Westbound Boarder

It’s 2009, and if you head to a locals beach where the surf has hit it’s prime, you can look around and see quite the mix of people – young, old, men, and also women.  But it wasn’t always that way.  Women have come a long way since surfing first became widespread.  Women have always been in the picture, but only recently have they transformed their image from the “bikini babes” in the background to true, featured “surfer chicks.”

This summer, Villa Villa Cola Productions and Roxy debuted Dear and Yonder, which hit a selection of art houses nationwide during its launch tour.  Created by Tiffany Campbell and Andria Lessler, Dear and Yonder features some of the most progressive riding to date.  Dear and Yonder follows top professionals including Roxy team riders Sally Fitzgibbons, Sofia Mulanovich and Kassia Meador, as they surf their home breaks (Dear) and travel the world (Yonder).  In addition to chronicling today’s surfers, Dear and Yonder spreads its roots deeper and cultivates a sense of place and knowledge of history, reaching back in time to unearth footage of iconic surfers such as Linda Benson, Rell Sunn and Lisa Andersen.

I got a chance to preview the film this past week, and it was so cool and inspiring to watch a hyped film featuring primarily all female surfers.  The film takes viewers through how surfing got started, featuring top female progressives in the sport and also their struggle to take it to the next level. It opens with a history lesson on how surfing got started and how women first got involved.  It also portrays some of the hardships women had to endure to get to where they are today.  While men were fending off masses of eager sponsors, women struggled to find sponsors to help cover entry fees for an increasing number of competitions, and most only offered little more than men’s cloths and wetsuits.

Fast forward to the present day, where seeing a group of female surfers in the water is ordinary as can be.  I liked Dear and Yonder because it featured present day females, not only surfing as a sport, but surfing as an entire lifestyle, incorporating their own, unique attitude into the sport.  For example, one scene in the film features “Captain Liz Clark,” a surfer who has been sailing around the world for the past three years, living off the earth’s natural resources and experimenting new and interesting cultures along the way.  Another scene features Ashley Lloyd, a women who spends her days shaping surf boards made from sustainable materials.  Another scene features Judith Sheridan, an awesome body surfer (seriously, pro surfers move out of the way for this woman) who recently was diagnosed with MS.  Her disease didn’t stop her though; in fact, it only gave her more of a reason to embrace her life and talent that she was handed.

Aside from surfing, a secondary underlying theme throughout the film was sustainability.  Alongside surfing also comes the importance of being one with the earth and living off its natural resources.  The women featured in Dear and Yonder do their part in giving back, from Amy Clark who uses solar energy and wind power to propel her throughout her worldwide exploration, to Belinda Baggs who sews her own board shorts on her off days from the waves.

All in all, great movie; two thumbs up from us!  It comes out on DVD next month, so if you get a chance the laid-back tracks combined with the strong message, beautiful scenery, and of course, awesome surfing makes for a nice change from the typical surfing film.

Another week gone, another Friday here, with the weekend just over the horizon.  Below are some links to surf this week, highlighting fun happenings around the Web.  Check them out, and have a great weekend!  May your weekend be filled with waves, boards and sand, and may your limbs remain fully in tact

• The Art of ‘Hardcore Sitting’ Explained: One of my clients, HowStuffWorks.com (awesome site, BTW; check it out!), is working with a Wheelchair Skateboarder, Aaron Fotheringham, in their new ad campaign.  Aaron was the first person to complete a backflip in a wheelchair (!!!)  He has a neat, inspirational story, profiled this month in HUCK Magazine Online; definitely a worthwhile read.
• They Have a Month Dedicated to Craft Beer? It’s true.  Orgon Governer Ted Kulongosky officially declared July “Oregon Craft Beer Month,” with several Portland-based brewaries joining in the fun.  For information on events associated with Oregon Craft Beer Month, visit the Web site.  Can we get one these in LA please, Arnold?
• See Jane Skate: Our friends at SLAG are not the only chick’s out there motivating any and all ladies to learn to skate. Check out what Ms. Anne Klazek is up to as she is working on making girls of all skill levels more comfortable on their skateboard. Although the events already passed, read about what her skate events are all about – she’s pretty rad…
• Bachelor Introduces New Ticket Pricing: Some angry skiers say it will just cause headaches, but some think it pure genius. Mt. Bachelor is introducing new way to price their lift tickets, where they will “match the experience to the price.”  This means fluctuating lift ticket prices, based upon the visibility, lift operations and snow conditions. Check out the deets here.
• Roxy Previews 2009/2010 Line in New York: Its never too early to start shopping for your winter set up, as Roxy demonstrated when they previewed their upcoming Holiday line in New York this past week.  With snowboard gear, workout outfits, and even a brand new line of party dresses, Roxy helps us girls look cute and stylish while on the slopes.  Preview their new winter line and read about their New York demo here.
• Absinthe Films Drops Neverland Teaser: Travis Rice, need we say more?  Check it out!

With summer quickly approaching, faster than many of us may notice, its time to start thinking about summer surf camps… and Roxy’s got you covered.  For today’s Wicked Wednesday “Snow Camp” Review, I’m now broadening the series to also focus on surf camps, and this week we’re reviewing Roxy’s Surf Camp Series.

If you’ve never surfed before but would like to learn, this camp’s for you.  During this day camp experience, Roxy/Quiksilver surf instructors take campers from the beginning, touching upon everything from water safety to ocean science.  The goal of the camp is to get beginners to be able to surf on their own by the time they are done with their allotted session.

Although the camps are sponsored and promoted through Roxy/Quiksilver, they have several partners they work with, and each camp provides a completely different experience.  Some locations have adult camps, some are geared only toward women, and some are even geared toward more advanced riders.  But they all have one thing in common – they teach you how to surf, starting with the basics (meaning, you’ll be standing on a board in no time!)

Before I moved to LA (and decided to start surfing) people told me I’d basically be pro my first time since I snowboard, wakeboard, wakesurf, etc.  How wrong they were!  Although all sports involve standing on a board, that’s about all the have in common.  My first time surfing, I didn’t even catch one wave, and my second time I caught a few, after Danielle stepped in to give me a little push to help me out   So if you’re a beginner and want to learn the easy way, I’d highly recommend looking at attending one of these camps; as Danielle and I have stressed before, learning in groups is the way to go if you want to quickly take your skills to the next level.

If you are interested in attending a Roxy/Quiksilver camp, choose the location you’re interested in first and check out their respective Web sites for more information.  Prices, dates, etc. vary per location.  Camps take place at locations up and down the west coast of California, and there’s even one camp in Oregon!

So this summer, what will you be doing?  Learning to surf, of course   Catch ya in the tube!

• San Clemente, CA – Colas Surf Camp
• Dana Point, CA – Ocean Academy
• Dana Point, CA – Girl in the Curl
• Newport Beach, CA – Ocean Adventure Programs
  
• Redondo Beach, CA – Perfect Day
• Santa Monica, CA – Perfect Day
• Malibu and Ventura, CA – Mako’s
• Santa Barbara, CA – Surf Happens
• Cannon Beach, OR – Oregon Surf Adventures
• Tofino, Canada – Tofino Surf Camp

Well it’s Wednesday, and for those of you who don’t know, it’s time to talk snowboard camp. I warned you last week that each Wicked Wednesday Andrea, Rochelle (our NEW contributing blogger!) and myself are going to be giving you all the dirt on upcoming snowboard camps. Our goal is to give you all the information you may need to make an informed decision about which camp to choose. So here it goes!

Do you live near the best resort in the world? Or are you planning a trip to Whistler-Blackcomb before winter is up? If you are lucky enough to answer yes to wither of the aforementioned questions, well now you are even luckier, because Whistler-Blackcomb is bringing you Roxy Women’s All Star Snowboard Camp, on March 7th and 8th and April 4th and 5th.

This is an opportunity for just the girls to, ‘get to that next level fast.’ Whether you are looking to improve your freeriding or want to excel in the park, this Roxy Women’s Camp is where it’s at. For only $179 bucks you get to spend 2 full days at Whistler-Blackcomb (lift tickets, muffins and coffee included!) with Roxy’s top female coaches and demo the latest ROXY snowboard gear. Oh, and to top it off, at the end of the day you will receive professional video analysis so you can really take advantage of the days lessons (you may even take home a few prizes!)

One thing’s for sure, you will improve your snowboard skills and make some friends. You really have nothing to loose with this one as two days of Whistler lift tickets alone would cost more than this ROXY camp. So as long as you are at least 19 (but under 100) and you are not a complete beginner (you have to be able to carve down the hill), well, then welcome to Roxy All Star Snowboard Camp!

This is awesome, and if you’re a female boarder in SoCal check it out: Today, Mt. High announced that it is partnering with Roxy and Snowboard Magazine to put on Sunset Sessions, a new series of evening park clinics for girls in January and February.  There are two four-week series available – one in January and one in February – and the Roxy Team and certified Mt. High coaches will be on site to coach and ride with participants.  Cost is $99 per session and lessons take place Wed. nights from 7-9pm.  

“At Mountain High we’re always looking for new ways to encourage more girls to get involved with snowboarding,” said Laura Johnson, Marketing Manager at Mountain High. “Last season we launched a successful 30+ women’s learn-to-ride program and look forward to adding Sunset Sessions for the 16-29 year old demographic. We’re excited to have ROXY and Snowboard Magazine as partners to add to the experience for the girls.”

As a lady who learned to ride the park on a team of women – with a female coach – I can personally say that the best way to learn the ins and outs of park riding is to do so with a group who can give you support and encouragement along the way.  

Though sessions will teach girls how to rock the park, they will be fairly beginner, geared towards “girls who are comfortable on green and blue runs.”  So if you’re looking to master 5′s this season, Sunset Sessions might not be a good fit for you.  However, if you’ve never taken formal sopestyle lessons but want to, this sounds like a great place to begin.