confident as a competitive surfer, what’s your favourite comp? My favourite contest… Hmm that's a hard one haha. I would say when I was little I loved surfing in the Haleiwa Menehune contest. It's for kids age 12 and under. I enjoyed surfing in that event. I just had so much fun, no pressure
and there was lots of fun and games. This is where I grew to love competing. You’ve been surfing big waves in Hawaii (10’-15’ Sunset) for years, how does that compare to doing tow-ins at Nazaré? I've been surfing Sunset all my life. Every time I go out there I feel very comfortable in any situation. It does give me a little jitter when it's big but I have all the uncles and all the new generation look out for me because I'm one of the few girls that surf Sunset that big. In Nazaré it was a whole new feel and I've never dealt with such great power. I had Uncle Garret with me so I felt a little comfortable. My dad and Garret McNamara used to be tow partners when I was really young so he's known me since I was born. He's very close to our family and I consider him like my uncle. The first day I paddled out and it was 4ft. We did step-offs with Uncle Garret and his crew. The second day it started off 4ft and kept on getting bigger and bigger! I didn't feel comfortable paddling out so I went to the harbour and drove the jet ski with Garret so I could watch it from there. It was a cool experience. He told me so many things about it. I finally felt comfortable enough…
Uncle Garret asked me if I wanted to tow. And I just thought, “sure, why not?” I had him with me and this is the best way to gain experience.
finished my math early, so that's allowing me to finish my other classes and I will be able to finish school a year earlier.
I had a paddling vest and a regular lifejacket on. He told me to relax. I knew that if anything happened I had him and his crew to come save me! I ended up catching 2 waves. I learned so much from it and I was glad I did it. Towing in it made it so much easier and Garret is so skilled in water safety so it made me feel very comfortable.
If anyone can do it, you sure can! You’ve said that you’d like to go to college (university) one day. What do you want to study? I really want to become a sports doctor or a physical therapist. I get hurt a lot so I've dealt with a lot of doctors and I learn things along the way. I thought it will be cool to do something to help surfers and athletes.
Do you have any tips for overcoming fears of big waves, or has it never really been an issue for you?
Good to have that insider’s knowledge of an injury huh? What do you do for timeout when you’re not surfing or studying?
Uncle Garret told me to inhale and exhale at least 3 times. And take everything in and look around you. He told me that I would do good things in life because I know my limits and I won't push over it, so I won't get hurt. Just slowly get out of your comfort zone and raise your goals every time.
When I'm not surfing or studying I usually hike, train, and hangout with my friends. Since we live on such a beautiful island there's these beautiful hikes that we do. We are full of energy so we just do a bunch of things.
You’re still finishing school and competing all over the world. How do you deal with all your travel, competitions and school?
Finally, you’ve been surfing for most of your life, but aren’t very well known outside Hawaii. What does the world need to know about Mahina Maeda?
I recently switched over to a charter school [an independent school – ed] that will give more flexibility in my schedule. I actually
I think they need to know that I'm going to be a World Champion one day.
Sunshine Surf Girls
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Freya prumm
Chicks can do airs now, "with rotation, in heats! Ten years ago, the men would have laughed at that thought!
"
Words by Maddie Buresh and Images by Fran Miller / Girlsurfnetwork Freya Prumm has been on the competitive surf scene for ten years, carving her way into the world of women’s surfing. Freya admits that “it wasn’t the typical ‘love at first wave’ type scenario,” but she eventually caught the surf bug and has not looked back. “I started competing in a few local board riders [competitions] at age 13 against the boys… I then did the Grom Search Series in the under-16 division, but then it was only school-based events until I finished high school in 2009. Straight onto the Junior Series and the Women’s Qualification Series (WQS) full-time. 2014 marked my fifth year on the WQS.” So what drives Freya in her surfing career? “I love a physical battle and a mental battle,” she says. “Competitive surfing is both.” But first and foremost, she does it because she loves it. “Surfing is probably my favourite thing to do in life, and I really want to be the best surfer I can be. It is a serious bringer of joy. And so competition is my way of pushing myself to increase my abilities on the board.” No challenge can stop Freya. “It hurts when you put your all into something but still don’t get the result you were aiming for. But you have to get back on that horse.” As a professional surfer, Freya has had the privilege of being a part of the amazing progression in women’s surfing. She has pushed the boundaries with her personal style. “Think the opposite of Steph Gilmore’s style. Twitchy, stabby, but every now and then I can pull something out of the bag,” Freya says. And she is not the only female surfer who can hold her own on the waves. “It’s becoming almost cliché to say that ‘the chicks are ripping,’ but it’s absolutely the truth… In terms of more high-performance surfing, I believe the bar is raised at each new year… Chicks can do airs now, with rotation, in heats! Ten years ago, the men would have laughed at that thought!” Though Freya is a total shredder, she is also a student, musician, and traveller. “Number one goal in my 23rd year of life would be to qualify for the World Championship Tour (WCT). I swear it’s the best life,” she says. “I want to get my bachelor degree in Pharmacy while I am qualifying… I would like some kind of exercise qualification as well.” But that isn’t all Freya has up her sleeve. “I am feeling some kind of musical career coming on. I would love to be in a band, playing our own stuff and slamming out rockin’ covers for our friends. I would love to travel more outside of surfing too, like mountains, deserts, and jungles.” With her incredible surfing talent, her bright personality, and the way she strives to always do her best, there is no doubt that Freya Prumm will continue to turn heads on land and in the waves.
FREYA PRUMM PIC: MATT BURGESS
SURFABLE DCALS ON TOP OF THE FIBREGLASS
ctrlvptyltd dave@ctrlv.com.au |
ctrlvee
NZ
Carver
images by Tracey Heasman Photographer
Je ss Santori k carve s i n and out of the water. Growing up in a family of surfers at Raglan, arguably one of New Zealand’s best waves, Jess Santorik is not only a previous NZ Women’s champ, she’s also very skilled in her chosen art form of surfboard carving.
Seeing art in life, Jess believes that creative work is therapeutic, it warms her soul… Which is great because she really doesn’t like the cold! Her dreams are of warm relaxed days: carving, surfing and eating mangos with her family and friends.
After taking up competitive surfing at age 12, she began carving at 15 after meeting a local carver, Aaron Kereopa. Jess creates her pieces from broken surfboards or new blanks, inspired by her love of surfing.
In the meantime though, Jess plans to keep competing in order to stay at the top of women’s surfing in New Zealand. “NZ has some amazing up and coming surfers that I’m sure will keep me on my toes.”
“I have been competing in surfing comps all around the world and being able to come back and create art in between events is amazing.”
You can find Jess’s art online on
At 27, Jess seems to have her life figured out. “It’s pretty simple really. Find something you love.” Sounds like great advice.
Jess-Santoriks-Surfboard-Carving or, if you’re in New Zealand, her pieces are available at Orca restaurant in Raglan.
"being able to come back and create art in between events is amazing" Sunshine Surf Girls
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Wav es of
Freedom
"And it's just the beginning" words by Liz Davison and
images by Easkey Britton
28 year-old Irish surfer Easkey Britton, is not one to let fear hold her back. At the age of 16 she became the first Irish person to surf Teahupoo, at 24 she completed her PhD in Environment and Society and she has twice been nominated for a Billabong XXL Big Wave Award. It is this sense of adventure and the ability to laugh in the face of fear that led Easkey (which means fish in Irish) and French filmmaker Marion Poizeauto to an unknown territory in the remote region of southeastern Iran in 2010 in search of surf and new adventures… Baluchistan, an area considered as one of the most dangerous in the world, is the poorest and most remote region in Iran. It is also the only region that offers any potential for surf. Understandably, they arrived in the country with curiosity, apprehension and uncertainty but any worries they had were immediately shattered. The Iranian people were the most welcoming they encountered on their many travels and the locals were excited to see surfing in Iran for the first time. “To explore a place for surf so far off the beaten track like Iran, to rise above the social rules and norms of your culture requires not only thick skin (a lot of grit, determination) but also grace—that ability to let go and open your heart to possibility, allowing you to authentically experience the world as it is without expectations or judgement.”
In August 2013, after connecting with pioneering Iranian sportswomen; snowboarder Mona Seraji and swimmer Shahla Yasini, the two women decided to continue the adventure and return to Iran. They returned with a project built around the objective: To share a passion for surfing in Iran and make it accessible to everyone.
of doing, and more opportunities for both men and women.
This second trip had a real impact in the region. The women shared the belief in the power of surfing as a tool for connection, self-empowerment and bridging barriers. Together they planted the seed for new opportunities and made history, becoming the first women to surf in Iran. It is the recognition of the power of surfing to transcend social, cultural and gender barriers that inspired Easkey and Marion to found the non-profit organization; Waves of Freedom.
Through it, communication develops that transcends culture and language. Without connection passion is an empty vessel, which is what I realized from this journey.”
“The bond of surfing has to be one of the most powerful connections. Or perhaps it’s not surfing, but the power of sharing, giving and giving from the heart until there’s nothing else to give. It’s what is too easily lost in our busy life and in the more singleminded pursuit of surfing perfection.” Easkey believes that while there are still barriers, with women and men still not equal in many aspects of life, these can dissolve in the surf especially with strong, positive, local female role models. “Change begins by sharing stories like this, by supporting grassroots surfing movements for positive social impact, by bridging our fear of the unknown and embracing the unfamiliar to create space for new ways
Surfing is my medium for change but in the end it really is about connection. From connection there is knowing and understanding, elimination of fear. From connection arises passion.
Four years after their first trip, with the support of the local board-riding community in Tehran and the local Baluchi communities, they ran the country's first cross-cultural surfing workshop; Surf Seeds, for both young men and women. The first surf club in Iran is now located in a little fishing village called Ramin, just outside the seaport city of Chabahar. The seed of surfing is taking root in Iran and its being shaped by the stories of men and women from diverse backgrounds and cultures creating new relationships through the sea and of pioneering sportswomen who want to teach other girls surfing. “Catching the wave, especially the first one, really feels like freedom...You feel you can do anything when you catch your first wave... And it's just the beginning.” – Sara, female surf participant and snowboarder from Tehran. If you were inspired and want to be part of the story, you can get involved at www.wavesoffreedom.org
Sunshine Surf Girls
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Destination
Fiji
"levu na ua nikau"
Translation: the waves are big today.
Words and Images by Liz Davison
What happens when the stars align and four girl s suddenly re ali se that the y have both the time and fi nance s to ge t away from re alit y for a week? Why, an all-girl s surf trip to Fiji of course !
A 4am start gets Codie, Ana and me to the airport early where Erin, early too, is waiting for us. It’s so good to get our boards checked in and make it through customs without a hitch (note to self – don’t pull faces at the camera if you’re going through the e-passport customs line). It’s now that it really hits us: this is not a dream, we’re all kid-free for the very first time and heading to Fiji. After what feels like ages, we eventually land in Nadi and are greeted by our driver… apparently it’s not hard to recognise four girls with boards! Finally, after a long 14 hours of travelling, we’re tucking into dinner at our resort. We’ve heard there’s a new swell hitting in the morning so we’ve got to fuel up for tomorrow.
Day two
We’re off to Frigates, a hollow, powerful left about an hour’s boat ride away. 9’ – 10’? Yeah, we can do that, no worries! We’re joined by Nick, a Miami local who is on his honeymoon at a nearby resort. “So, you guys are from Australia huh? You must surf waves this big all the time hey?“ “Ah, yeah, nah… we’re from the East Coast.” We’re the first ones there so it’s hard to judge just how big the waves are until we paddle out. The first set comes and it’s big. Really big. We paddle for the horizon and watch some massive waves go past unridden. Another set, and feeling unreasonably confident, I paddle for the first wave. I’m too late and go over the falls tumbling toward the reef. I surface only to see another wave coming at me. As I duck dive, the board is ripped from my hands and I feel my leggie snap. A few more waves on the head and I’m feeling so glad I wore my booties as I’m standing on the reef, searching for my board. Ana paddles toward me. She too got a few waves on the head and has paddled in
with our guide Seva, to help me retrieve my board. Back to the boat for us. As Ana and I watch from the boat, another boat arrives with two more surfers who paddle out as a set approaches. Nick takes off and is hit by the lip. One of the other surfers duck-dives the next wave, but they both surface with their boards in pieces. Right now I’m glad it was only my leggie that broke and that I’m taking photos from the boat! The wind picks up so Codie and Erin paddle back to the boat and we watch for a while as the lone surfer out catches the wave of the day. We head off to search for a more protected spot but Fiji Pipe is too shallow, so we keep searching. After a few waves at Resorts, we decide that it is too sectiony and the current is too strong so we head back to the resort for a well-deserved beer. Phrase of the day
levu na ua nikau (the waves are big today).
Day two
brings in the trade winds so we grab the snorkels and fishing gear and head back to Fiji Pipe, an epic, hollow left, only to find 5’ of Fiji fun waiting for us… it was a good idea to bring the boards just in case! We spend hours picking off racing barrels and I think I’ve got this wave figured out when suddenly… I’m the first of the trip to surface with a Fijian tattoo courtesy of the reef.
Day three
The wind seems to be getting in everywhere on day three but we manage a fun, event-free surf at Pipes on the dropping swell. After the first two days, today seems tame and we relax. Phrase of the day
Va na bea kerekere (four beers please).
Day four
With the wind still up on day four, we head inland to explore the Coral Coast. Our friendly driver points out all the crash sites along the road … “3 people went right off the road here, driving too fast and died” “Car had a head on with a cement mixer here. Everyone died.” Surprisingly, we make it safely to Sangatoka only to be cornered by market vendors. The fruit and veggies in the market are amazing but word to the wise, STAY AWAY from the trinket sellers!
Day five
Thankfully, by day five the wind has died off so we head back to Frigates for another full day of surfing. It’s much more friendly at 3’-5’ and we spend the day enjoying the long, glassy walls with only a handful of other surfers out. Frigates has been good to us today and its so hard to admit it when, after more than five hours of surfing our bodies decide they’ve had enough and it is time to head for home. It’s easy to forget how tanned your body gets, even after lathering on the sunscreen when it’s in the sun so much… Phrase of the day (Thanks to Erin)
Hey, check out my bootie tan! Day six
On our final day in Fiji we’ve got most of our stuff packed before Ana and I decide that we probably should have just one last surf. We head back to Pipes for a quick afternoon paddle. After ripping my boardies at Frigates the day before I’m just wearing string bikini bottoms, but we’ve been surfing Pipes by ourselves most of the week and its only 3’ – 4’ so I’m not too worried. Not until I get there to see not one, but two other boats of guys there, and not until I take off and the string somehow comes loose and I have to make my way discreetly over the reef to retrieve my bottoms. I get them and head toward the channel to put them back on. Concerned I’ve hit the reef and have hurt myself, Ana and Tristian our guide, start paddling toward me. “I’m fine!!!! Nothing to see here folks!” We leave the following morning and it feels like so much longer than a week. We surfed ourselves crazy (almost literally), survived waves we didn’t know we could, ate more than we thought possible and head home totally surf stoked. Ahhh, Fiji. Thanks for the memories.
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Nourishing food for an Active Life!
Everyone knows that staying fit, healthy and energized is a combination of things- staying active, being outdoors, doing the things that you love, being mindful about your choices and nourishing your body with healthy food. Eating a healthy, well balanced diet doesn’t mean cutting out the things that you love. When you learn how amazing fresh, vibrant wholefoods can taste you wont ever feel like you have to miss out on anything!
Eating well is also very simple, it’s about focusing on what is seasonal, natural and doesn’t contain any hidden artificial ingredients. Sometimes in a rush to school or work or the anticipation to get into the ocean, packaged food seems like a convenient and easy choice! However, eating good quality food will allow you to play harder, longer and to live your life in a more vibrant and energized way! Tasty and healthy snack foods can be simple – you can make a big batch of delicious
granola bars or your own trail mix full of nuts, seeds and dried fruit to take on the run. Smoothies are always a great option, as are simple salads, things like wraps or sushi, even make up a big batch of soup that you can enjoy with avocado on toast when you walk through the door starving after a big surf session! Be creative and make healthy eating fun! Here are some simple and delicious ideas to keep you energized and nourished!
Chocolate Berry Smoothie Bowl
Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Almonds
This is one of my favorite ways to start the day! It’s full of great superfoods to keep you powering through the morning! And the best part- chocolate for breakfast can be healthy!
I love quinoa! It’s simple to make, really high in protein and can be mixed with any ingredients you have on hand! It’s a great substitute for any rice dish and is also gluten free for those intolerant to gluten. Cook quinoa as you would cook rice – doubling the water content to quinoa (2 cups water to one cup quinoa) on the stovetop. If you make extra it will keep for a few days in the fridge.
If you’re in a rush, simply skip the bowl, pour your smoothie into a drink bottle or glass eco jar and take it on the road with you! Ingredients
• 1/4 cup of soaked chia seeds (I soak mine overnight in almond milk) • 1/2 a dozen frozen strawberries • 1/2 a cucumber • 2 kale leaves
• 1 heaped teaspoon of acai powder • 1 teaspoon of maca powder
• 2 teaspoons of cacao powder • 1/4 of a ripe avocado
• 1/4 cup of almond milk Blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Pour into a bowl and top with:
Ingredients
• 1 cup of almonds
• 1 yellow bell pepper diced
• 6 soaked figs
• 2 tablespoons of slivered almonds
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 handful of parsley finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons of bee pollen (optional)
• 1 large Cucumber diced
• ½ cup of pistachios
• 2 tablespoons of cranberries
• ½ cup of soaked dates
• 1 handful of mint leaves, finely chopped
• 1 cup of coconut
• 1 handful of pea shoots or sunflower sprouts
• 2 teaspoons of green powder
• 2 tablespoons of coconut nectar
• 2 spring onions finely sliced
Process the nuts first until they break down but are still crumbly and then add all other ingredients and process until the mixtures comes together.
• 1 lemon juiced
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Freshly cracked Himalayan salt and black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of cacao nibs
Place all the salad ingredients in a large bowl and mix gently to combine.
• a handful of ripe strawberries and red grapes
Mix the lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper together and then drizzle over the salad.
• Optional – your favourite granola!
Mix well and serve at room temperature.
• 1/2 teaspoon of cranberries
• a sprinkle of chia seeds
www.bellaandbhakti.com
Bliss balls are always handy to have in the fridge; they work as a great healthy snack or an easy dessert! They are very convenient to grab if you are walking out the door and a couple will keep you energized for at least few hours! They are also very versatile- you can use your favorite nuts and dried fruit or add any additional superfoods you love. If you ever find your mixture too wet, simply add more coconut, and if it’s too dry, just add some more dates!
• 1 ½ cups of cooked quinoa
Toppings
• 1/2 teaspoon of shredded coconut
Super Green Bliss Balls
info@bellaandbhakti.com
Form into balls and roll in coconut. Keep refrigerated, these will last up to a week.
bellaandbhakti
Sunshine Surf Girls
bellaandbhakti
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product reviews
LIVE LIKE SALLY Sally Fitzgibbons is easily one of the most recognisable female surfers, but its not just her surfing that makes her a standout. In her book Live Like Sally (co-written with Lucas Townsend) she shares her thoughts with us on surfing, fitness, nutrition, travel and life lessons. Her infectious personality shines through and it’s this that makes Live Like Sally such a readable book. I found so many helpful and inspirational tips and some of the recipes are yum! This is the sort of book that you can come back to again and again and I think it deserves a place on every surfer’s bookshelf. Find it at your fave bookshop for $29.95.
Island Gypsy towels
BODY OF WATER
In need of a space-saving towel that doubles as the ultimate beach accessory? These Island Gypsy Kahuna Towels are just what you've been searching for. This towel will dry you out coming in from the surf, act as a sarong as you head to the café for lunch, and it is so soft that you’ll want to lie on it for your arvo snooze. They are made from soft 100% Turkish Cotton and are a generous size of 95 cm x 170cm! Available online at www.islandgypsy.com.au in earthy but colourful tones. At $39.95 you should treat your best mate (and treat yourself too!) to one of these babies. Luxury + functionality = happy surf girls.
These rad rashies from emerging brand, Body of Water, are easy to love. The long body length and shaped sides means they don’t ride up and the colours and designs are super cute! While the ¾ length sleeves do tend to ride up a bit in bigger surf, they are perfect for smaller days or for cruising the points on a log. For $89 you can get yourself one from www.bodyofwater.com.au
Win
3
Go to page for details.
a SpaTap and Island GypsyTowel
SpaTap After a long day at the beach, there’s nothing better than coming in and rinsing the salt water off… the only problem is that there are so many great surf spots where there just isn’t a shower. That’s where this sweet little invention comes in. The SpaTap attaches to almost any water bottle and turns it into your very own beach shower. Pop your bottle in the sun and on a winter’s day you’ll even have a warm shower! Win! It doesn’t fit on my wide-mouth water bottle, but works a treat with others I’ve tried and is perfect for camping too. For $29.95 you can get your very own SpaTap here: www.spatap.com or go to page 3 to see how you can win one!
Zrax It’s always an issue trying to figure out the best way to store your beloved quiver. Boards take up so much room! Thankfully, Z-Rax have come up with the perfect solution. They can store up to 10 boards – short and long boards, bodyboards, wake boards, kayaks, snowboards, SUP's, windsurfers, surfskis and paddle boards – all in the same rack and using just one anchor point on the wall. The best bit though, is that the boards are stacked flush against the wall so they take up next to no space. They are a non-permanent fitting too so you can take ‘em with you when you move. Happy days. The combo model which stores four boards can be yours for $59.95 including postage. www.zrax.com
Jolyn swimwear The SSG team are on a mission to find surf bikinis that look good and stay on. Optimistic? Yes we are! Especially after our very first road test with Jolyn Swimwear. We put these rad-coloured-surf-friendly bikinis through their paces in conditions ranging from 1’ sloppy Sunshine Coast beachies to 5’-6’ foot Indonesian peelers. Not only do they look hot, they are comfortable and our girly bits stayed safely tucked away throughout all of the epic wipeouts! Jolyn have created a range of different styles, colours and designs using durable elastic and drawstring pants. If you’re buying online be sure to check out the sizing charts as some of the tops run a little smaller than others. At an average of $30 apiece they won’t even break the bank! Find them online at www.jolynclothing.com/australia
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"Being physically fit and mentally strong helped me overcome the fear of surfing big waves that I never wanted to even paddle out in!"
Stoked as Ever Words by Denis McCarthy and images by Michael McGuire
I’m sitting out the back at Johnno’s on a small, clean, sunny day when I spot a set out the back. I turn and start to paddle but someone’s inside, deep inside. It’s Jenny McCarthy on her 5’11. She smacks the lip and throws spray as she speeds by, heading off down the line all the way to the sand on Little Cove beach. Jenny is competitive and can out-paddle most people in the water, a definite advantage in a crowded Noosa lineup. The small blonde woman, who’s been surfing for more than 30 years, just loves to surf. Though she’s over 50 she still retains that cheeky grommet stoke.
“Like most kids who grew up in Melbourne, I surfed only when we were on holidays. I bought my first board on Noosa Drive in the late 1970’s. It wasn’t until I got my car licence that I could surf on a regular basis. I only ever saw 1 or 2 girls in the surf at Torquay and never any girls at Portsea or Gunnamatta.
and mentally strong helped me overcome the fear of surfing big waves that I never wanted to even paddle out in!
I started competing to see what my level of surfing was. Competition improves your surfing because you can learn from watching and listening to better athletes. It’s very different from just going for a surf.
Generally speaking it’s fun to compete (especially when you win) and that’s a feeling I still enjoy. You make lifelong friends from competing too and I have been fortunate enough to have surfed all across the world.
Competing can be physically and mentally challenging, but it has allowed me to surf some perfect uncrowded waves, albeit for just 20 minutes, and I am constantly challenged when I compete. I remember an Aussie title in WA that I thought was way too big for me but I went out and won. Being physically fit
When I go on holidays the first thing I pack is my board bag. Warm water and fun waves make the perfect destination. At 50 plus “that sounds really old” I’m still as stoked as ever. It’s cool to be out in the water with so many great young girls and occasionally beating them is even better.”
Constantly improving my surfing is something I strive for. The boards are getting better all the time. I keep fit by surfing a lot, beach running and some yoga.
Bees Knees Surf Wax Contains only natural sustainable organic ingredients No petrochemicals paraffin or soy wax Available online and in independent shops
www.beeskneessurfwax.com
Photo: Team Rider Kirra Innes
— Gidget Boutique —
DRESS LIKE A GIDGET VenusGoesGidget.com
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Yoga
for surfing
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WITH Liz Davison Certified yoga instructor since 2000 In the last edition we looked at how important general flexibility is for your surfing. You probably also know that it's a pretty good idea to warm up right before you hit the water, right? You know that warming up increases your range of motion as well as increasing core temperature and muscle temperature, which reduces the likelihood of injury, but did you know that many of us are doing ourselves more harm than good by warming up incorrectly? A warm up, or pre-surf stretch, should involve dynamic stretching that is, no holds but a series of controlled movements within your natural range of movement (ROM).
2. Crab walk (sumo squats)
Things to remember:
This one requires a bit of balance so make sure you're on stable sand before you begin in a standing position with knees slightly bent. With an inhale, bring your right foot just above your left knee. Exhale as you fold forward. You should feel a good stretch in your glutes and hips. Inhale as you return to standing. Exhale your foot down and repeat on the other side.
• Keep moving through the stretches and don't hold them. • Avoid bouncy or jerky movements. • Don't go beyond your natural ROM but do complete the movement.
Four great pre-surf warm-up stretches: (aim for 10 reps on each side with every stretch).
1. Walking lunge with twist
From a standing position take a large step forward with your right foot. As your foot touches the ground, bend your knee until it is at a right angle with the knee directly above the ankle. Twist your upper body toward the right as you exhale. Inhale to centre while bringing your back foot to meet your front foot. Repeat on the other side. If you lose your balance while walking into the lunge, you can also do this stretch from a standing position by taking a step backwards into the lunge.
Again from your standing position, take a wide step to the side with your right foot and exhale down into a wide-legged squat. Activate your abs and glutes as you bring your left leg to join your right. Do 8-10 squats to the right before going to the left.
3. Standing pigeon (piriformis stretch)
4B
4. T arm stretch
Raise your arms out to the sides so they're in a T position. As you exhale, keep your arms straight and bring them forward to cross. Inhale opening as wide as you can comfortably go. Exhale and repeat, making sure to cross the opposite arm on top. You might notice that these stretches focus mainly on the lower body so after doing them hit the water. Paddling is a great warm to warm up your arms.
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SUP LADY Image courtesy of standuppaddleboardtraining.com
, Dorries Ke'ale
Just months into her professional Stand Up Paddleboard career, Palm Beach’s Ke’ale Dorries claimed an international sprint title and won two out of three races at the Stand Up World Series’ Huntington Beach Pro in California. Now, two year’s later, she has her sights set firmly on the Stand Up World Series title.
in the creek or surfing. After that I head home and have some schoolwork to do, have dinner and go to bed!
I first started surfing when I was too young to remember! I just grew up with it because my dad has been surfing his whole life. My first time stand up paddle boarding was when I had just started high school in 2010, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
If I could surf with anyone, it would be Candice Appleby. She’s my favourite woman’s SUP competitor and on my last trip to California, I was graced with the opportunity to surf against her. I would love to surf with her one day, without the competition.
I try to surf as often as possible, usually two mornings a week before school and whenever I can find the time after school if I’m not training or studying, but I try to get out there on the weekends if it’s good. If the surf isn’t good I take out my 12’6 Starboard Turtle Bay SUP and train out in the creek or out in the open ocean. Other than that, I might go to the gym or have to stay at home and study. My daily routine is to wake up early in the morning around 5am, head to the creek for training for an hour and a half, school for six hours - sometimes eight and a half hours – then either straight to the gym, training
My favourite person to surf with would be my dad, he taught me everything I know and always helps me try new tricks or better the ones I can already do.
If I could surf anywhere in the world it would be Dubai. I keep seeing all these videos of guys taking their stand ups out in Indonesia and it just looks so awesome! But ever since the new wave pool opened up in Dubai, I’ve wanted to travel there to compete in the Stand Up World Series. In 10 years time I hope to still be travelling the world competing on the Stand Up World Series Tour, meeting new people and evolving with the sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Woman’s surfing has definitely come a long way in the last few decades, I hope
that women’s SUP and all round Stand Up Paddle boarding grows to be the same. My proudest moment would definitely have to be when I tied for 1st place last year in The Huntington Beach Pro Grand Slam Event as apart of the Stand Up World Series. Before comps I like to zone out and just listen to music, think about how the wave is breaking and what sort of maneuvers will work best. Winning is always a plus, but its only worth it when you have your friends and family cheering you on! My worst wipeout would probably be when I was surfing my 12’6 stand up race board. I nose dived on a wedge-like wave and the board followed through and hit me in the back on the neck! I had ligament damage, soft tissue damage, a concussion and a pretty nasty gash on the back of my head. With wipe-outs and big waves, you just have to charge it even if you’re scared, because a little fear is always good, and right after you catch that big wave or wipe out, the next doesn’t seem as scary. I like listening to techno, electronic DJ music to get me amped up! Maybe some nirvana, things like that!
image courtesy of Cait Miers @caitmiersphotography www.caitmiers.com
If in doubt, paddle
out!
tips and tricks with Serena Brooke 1
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6 You’ll never look at close-outs the same way again after you learn how to nail floaters with pro-surfer Serena Brooke. Learning how to do a floater is important for all surfers who want to improve their surfing. Floaters vary from cruising over a whitewash section to a risky, free-falling transition to the next section. Some of the best sections on a wave to do a floater are where the wave is closing out, which is why they are so common in beach
breaks (like the one I am doing in this sequence in California). When doing a backhand floater, one of the most important things to work out is timing. You also need to keep up your speed and have a substantial amount of power and forward momentum to propel you over the section, so make sure you approach your floater at an appropriate speed by pumping down the line to pick up speed, and don't come too hard off the bottom as going too slow will cause you to get stuck in the crumble and the wave will quickly pass you by.
You need to start angling your board up the face of the wave at the right time, if you go too early, you’ll get caught in the lip. Too late, and you’ll just get stuck in the foam. Make sure not to go too far over the lip line, or you’ll end up slipping off the back of the wave. As you begin to angle your board towards the lip, bend your legs and eye the section you want to float over. Put your weight towards your back foot so the nose and front part of your surfboard can clear the chunk of the lip then, as you float over the whitewater, keep your
arms and legs loose in preparation for your descent. Once you’re gliding over the “roof” of the wave, give your board slight adjustments in order to maintain your position. As you begin to lose your forward momentum, it’s time to come back down the wave towards the trough. Pick out a good landing spot and angle the board back down the wave while staying low and letting your knees absorb the impact of falling back down to the bottom of the wave.
The "Backhand Floater" images courtesy of CHRIS GRANT @JETTYGIRLSURFMAG
images courtesy of CHRIS GRANT @JETTYGIRLSURFMAG
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There is not a lot of variation between the front-side and backside floater. The main difference is that your balance points will be inverted. Instead of angling your toe-side rail towards the section, you’ll dig your heels back. Similarly, when you drop back down the wave face, your weight should be positioned towards your toes rather than your heels. Remember to stay low on your reentry, and keep your weight back. Once you have the basic components of the floater
worked out, you can begin to experiment with different tweaks to give your floaters more stylistic flair. You can angle the nose of your board at the back of the wave, or turn the other way to slide your fins out the back. You’ll also become progressively more comfortable executing floaters on bigger waves and across more critical sections.
“paddle, paddle, paddle...”
So make friends with close-outs by doing floaters and you’ll be enjoying more time in the water. www.serenabrooke.com
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Venus Gidget goes
When you thi nk of a t ypical surfer, a red - he aded fem ale Austrian i sn’t usually what first spri ngs to mi nd!
Image by Surfographer Claudia Hirschberger, founder of Venus Goes Gidget, grew up in a land locked
country with ski boots strapped to her legs and the cold frozen-type water under her
feet. It wasn’t until she was 21 that she first saw the ocean. She fell in love with the
waves, moved to Australia when she was 24 and has never left.
Six years after learning how to surf,
Claudia started Venus Goes Gidget: a blog about her surf experiences as a woman
who started surfing in her mid twenties.
The original intention was to share surfing from a woman’s point of view.
“I found that most content around surfing is targeted towards men and written in ‘surf lingo’ that’s not for me. When I started the blog, it got really positive feedback and people kept asking me about teaching them to surf. Then I discovered the joy of teaching and it kind of snowballed from there. Last year, I decided to leave my day job in advertising and fully focus my energy on Venus Goes Gidget to share my passion of surfing with other women. Since then Venus Goes Gidget has evolved into a brand that is all about inspiring and empowering women through surfing.” Since starting surfing, Claudia has joined the Austrian surfing team and recently came third in the Austrian surf championships.
“Surfing has changed me in many ways. If I hadn’t started surfing, my life would be completely different. I would probably be a stressed out business consultant, sitting in a Viennese office working 70 hours a week! Surfing and being in the ocean just makes me a happier person and a much more positive one, which impacts my whole life." “I really hope to inspire women through my story and Venus Goes Gidget. If I can do it, anyone can do it.” Although Venus Goes Gidget was set up to inspire other women, it also inspires Claudia who gets to meet a bunch of interesting people. Most recently, she had a private group of four ladies in their late forties on a Surf and Yoga retreat.
"It’s also about providing a space for women only, about harnessing the female power "
“They had such an awesome go-to attitude, gave everything a try, didn’t whinge at all and most importantly, they laughed a lot. I was very inspired by their friendship and their attitude."
maybe go catch some more waves! The office has a great view overlooking Tama and Bronte beaches, so I do need to stay disciplined in the office to keep my eyes off the water!"
“My dream is to keep on building what I’ve created so far and provide empowering experiences for women. With our unique approach, I think everyone can have a surf experience they enjoy. It’s also about providing a space for women only, about harnessing the female power and bringing that feminine spirit back into women who’ve been taught over the years to work, compete and live like men."
Claudia says she loves getting other women hooked on surfing too. “Just watching the ladies catching their first wave and that massive smile on their face is so rewarding. It is so nice to see them improve and gain confidence in the water. The transformation from stressed out businesswomen at the beginning of the escape to blissed out, sunkissed gidget by the end of the weekend is great to see. I’m very grateful that I get to make a difference in gidget's lives.”
Because every day is different, Claudia loves what she does. “Looking back I was never made for 9-5 work! A typical work day for me could look something like this: it starts with going out for my own surf to kick off the day, then back to my home office for a couple of hours of email and admin for VGG surf weekends, meet up with a gidget for a personal surf training session or for a board-shopping session, write a blog post for Venus Goes Gidget, meet up with the VGG yoga teacher and nutritionist Becky to discuss the menu plan for the next retreat, a bit more admin, or if the surf’s still good…
By taking small steps, Claudia believes that she and a host of other small-business women are slowly changing the surfing landscape. “More and more ladies are giving it a go, so I think for now, it’s all about collaboration and actually using our feminine power rather than trying to run businesses like men in a competitive way that’s focussed solely on profit. Clearly that’s not working if you are looking at some of the bigger corporations for example. There is lots of movement in the industry, which is good, and more and more
awesome ladies setting up their own businesses." “At the moment, however, it’s still an industry run by men, which you can see by how women in the industry are portrayed. 10 years ago it was only ‘tomboys’ who were surfing and you were one of the boys if you did surf, but now they’ve put it on its head and it’s the other extreme. It’s blonde blue-eyed, super tanned girls with perfect bodies being portrayed as the stereotype for female surfers. I hope with more women coming on board the pendulum is swinging back to a healthy medium and it truly turns into an industry for surfing women of all ages and shapes." “For women starting out, I just say, you can do it! Trust your inner gidget. It takes a bit of time to build and grow a business but if you are passionate about what you do, you’ll be able to make it happen. Everyone starts small. Even the big surf brands had to start somewhere. Just make sure to not lose yourself in your own business and keep surfing. I’m guilty of getting too much in the zone, and forgetting about my own surfs, which is really not the point of it all…”
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Image courtesy of Fran Miller / Girlsurfnetwork