A DAY IN THE LIFE AT SISTER SURF
Our days orbit around the tide
The three of us sisters are water beings through and through. Day to day routines shift with the tides. In Playa Grande we surf near the high tide, if it is an early morning high tide we dawn patrol, midday high tide we begin our days with a yoga class. One thing is for sure each day begins with a cup of piping hot coffee or tea. We rise with the sun and go to sleep closely after it sets.
Here is a glimpse of the day to day happenings at a Sister surf & yoga retreat.
Our days orbit around the tide
The three of us sisters are water beings through and through. Day to day routines shift with the tides. In Playa Grande we surf near the high tide, if it is an early morning high tide we dawn patrol, midday high tide we begin our days with a yoga class. One thing is for sure each day begins with a cup of piping hot coffee or tea. We rise with the sun and go to sleep closely after it sets.
We like to keep our retreats on the smaller side 4-8 women. With smaller groups we are able to be a bit more flexible with our schedule and make sure everyone’s individual needs are met.
Surfing is scheduled when the conditions are the best. We normally have a combination of beginner and intermediate surfers and choose locations and times based on their ability. Our surfer to instructor ratio is 2:1 so that you will always have the attention and instruction needed in the water. Depending on the tide we normally surf one long session or a morning and afternoon session. All surf session are filmed for our surf coaching sessions.
Surfing so much really works up your appetite and Costa Rica is known for its delicious tropical fruit and fresh line caught fish. Ceviche is a local fish dish here cooked in lime juice. We work with the local staff to cater the menu to your every need. Our menu is a mix of traditional Costa Rican foods and some house made specialties like homemade pasta and zucchini and tuna carpaccio. We also have vegan and vegetarian options.
Early dawn surfing under the moon set
Itinerary Example
Arrival day
Depending on the time of your arrival the first day we try to squeeze in a yoga class if we can or a sunset before dinner. Check in time is generally 2:00.
2:00 arrive at hotel
3:00 light snack
4:00 / intention setting for the week
5:30 Sunset cocktails
Dinner
Day One
On days when the tide is high in the morning and in the afternoon we normally surf twice. Our day would flow like this.
High tide 5:00 am 5:30 pm
5:30 Small breakfast/ coffee
Introduction to surfing and beginner lesson
Breakfast
Yoga
Lunch
Pool session. Learn surf safety, paddles technique and how to turtle roll or duck dive.
Video coaching
Sunset Surf
Dinner
Video coaching
Day Two
Morning surf
Breakfast
Yoga
Lunch
Cultrual Tour
Dinner out
Cultural tour
Day Three
Morning surf
Breakfast
Hike to tide pool
Lunch
Restorative Yoga
Self Care
Sunset Surf
Dinner
Sunset hike to tide pools
Day Four
Morning Gentle Flow Yoga class
Breakfast
Surf
Lunch
free time
Sunset
Dinner
Chelsea with her artwork
Day Five
Estuary Tour
Breakfast
Surf
Class room session*
lunch
Surf
Closing cermomy Yoga class
Dinner
Early morning in the estuary
Departure day
Depending on what time you leave we will have our last breakfast together and part ways. If you have an afternoon flight you can leave your bags at reception and use the facilities until your departure.
TRAVELING TO COSTA RICA? WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Costa Rica travel info:
We all know traveling to a new country by yourself can be a bit intimidating, so I thought I would share with you all some insight on how to prepare for your trip and what to expect when you arrive.
Costa Rica travel info:
We all know traveling to a new country by yourself can be a bit intimidating, so I thought I would share with you all some insight on how to prepare for your trip and what to expect when you arrive.
Travel info:
Liberia airport (LIR) is the closest airport to fly into if you are coming to Playa Grande. It is only an hour drive from La Marejada hotel. There are more and more airlines that are flying to LIR now and direct flights from Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and the Mid-west.
You cannot fly into Costa Rica on a one-way ticket, when you check in for your flight they will ask you to show proof of departure back to your home country. I am guessing most of you are flying on a round trip ticket but if not, you can book a flight with American airlines and cancel for a full refund within 24 hours.
Visa Info:
American and Canadian Citizens do not need to get travel visa for Costa Rica, when you go through customs the normally will write in 90 days as a tourist in the country. The Customs officers will ask you your occupation, how long you are staying the county and where you are staying (La Marejada Hotel in Playa Grande.
The hotel:
La Marejada is located in the town of Playa Grande. La Marejada is an eight-bedroom boutique hotel, each room has air conditioning and hot water. The hotel has a pool, yoga space, restaurant and a full bar and is just a few minutes’ walk from the beach.
Playa Grande:
The town of Playa Grande is tiny, if you blink you will miss it. We have a few small grocery stores, a school and a handful of restaurants and surf shops. A lot of the people who live here are expats surfers from all over the World. The community welcomes tourism with open arms and people always seem to be coming back here year after year. Both the laid back vibe and the great surf are the main draw to visit Playa Grande.
The Beach:
The beach is 3 minutes from the hotel, if you wanted to you could walk on the beach for 7 miles. We surf a few different waves along the beach depending on swell size and direction. All the waves we surf break on sand and in the dry season the water is crystal clear.
The Weather
We have two seasons here in Playa Grande, dry season (December – April) and wet season (May – November. Dry season is also summer, blue skies every day, high 90’s and very dry. Wet season expect rain every afternoon, the most rain fall in September and October. Pack lightly or if you need help check out our blog on what to pack for a surf retreat.
Getting around:
Even though Spanish is the main language in Costa Rica, a lot of people speak English as well. Especially in the beach towns and in tourist areas. It doesn’t hurt to brush up on your Spanish before your trip as the locals love it when you try to speak and most the time people will correct or help you out. Pura Vida is the saying here in Costa Rica meaning pure life.
US dollars are excepted here but for a better exchange rate especially in the smaller Tico shops you may want Colones. The exchange rate is around 590 colones to the US Dollar. Its best to travel with small bills as well because some places don't always have change.
A day in the life:
Our day to day schedule revolves around the surf conditions. We try to make a point to watch sunset every night, the sunsets here are so beautiful the whole town goes to watch. Here is an idea of what a typical day would look like. (check out our Instagram for the latest pics @sistersurfcr)
6:30 Coffee/ small breakfast
7:00 intro to surfing
7:30 Surf
10:00 Breakfast
11.30 Video Coaching or Classroom session
1:00 Lunch
4:00 Yoga
5:30 Sunset
6:30 Dinner
SURF & YOGA RETREAT: PACKING LIST
I’m heading to Costa Rica next week for our November surf & yoga retreat and have been thinking a lot about packing for my trip. Mastering “the packing” of a surf trip can be tricky business! How do you know what to bring & not to overpack! Even still I usually come home thinking that I could have packed lighter ( but its so hard with so many cute bikinis!!) So I would like to share with you my go to Costa Rica surf & yoga trip essentials.
Chelsea talking
I’m heading to Costa Rica next week for our November surf & yoga retreat and have been thinking a lot about packing for my trip. Mastering “the packing” of a surf trip can be tricky business! How do you know what to bring & not to over pack! Even still I usually come home thinking that I could have packed lighter ( but its so hard with so many cute bikinis!!) So I would like to share with you my go to Costa Rica surf & yoga trip essentials.
BIKINIS
Bikinis are always the first thing i think about when getting ready for my trip. It’s just hard to choose which ones to bring! Lol. My number one rule when buying suits is they have to be comfortable, cute and stay on while surfing. I normally pack twice as many tops than bottoms because I use them for yoga tops too! on this trip I'm bringing 4 surf bikinis, 1 lounging bikini and 1 long sleeve one piece suit. The long sleeve one piece suits are the best for keeping it all in and not getting terribly sun burnt for those mid day surf sessions! It is baking hot in the middle of the day in Costa Rica so its nice to stay covered.
Healthy & Reef Safe Sunscreen
Spending most of my time outdoors sunscreen plays a huge part in my everyday life and over the years I have really learned a lot about what kind of sunscreens we should be using. Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies and we should be lathering it up with yummy chemical free & reef safe sunscreens! It's estimated that each year 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotions end up in the coral reefs, causing coral bleaching and harming marine life. Many popular sunscreens sold world wide contain ingredients that aren’t only toxic to the environment, but also toxic to people, like Oxybenzone which is a chemical most commonly found in these sunscreens and a huge contributor to killing reefs around the world. We need to do our part to treat our oceans & our bodies kindly. Avasol and Raw Elements are a couple sunscreens that I love, work great and smell delicious!
SARONGS
For me sarongs are just the best! they pack small and can be used for almost everything ( beach towel, shade maker, skirt, dress) the list goes on! If I had to I'm pretty sure i could survive my whole trip just wearing the sarong. If you don’t have one already there are lots of cute ones to be found here, so no worries!
Actual CLOTHING
Usually i pack a cute dress ( the long one in the picture is my favorite handmade by Ranifly ) Yoga pants, couple tank tops and comfy shorts. Anything light and flowy are the best for here in November.
DIVA CUP
Ok so here we are at the “diva cup” conversation! Haha! I do have to admit it was pretty hard for Coco & Marjie to get me on board with this whole diva cup idea….But yes they were absolutely right I love it ( especially for surfing )!! They are easy to travel with and no more worrying about anything hanging out from your bikini!!!! Not to mention not adding to the huge amount of single use waste in this world! If your feeling up to it I highly recommend giving this product a go!
HYDRO FLASK
There is good drinking water here in Playa Grande so i always bring my refillable water bottle! It keeps your water ( or margaritas ) ice cold which is key in these hot places!! And as always trying to use less single use plastics to keep the oceans clean and animals safe! Playa Grande is a National Park for the leather back turtles, we have to do our part to keep these beautiful creatures coming back here year after year to nest! Defiantly a MUST bring.
OTHER THINGS
Leave in conditioner & water proof mascara to keep from looking too salted!!! And I always bring oil of oregano to keep any sickness or infection away ( this is always my number 1 go to ) along with the trustee Ibuprofen for any minor injuries/pains… Also if you are sensitive to bug bites i recommend bringing some benadryl.
Thanks for reading and i hope this can help some of you ladies pack for a surf trip feeling a little more prepared and STOKED! If you have any awesome travel packing tips please leave a comment! I would love to hear about them.
RETREAT LOTCATION BREAKDOWN
LOCATION BREAK DOWN
Interested in a surf retreat but not sure what location to choose? This is a short guide sharing a bit about each of our locations and what each place has to offer.
PLAYA GRANDE COSTA RICA
WAVES: Classic beach break set up, 2-3ft range through the winter months, with the occasional 3-4+ foot days. November - March generally on the smaller side for fun playful surf and plenty of space to avoid crowds.
TRAVEL: We are located about an hour and a half from Liberia International Airport. With direct flights from over a dozen US cities, you can be here in 6 hours.
PROXIMITY TO SURF: Private beach access 5 minutes from your room and the surf break is right out front. If you are looking for an easy surf trip without setting foot in a car all week, this is the spot for you.
LEVEL: First timer to advanced sand bottom with peaks up and down the 3-mile-long white sand bay.
WEATHER: December through March is considered the dry season. During these months, rainfall is very low or minimal, skies are generally clear, and sunshine is abundant. This is the best beach and outdoor weather of the year in Guanacaste. Average temperature 80-90 degrees.
OSA PENISULA
WAVES: The waves here are all about the points, 3 or more righthand point breaks within 20 minutes and one right out front. Generally, 3–4-foot range. Perfect for long boards, mid lengths and fishes as well as shortboards when it’s a bit bigger.
TRAVEL: International flight into San Jose Costa Rica, 45-minute domestic flight into Puerto Jimenez. Our accommodations are about 30 minutes from the Puerto Jimenez Airport.
PROXIMITY TO SURF: Waves right out front of our beach front accommodations or 10–20-minute drive through the dense rainforest to 3 other point breaks and a beach break as well.
LEVEL: Advanced beginner and up
WEATHER: Literally where the jungle meets the ocean, you can expect clear mornings with afternoon showers, average temp 85-88. Overall, it feels lush, tropical, and very green, with warm ocean temperatures and high humidity
EL SLAVADOR
WAVES: This is what surf dreams are made of, a perfect peeling point break, long walls and great for working on turns, speed and some tube potential out there as well.
TRAVEL: Fly into San Salvador international airport where you will be shuttled 3 hours to the southern part of the country at Punta Mango.
PROXIMITY TO SURF: 100 steps down to the beach and a 3-minute walk to the main point.
LEVEL: Some experience necessary. Get those paddle arms ready it’s a long paddle out but one good wave here is all it takes to make your trip!
WEATHER: November is the end of rainy season here is El Salvador. Occasional afternoon showers, warm water, and average air temperature 80-86 degrees.
PUERTO RICO
WAVES: There is something for everyone here in Puerto Rico. Our beginner break is sandbar where the wave breaks into crystal clear Caribbean water with sea turtles all around. For advanced beginners and up we know all the spots and often we surf alone.
TRAVEL: Fly into San Juan and shuttle two hours to our Villas or you can fly right into to Aguadilla (BQN) located about 10 minutes from us.
PROXIMITY TO SURF: We are 5-20 minutes from multiple different surf spots depending on the swell size and conditions.
LEVEL: Beginner to advanced
WEATHER: In a nutshell, perfect. Scattered afternoon tropical showers, rainbows galore, average temperature mid 80’s but the Tradewinds keep it fresh.
El Salvador
This was our first retreat in El Salvador and we had an amazing group of women. Not only were they amazing but the waves were as well.
Advanced Retreat, Location Punta Mango, El Salvador
This was our first retreat in El Salvador and we had an amazing group of women. Not only were they amazing but the waves were as well. We are so thankful the surf gods provided and the waves truly were nothing short of perfection.
Here are a few highlight pictires from our trip.
We loved this place so much we have decided to add a retreat again next year. Here is some inside information on what to expect.
Getting there: Fly into SAL San Salvador airport, there multiple flights a day from the US. Our drivers will be waiting for you as you exit the airport. Our location is a 2.5-hour drive to the hotel.
Is it safe? Yes, in the last 5 years the country has been focused on making the country safe for travelers and tourism. El Salvador is rapidly becoming a surf destination and is now ranked as a travel #1 advisory for tourist.
How are the waves? There is an perfect right point and if its smaller a nice beach break right with peaks in both directions. There is good white water for first time surfers and plenty of options for waves.
Hotel info: Los Mangos Hotel sits above the beach with a perfect view of the waves.
Pop Up!
How to pop up!
Are you interested in learning to surf but have never touched a surfboard before? Here are some tips that will help you to gain the strength, flexibility and balance you will need in the water to pop up into your surfing stance.
How to pop up!
Are you interested in learning to surf but have never touched a surf board before? Here are some tips that will help you to gain the strength, flexibility and balance you will need in the water to pop up into your surfing stance. Honestly ladies; even if you can already surf, but your pop up is not on point, it will become hindering to your surfing ability. Check out these tips and exercises. You can practice them at home and all you need is a yoga mat or towel.
Before we start practicing the pop up you need to find out if you are regular or goofy footed.
Some of you are probably wondering what this means, so let me explain. Regular footed means that you would surf with your left foot in front of your right foot, so that the right foot would be on the back of the board. A goofy footed surfer would be the opposite with the left foot on the back and the right foot in front. Don't worry, it is super easy to figure out, just stand normally with your feet hip distance apart, have a friend or spouse give you a gentle push forward from the center of your back. Which ever foot naturally goes forward is your dominant foot, the foot that will go to the back of the board. Now you are ready for pop up 101!
Beginner pop up techniques
We have come up with a few different techniques for getting to your feet. Pease try out each technique and see what works best for you.
Knees
Ok so for the first technique you will lay face down on your mat; we are going to pretend our yoga mat is our surfboard. Place your hands under your shoulders on the mat and scoot your knees forward to all fours position. From here you will slide your front foot between your hands, and then step up and plant your back foot. This version works for people who may have tight hips and need a little more time getting stable on the board. Remember, your surf stance should be with your toes facing the side of the board or mat but positioned in the middle of the board with knees bent & looking forward. NOT your feet in a skiers stance and NOT a warrior 2 yoga stance.
Front foot first…
The next technique, you will come to lying again on your belly, keeping your elbows in close to your side, press your arms straight, and swing your front foot forward between you hands, then plant your back foot. Always keeping a bend in the knees once you have gotten up to both feet and again looking forward.
Back foot first…
For this one you will lay face down again, bend your back knee and then plant your back foot, step the front foot forward. For those of you with long legs this can be a great technic for you to get to your feet. Stay low, bending in the knees and head lifting up to looking forward.
Pro pop up
If you can, this is the best version of the pop up, the tricky part to popping up this way is that since you are getting to your feet too fast, they may not be in the correct place on the board. If you can practice at home, pay attention to foot placement.
What are the steps to a great pop up.
Speed
Firstly, you need to have speed before you can pop up, making sure you have a good strong paddle and getting some forward momentum. You can’t pop up if you can’t catch a wave, so you need to be able to catch a wave.
When to pop up
When you are first learning, your pop up is different then if you are an intermediate or advanced surfer. Because you are just beginning, it is not necessary to pop up right away. Once you have felt the wave hit you and you are moving forward, you have caught the wave. This is when you want to pop up using whichever technique you have practiced.
If you are an intermediate or advanced surfer you will want to pop up on the top of the wave, as soon as you catch it, pop up right to your feet. Not while dropping down the face and not at the bottom of the wave.
Hand placement
When popping up, place your hands on the deck (the top of the surfboard). Make sure your hands are under your shoulders and that you apply equal weight to each hand as press your arms straight and pop up.
Flexibility in the hips
This is a tough one for a lot of people so here are a few poses you can practice on land to help lossen up your hips.
1. Figure four pose is a great pose to begin opening the hips. Against a wall if your hips are really tight.
2. Pidgeon pose for people with a bit more flexibility. Hold the poses on each side for 3-5 minutes.
Arm Strength
Popping up on land and yoga push ups are great practice to building up the strength you need to pop up and to paddle. The more you practice before-hand, the easier it will be for you when you try on the board. Doing push ups on your knees is a great place to start and gradually making your way to a full push up.
Foot placement
When you are practicing your pop ups on land try to make sure your feet are a little wider than hip distance apart. Each time you pop up, keep your feet in the center of your yoga mat and make sure to land in that same spot each time. When you are ready to get in the water and surf for the first time, you need to be lying correctly on your board so that when you get to your feet they are in the right spot. We call this spot the sweet spot. You are positioned so that the board is flat in the water. If you are too far forward on the front of the board, the nose will go under. If you are to for back, the nose will go up in the air.
Thanks for reading everyone please feel free to contact me if you have any questions sistersurfcr@gmail.com. Pura Vida , Coco
THUMBS OUT - HITCHHIKING IN PARADISE
As three teenage girls growing up on the small island of St. John you get noticed. Especially when you are homeschooled and hitchhike everywhere with your surf boards at all hours of the day.
As three teenage girls growing up on the small island of St. John you get noticed. Especially when you are homeschooled and hitchhike everywhere with your surf boards at all hours of the day.
Truck Bay St John
Our trio had quite a few nicknames for this reason. The Girls, The Surfer Girls, Dropouts, and the Tripod. Our house was nicknamed the sorority house for the constant flow of 4-6 girls in and out at all hours of the day. Doors where never locked, and a sea of beds was strewn across the floor. We easily slept 6 deep in our room, cloths were everywhere and we slept in our bathing suits and rash guards. We had surf movies on at all times; played music loud and danced and skateboarded around the house pretending to get barreled with sheets strung across the kitchen counters and the fun never ended. Often times there was a giant pot of homemade soup in the fridge we survived on. All was good at the sorority house but getting to the surf at the other side of the island was another adventure.
Francis Drake channel, the gateway to the BVI
We hitchhiked everywhere. On a small island 7 miles long, that was the way to get around. But we had surfboards and out precious gallons of water and bread with us. We traveled as always as the trio so the only real chance of getting a ride was a truck. Sometimes it would take us 3 or 4 different hitching rides to make it to our destination. In the Virgin Islands when you hitch hike instead of sticking out your thumb there you point in the direction you are going. To this day when we are Island we still are referred to as the surfer girls. We were kind of the first girls to start surfing. There was a whole crew of us, but our trio was defiantly the die Hards, and we still are, it took us a few decades to figure it all out, but Sister Surf was the answer to make our lifestyle a reality.
Apple Bay Tortola
ROADSIDE SHROOMS
This one I defiantly remember because it happened to me. Probably one of the funniest nights I can remember ever. It all started with a guided trip to Zion hill with a good friend of ours on Tortola. We were given our first lesson at mushroom hunting. Zion hill is one of the highest points on Tortola where the cow pastures were abundant with magic mushrooms. A quick lecture in what to look for and we had a full basket. We decide the mushrooms would the most palatable on a pizza. We promptly baked one, got dressed and ready for our big “trip” out and ate. Around the time the mushrooms began to kick in our dear friend’s dad came home. He was very eager to cook us his specialty “spaghetti”. We all hid in the room laughing about some stuffed animals’ puppet show Marjie was putting on for us. Somehow, we managed to sit through dinner with her dad while our spaghettis began to swim around our plates and we were out the door fast. We stumbled down the hill to hitch a ride to the party. We must have been quite high on the shrooms by now and we caught a ride quickly. While everyone piled in the right side of the car I made my way around to the driver’s side door, I guess I must have gotten distracted because before I had a chance to open the door the car took off and left me behind. We are still laughing about this one! I think I chased them down the road and then eventually they realized I was left behind.
Frida Zamba
STAR STRUCK
There was barley any female surfers in the Islands, so when Frida Zamba, 3x women’s world champion, showed up in Tortola, we were star struck. She surfed—and still does—in a radical, powerful, and graceful way that stands out upon men and women. Her and her husband stopped to pick us up and we couldn’t believe our luck. I remember their car was jam packed with boards already and barely space for us, but we all fit somehow. We were so excited I am not sure if we spoke or what we said. After that she was not only our mentor but also our friend. We would buy her old boards and if she commented on our surfing, you would not hear the end of it.
Next up…
A BOAT WITH NO LIGHTS - maybe some stories should not be told…. Crossing international waters in the without running lights
LEFT BEHIND IN PUERTO RICO - our first surf trip to Puerto Rico and we got left there
LAUDRY MONEY -hitchhiking down under. Dead broke but can’t pass up a good party.
The dropouts
We had outgrown the small wind waves of Reef Bay and had graduated to the real stuff. Our favorite spot was on Tortola—it still is. This particular surf spot was famous not for its waves, but for the full moon psychedelic parties at the beach bar situated directly in front of the main break
Fast forward to Winter 2005
We had outgrown the small wind waves of Reef Bay and had graduated to the real stuff. Our favorite spot was on Tortola—it still is. This particular surf spot was famous not for its waves, but for the full moon psychedelic parties at the beach bar situated directly in front of the main break. On glassy days, sweet reggae rhythms would drift through the lineup, adding a unique Caribbean vibe to every session. Surfing here came at a price though. To get to Tortola we had to not only pay for gas but also, we needed to clear customs. Our parents supported our surfing but did not pay for our surf trips thus it was time to get to work.
I think I was 14 when I got a job as a hostess at a nearby restaurant. Marjie was waiting tables there and we were making good money for a couple of teens. We saved our money for gas, clearing customs, boardshorts, and surf trips. One night while opening a bottle of wine at work for a table water from the that day’s surf session poured out of my nose! Hard to explain that to my boss. Cheslea and I also worked at the legendary Trunk Bay slinging snorkel gear to tourist, the best part of the job was that when the surf was big the tours shut down. Marjie would sometimes pick us up off the beach on the way to Tortola.
Trunk Bay
Tortola
Surfing became our priority and getting better was the goal and three of us were constantly pushing each other in the water. When the waves were big and gnarly, and one of us caught a good one, it was game on—we shared a friendly kind of sister rivalry. Marjie was always the most charging of us three. To this day when she takes a super gnarly wipeout she comes up, flips her hair out of her face and laughs. It is kind of her signature move and anyone that surfs with her knows it! Not everyone was stoked about us surfing though, we caused a scene, constantly cheering and being silly in the water. You’ve probably heard about the pecking order in the lineup, right? Well, our trio was at the very bottom.
All the waves we surfed were shallow reef breaks and sometimes heavy. We began on the shoulder and probably spent a few years surfing on the inside. The locals either loved us or hated us. A few were kind enough to take us under their wing, and we began getting better and slowly moving our way up, gaining respect. It did not happen overnight; years and years of patience, resilience, and pleanty of wipeouts earned us our spot in the lineup.
Stay tuned for our next story “thumb’s out” and collection of our most hilarious inter island hitchhiking stories.
Surfer Groms Circa 2006? Zancudo, Costa Rica
LETTING GO OF FEAR
Fear comes to people in all different ways in surfing. It may be just diving under a wave for the first time, or fear of turtle rolling or a fear of wiping out and getting hurt. As surf instructors, these are things we can teach and guide you through.
I chose fear as my first blog topic because….
Fear is what holds me back the most in my surfing. I recently pulled back on three super sick waves (that for some reason I cant get out of my mind, I just keep playing them in my head on repeat)
I feel if you aren't putting yourself in a position where you are getting out of your comfort zone, you aren't going to improve, not just in surfing, but in other aspects of life as well.
Fear comes to people in all different ways in surfing. It may be just diving under a wave for the first time, or fear of turtle rolling or a fear of wiping out and getting hurt. As surf instructors, these are things we can teach and guide you through. However, when you begin surfing on your own, the best advice I can give you is to COMMIT! Commit to dropping in, to paddling out, commit to getting out your comfort zone and take a few wipeouts. Most the time it’s really not that bad, and believe it or not, sometimes it’s good to just get worked and get it out of the way.
Every time you hesitate in surfing you get WORKED! Hesitation is your enemy, and for some reason, the waves I let pass by or chicken out on are the ones that I can’t seem to forget. It doesn’t matter if you are catching a one foot wave or a eight foot wave, find your inner beast and go for it, let go of the fear and COMMIT.
Here is a super sick wave I should have easily pulled into and gotten spat out of, and fortunately, it’s caught on film so I can watch how I chickened out over and over.
A few things to help you let go of your fear:
If you can, surf with a buddy! Having someone at a similar level as you will help in the water. You can push each other in a positive way.
Choose your waves wisely, don't catch the first wave of the set! If you get out to the line up and realize it is way, way too big for you, don't worry, wait for the sets to roll by, then paddle inside as fast as you can and try and catch a smaller wave to shore.
Know your surroundings. Before you paddle out, look for rips or channels. Take a moment to observe where the sets are breaking. Watch the waves for a bit and then make a plan.
Surf etiquette - make sure you know and understand the rules out there in the line up.
Just because all the surfers are on one peak doesn't always mean that's where you should surf (especially at beach breaks). Lots of times the waves are just as good or better right up or down the beach.
Don't forget to communicate in the line up. Even if you are just a beginner surfer, when you have the right of way, don't let people bully you out of waves. Simply say “I am going…” and yell out the direction you are going. A smile and hello in the line up goes a long way. Hoot for people that get sick waves!
Lastly, we are all out surfing because we love it right? The goal is to have fun! So get out there and catch some waves.
Sister Surf: Short Stories V1
We want to share our story of our sisterhood and how blood may not be thicker than water, not salt water anyway
We want to share our story of our sisterhood and how blood may not be thicker than water, not salt water anyway
January 2001 (or somewhere close to that)
S/V Wild Swan lands in Coral Bay St John, USVI.
Marjie and I head to shore to take our dog Lily for a long-awaited walk. At this point in time it has been over a year since our departure from the tiny lake town of East Tawas Mi. Time has been well spent sailing from the Midwest the way south to the island of Grenada.
Our eyes had been open to the world since we left our small town, and the next adventure was awaiting just around the corner. Or for us at the end of the dock because there at the end stood a couple girls about our age. We had been stuck on the boat for far too long and the other cruising families we traveled with had mostly boy. We met Chelsea and Chutney right away and that night they invited us over for a sleep over. I remember Chutney’s mom Sandy taking us up a ladder onto their roof that night to watch the stars.
This moment, simple yet profound, shaped the lives we lead and was the begging of our lifelong sisterhood.
Want to hear more about our story? Stay tuned! Our next short story is all about our first surfing experience.
2002 First trip to Costa Rica
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