Surfing Archives - Confessions of a Surfer Girl

Scoring Barrels and Belly Flops at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch

October 18, 2024/in Competitions, Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

It’s dark.

I’m driving down Highway 99, heading toward California’s Central Valley, making turnoffs onto this very obscure road bookended by farm fields. I’m looking for Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, but I’m really looking for this casino hotel.

Every cloud of dust can be mistaken for something in the road. I’m from Texas, I can hang. I’m familiar with these backcountry two-lane highways funneling dirt vortexes at my cars’ headlamps. Trucks way too big for these tiny roads barrel by my car giving it a little shake.

Oooowee I pop on some Johnny Cash.

This highway is a mood—the perfect scene for a hitchhiking serial killer. I was raised in the 90s when stranger danger thrived and when you combine it with watching one too many murder documentaries, you know better than to pick up slack jawed mystery folks in the dark.

The beacons are lit in Lemoore.

Thoughts are disrupted and my heart rate jumps when a large semi barrels down the other side of the tiny highway shaking my Subie and kicking up a dust storm in its path. My nostrils thank me as I blast the air vents to avoid inhaling farm chemicals, burnt rubber and trucker exhaust. I toggle between freezing, adrenaline and sweat, much to my air vents’ dismay as it finally earns its keep. I think ‘No wonder people go crazy’–sheer sensory deprivation and good luck if you are harboring demons. The chemical fumes are mind-altering and isolation maddening. It’s like Timothy Leary meets Charlie Manson meets Gollum.

There’s no doubt a small, anti-social part of me wishes I could just make a hard left toward the coast and find some colder lonelier peaks, but I think of the place I’m surfing tomorrow–it has “lonely” peaks too sans submarine-sized sharks and one hell of a price tag. I’ve got 46 miles to go on my 210-mile trip–where is this casino? It should light up the sky, but the darkness swallows any evidence like a black hole.

A few more turns and the casino appears like a beacon atop Gondor—and I call for (sleep) aid.

I find the front desk and a few non-gambler-looking guys from Stab, strike up a conversation to learn they are, in fact, also nervous as hell to surf Kelly Slater’s coveted wave.

Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch: seven football fields long, one-minute+ rides–I should have done squats instead of pushups.

With Surf Ranch in our media sights, we call it a night after a few beers and don’t sleep a wink.

Who needs an alarm when you have a cocktail of adrenaline and anxiety? I’m up before my alarm doing my standard morning stretch and push-up routine knowing that it doesn’t make up for the weeks of no surfing–life, death and managing all of the above will do that. I’m just here for the party.

First one to get to the Surf Ranch, I stare at the gate, willing it to open and expecting the gate to be bigger considering the sheer size of the pool—looks are already deceiving. Behind the smallish, unassuming gate is a pool that is seven football fields long and hosts one-minute-plus rides.

My mouth goes dry and my heart thumps so loud I can hear it echo in the pit of my stomach. I am in, I have my own locker intermingled with the dudes—watch the towel changing, guys.

My first heat is at 10:00 a.m.

Heat—I’m in a…heat? It’s stacked? I’m fucked.

There are TV monitors everywhere you turn—never miss a minute.

And who might my judges be? Surf media, surf industry leaders and pros. No biggie.

kelly slater surf ranch surf coaches women

My favorite surf coaches ever–no shortage of girl power.

10:00 a.m. arrives way too soon, I’m about to shit my pants. I smile and can feel my throat tighten like the anxious grin that’s plastered on my face. I ordered a fruit plate filled with my favorites—watermelon, blueberries, strawberries—I counted on one hand how many pieces I ate and began to pace the grounds. I tell myself—no one actually cares about my surfing. I’ll be fine.

The air temp is a comfortable 85 degrees Fahrenheit and climbing, the water is a balmy 80 degrees Fahrenheit, clear and glassy. Picture perfect.

The only thing close to sharks were the photogs swimming about to catch the perfect shot. We “paddle out” next to a structure, classic rock and 90s alternative blares over the speakers. I’ve got a jet ski full of surf coach cheerleaders screaming and hooting my name—shouting encouragements because they know I’m terrified. My mouth goes drier than the Central Valley air, my tongue is numb and my surf coach super duper mellow.

Suddenly I hear over the loudspeakers: “CT4”

Heart palpitations begin. The wave appears out of nowhere it seems as a train barrels down a track. In a brief moment of humor and desperate attempt to distract myself, I wondered if anyone ever rides the train.

You’ve got the front row no matter where you’re sitting at Surf Ranch.

“Yeah Jackieeeee!!!” yell the surfer girls on the ski.

Turn around, shakily paddle, confused as hell—where do I aim my board agai—oh shit. The wave rolls right underneath me and the next person takes it.

My mouth has now become sandpaper. I hang my head in surfer shame. Not too long after: “CT4”—I miss it–again. Buh bye, $2,000 waves. I felt like whatshername in that movie where her big moment at Pipe is finally here and she chickens out. I’m looking pretty bad right now. Finally, the coach pushes me into my third wave, a CT4, or an intermediate wave, and I’m off and runnin’ down a dream, a la Tom Petty.

See, audience who is no doubt watching from all the monitors? I actually can surf, I promise.

Wave number four earns back some confidence and I call for a CT3, a rippable wave that ends with a barrel.

The jet ski full of my favorite cheerleaders follows me screaming and coaching me the whole way. Brooke tells me to get to the bottom of the wave, and I stall, think about Nicaragua and drop it like its hot, booty waaaaay out. I can feel the lip pouring over me and for a brief second, get the view every surfer craves and think—I can do this!!

I’m doing it!!

I’m….going over the falls!! Smash, flip and flop.

kelly slater surf ranch world title trophy

Holding the real deal–thing was heaaavy.

I forgot how many somersaults I did, but I didn’t hit my head—that much I’m stoked about.

I come up sucking air.

Heat descends on our troupe, job requirements kickstart my brain’s serious mode as water drips from my nostrils. I sit down giggling and tweaking out on adrenaline. It is currently impossible for me to stop smiling. I think I made a few of the media guys giggle.

“Want another hit?” asks the media gal.

I nod with enthusiasm as if someone just gave me a sample of the best drug on the market, she giggles and now, I get another one—adrenaline. No wonder these athletes dedicate their careers to this. The water has my brain in a trance dance and now I don’t feel so out of place.

Heat two was nothing but CT3s and me attempting to ride the barrel only resulting in belly flops and crashes each time. But I’m just proud that I tried. I could have done that all day and still been stoked. Every time I surfaced, despite being out of breath from the hold down, I came up smiling and stoked. I bet if I keep trying I could eventually get barreled and come out, I thought.

What was once a spasmodic mad dash through darkness came out the other end in a proverbial spit of glory. The surf coaches unanimously gave me ‘Wave of the Day’, which earned me a cool T-shirt and a temporary hold on Kelly’s 6th world title trophy…in addition to being treated like an absolute queen.

Sent a few required bragging rights texts, got many “fuck you” responses and I don’t think I stopped smiling the entire three hour drive home.

jackie connor barrled surf ranch lemoore ca

Boy, was that a sweet view or what? Dad would be proud.

My dad always wanted me to be a competitive swimmer like him, but I didn’t like the idea of waking up early, diving head first into a cold pool and eating powdered jello. But my dad still managed to get the ocean bug to bite me, which led to the surfing bug. He always got a kick out of my ocean adventures and would tell me about the time he learned to surf on the Jersey shore. He said he didn’t like surfing very much. Cut from the same cloth but used for different garments, I guess.

During my drive back, I kept saying out loud, “Dad, I know you had to have seen me today, right? You’d be so proud right now.”

At the end of the day, I felt he already knew what I did. I didn’t have to say a thing.

Product Review: Ho! Stevie Surf Racks

September 14, 2023/in Product Review, Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

backseat surfer girl frowning with boards in back of Jeep

I don’t remember signing a waiver…

Surfing is a fun active sport and yeah, it can be great to go at it alone—fantastic and magical, even! But those sunny days of summer creep up and a surfer in its natural habit wants to pile their best buds into the car to spend the entire day at the beach with some coolers, bocce ball, sick tunes and lest we forget…. boards of all shapes and sizes in tow to catch that sweet summertime surf.

But unless they’re driving a VW bus, that feat is near impossible and creeps into skills only Gen X and Gen Y can truly understand: car Tetris (Gen Z, do you know what this “Tetris” is?). I’ve seen some really creative solutions over the years that mostly involve a board or two hanging out of a car’s side windows as if they are preppin’ for a roadside liftoff. Or maybe it’s a Jenga puzzle held together precariously by an old bungee cord your stoned buddy found in his trunk between his spare tire and his dog Yoda’s Scooby snacks.

Other car stuffers border on potential backseat decapitation while trying to pack in that one way-too-nice compadre who forgot to sign your waiver before they sat down. And then there are other tie-down jobs that look as careless as the hippies driving the car, but somehow border on pure magic—it’s that Palo Santo surf wax laced with sage, I knew it (see: Santa Cruz surf trip with Lauren).

But why is all that fuss and stress necessary?

It’s fun to be creative, but friends don’t let friends ride to the beach alone.

ho stevie surf rack pads surfer girl smiling

That’s more like it.

And besides, do you really want to end up on Kookoftheday’s IG?

I didn’t think so.

Ho! Stevie has several solutions to this problem that won’t break the bank.

Enter: Surf Racks

Check out:

Surfboard Car Roof Racks: $48.97

Surfboard Aero Rack Pads: $24.97

Surfboard Tie Down Straps: $24.97

What I Love:

Roof Racks:

Carry up to three surfboards on top of your car, which, if you do the math (for me please because that’s why I write), means… *Jeopardy music*… you get to include TWO more friends in your car instead of your boards! Bonus points for you because that also equals less CO2 emissions since you are carpooling.

Also, the buckles come with teeth, so they have a stronger grip on that strap making it sturdier (and less stress sweat) for you and fellow freeway drivers. I definitely like the added touch of the silicone-lined buckles so your car doesn’t get scratched and your board doesn’t have dings before you get in the water.

Speaking of cars, there are pads located at the bottom of the racks set so you don’t have to worry about the actual rack scratching the top of your car, but just as an added precaution, I put a towel down anyway. :-o

Rack Pads:

Ever notice how rack pads like to slide around your car racks? It gets frustrating and sketchy, so the highlight of these for me was the anti-slip coating on the pad’s interior to help the pads (and ultimately your boards) stay put. Do they make this anti-slippage stuff for bikinis? Just sayin’… These pads are great if you have flat/plank-style crossbars.

There are two sizes for the rack pads—17” and 28” –the longer, the better because you can carry more boards, and referring to our fun math equation earlier, more boards on top of your car equals more friends IN your car.

Yay math!

Tie Down Straps:

Fifteen inches of fantastical straps equate to freedom for your car’s interior! Look what I did! More math!! :D Your friend’s domes are safe, car seats are surf wax-free and freeway drivers can rest assured they won’t have to reenact Super Mario Bros “Mario Kart” because your board stays put. These ALSO come with a silicone-coated buckle, so your boards and car are safe and sound.

Why:

Life is more fun when you enjoy surfing with friends. I mean, please don’t bring the entire clan plus the kitchen sink, but who else is going to vouch for your 2-minute undisturbed rides at Trestles? Or your sick barrel that DIDN’T give your staph at River? Amiright??

Yeasty Boys Makes Surfing More Inclusive in the Big Apple

September 12, 2023/in Do-Gooders, Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

In the salty heart of surf culture, many clubs and collectives have formed to build camaraderie. In 2021, Yeasty Boys, a name as unique as their mission, celebrates not just wave sliding, but also the importance of building inclusivity and connections within New York’s surf community.

What was initially a quirky way to describe the group of women she surfed with, Founder Gina Jurlando has organically transformed Yeasty Boys into an inclusive community of surfers from all backgrounds and levels. Founded in 2021, the club has become a beacon of camaraderie in New York’s surf world recently gaining over 270 members who are passionate about the water and range in skill level.

If you ever forget what “stoked” looks like, check out these Yeasty Boys.

“They’re going out every single day and now they’re the ones taking on the newer batch of beginners,” said Jurlando. “There’s become this really cool thing that you know, you can start [surfing] as a beginner and if you really commit to it and you enjoy it, you can share the knowledge that you’ve learned.”

Yeasty Boys has made it their mission to create a space where everyone feels welcome, regardless of gender, socioeconomic background or experience level by organizing surf groups and a “buddy system” where they pair a less experienced surfer with a more experienced surfer. This also doubles as a way for less experienced surfers to better understand surf etiquette and gain more knowledge of the ocean and waves, despite surfing’s often lofty price tag.

“Even if someone can’t afford a lesson and could just afford to rent a board, you know, they have at least a basis of information on etiquette,” said Jurlando. “And I think that’s also why like the buddy system that we have worked so people can afford lessons when we go out with them.”

In addition to the buddy system, a WhatsApp space and more, the group also organizes events that feature board swaps, surf forecasting basics and water etiquette. They also partner with local businesses to hold yoga sessions and ocean safety as well as volunteer for beach cleanups. Lest we forget—they also partner with the Women’s Surf Film Festival every year, which is coming up on its 10^th year.

Whether it’s introducing two kindred spirits or simply sharing the thrill of the ocean, these surfers-turned-community builders know that it’s all about the friends you make along the way.

Next time you paddle out in NYC, keep an eye out for The Yeasty Boys – a group of surfers who prove that the best rides are the ones you take with friends, old and new.

Photos courtesy of: Yeasty Boys

I Confess: I Maaay Have Been Spyin’ on Y’all

September 7, 2022/in Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

Summer is not technically over yet. Not for another 14 days to be exact.

And yet it feels like all of California has been placed in a boiling pot –stewing in its own humid, hot temperatures. The concept of “Fall” may need some readjusting, though I confess: I’m totally planning my haunted ghost tours and scheming to invest in Halloween village décor.

But summertime has brought many hot and sweaty benefits in the form of surf sessions up and down SoCal that have peeled my pupils away from my Halloween obsession and studies.

Now I really get to confess:

Recently, y’all may have noticed—I’ve been spying on you in the lineup. 😊 I wrote an article for the LA Times, “What surfers blurt out when they think no one’s listening” yesterday and I got to say—this was a fun experience.

An anthropological work, according to Beach Grit’s Chas Smith, to be exact. Thanks for the buzz, Chas. And I agree, the best lineup is indeed a quiet one.

Maybe there’s some sweet solace left at some mysto-reef up or down the coast (see: Big Sur, Baja), but for now, ear candy is aplenty within SoCal’s inundated lineups.

malibu pier california early morning summer 2022

Don’t panic, the apocalypse hasn’t happened. There was a surf contest at first point that day.

Gathering this info was an entertaining process, especially in Malibu. It truly is one of the most dangerous places to surf simply because of the crowd factor. I thought Lowers was bad but attempting to drop in at second or third point is like weaving through a tapestry on briny-haired heads, albeit if you’re one of those, how is it you’ve managed to avoid a good scalping?!

I digress.

I would hear nuggets of info, immediately catch a wave or paddle in (if it was a good enough quote), hop/skip/jump over barnacle-encrusted rocks and quickly type my juicy hot goss into my phone while dripping wet, which was a challenge. And paddle back out for more waves, er, goss. At some point, it truly felt like a marathon race, especially at HB or Trestles.

Sometimes those convos felt as if they were lines from a movie, they were too good. I almost thought these folks knew my MO for paddling surreptitiously close to their 3-foot space bubble and literally lean in, ears perked, though some seemed to broadcast their B.S. for all to hear. But most conversations were your standard surfy topics that I didn’t include—wave conditions, board types, ‘shoulda been here yesterdays’ and tide status.

The most entertaining ones came from, yes, Malibu and Lower Trestles. There’s something about the crowds at these coveted spots who aren’t afraid to let the fur (& linguistics) fly. The Malibu fight was pretty entertaining and expected, though shocking considering the recent story about “the angriest surfer”–did no one take a page from this incident? I continue to ask myself “why” to those who surf crowded waves like the ‘Bu, but then I go to Lowers, wait two hours for one wave (and some juicy one-liners) and answer my own question.

In the middle of the chaos, I think: how much of this surfing popular spots comes from the drive to surf the actual wave? And yet, how much is it related to the community of surfers who are there to share your personal B.S. with?

Thanks to those who sacrificed their juicy nuggets to the journalism gods.

Keep it comin’, folks.

Ho Stevie! We’re Interviewing ya, Brah

August 16, 2022/in Interviews, Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

In 2014, the world had begun to discover the power of GoPro and social media, but the hypnotic duo wasn’t quite ready for what surfers kept doing with that small-but-mighty camera. Tossin’ tonsil wasn’t just reserved for those surf competition after parties—for GoPro, surfer’s also swapped saliva to get that down-the-line barrel clip so their girlfriend would do the same (read: did his mouth taste like foam rubber?).

But a college kid from Wisconsin saw an opportunity and spent many late nights at the San Diego Public Library creating an injection mold prototype from a 3D printer to accommodate surfer’s oral fixation and the rest is Ho Stevie! history.

Stevie and the wifey, Basak holding down the shop in San Diego, California.

Fast forward eight years later and that kid Steve Mara, founder of Ho Stevie!, built the biggest surf brand available on Amazon. Its mission is to bring surfers the best quality, best price and best service for surf gear like fins, leashes, traction decks, softtops and even wetties. Running a business as busy as Ho Stevie! is no easy task, that’s why he has his other half, wifey Basak, a.k.a. ‘B’, tackling the mountain of responsibility alongside him. Two heads are definitely better than one!

What’s your favorite thing about running the business with your wife?

It’s the best! We get to bounce ideas off each other all the time, and get instant feedback about everything. It’s especially helpful when she’s editing our videos. We can come up with ideas and go film them instantly, instead of scheduling times to do that like most companies have to do.

Do you both surf? Who’s more competitive for waves?

Pretty sure they’re the cutest couple. <3

Haha she tries (to surf) sometimes! The water temp has been about as warm as it gets here, for the past week or two, so she has been paddling out for a few waves with me on our 8’2” soft top.

And of course, I’m out there every day … even if the conditions are bad, I try to at least hit my 3 wave quota every day.

What does surfing mean to you?

FUN. And health. It’s so nice to start every morning with an hour or two in the ocean. It’s a good workout, it’s being out in nature, socializing, being in the sun, cold water therapy… there are so many reasons why surfing is the best.

steve mara surfing a softtop surfboard in california

Stevie bustin’ out a turny turn on a Ho Stevie! softtop.

Goofy or regular?
Regular

Sex Wax or Sticky Bumps?
Anything! We actually have Ho Stevie! Wax, but it’s all the same to me, as long as you choose the right temperature.

Favorite surf IG account? Why?
Hmmm hard to pick just one, but a funny one I recently discovered is @thegreenroomtimes, guaranteed to get a good laugh from it.

Favorite pro?
Gotta be Mason Ho. He surfs the sketchiest spots and is always smiling.

North Shore or Big Wednesday?
North Shore for sure.

How would your wife describe what it’s like to run a business with you?
From B: We definitely have so much fun working together, and we are a good team. Steve is really easy to work with. He knows what he wants, how he wants it exactly.

What was catching your first wave like? How old were you, where were you?

Luckily, I stood up during my first day of surfing! In college, I flew from Wisconsin with my roommate to visit his sister (my first ever flight) and they took us to La Jolla Shores. I don’t know how I managed to stand up, but I did, lots of times, and I fell in love with it.

That’s when I decided I wanted to live here. I moved out here a year later, easily my best decision ever.

Busted at 15-foot Nazare! Steve Mara taking some knocks.

Worst wipeout?

I had a couple of bad ones back-to-back recently.

I got towed into a 15-foot wave at Nazaré, which was awesome, but then when the jetski driver wanted to play in the whitewash, my face smashed the ski sled and I broke my nose.

About a month after that, just when I had started surfing again, I fell on a wave and when I came up for air, my board was flying towards me and I couldn’t duck out of the way in time. It smashed into my mouth, and when I felt my lip with my fingers, I thought it cut my lip all the way off!

I ran home and looked in the mirror, and thankfully my upper lip was just split in half. Wifey drove me to the emergency room where they put 5 beautiful stitches in my lip, and a few months later you can hardly notice the scar!

Favorite spot?

My go-to spot is just out front of my place in Mission Beach. It’s definitely not the best wave, but it’s probably the least crowded spot in San Diego. I’ll take quantity over quality when it comes to waves.

Most recommended surf destination? Why?

I LOVE Central America. I need warm water if I’m going on a surf trip. Bali was cool too, but it’s suuuch long flight. My favorite place is probably Salina Cruz, but honestly, I’m happy anywhere with waves and 85-degree water.

What makes Ho Stevie’s products unique?

The price and convenience. Some of our gear is half the price of the big brands! You can buy everything online with free fast shipping, or stop by our San Diego shop, so it doesn’t get more convenient than that.

And we take care of our customers and answer every question … I hate it when companies ignore customer questions. You can see it on pretty much every company’s Instagram posts.

We care!

Most popular product? Why?

Probably our surfboard socks and canvas board bags. Always a good idea to protect your board, and if you’re driving to and from the beach, this prevents wax from melting onto your car’s interior.

What are your plans for Ho Stevie!?

I just bought a warehouse! We quickly outgrew our retail location in Pacific Beach, so we will be moving into our warehouse and focusing on our online presence. We will be bringing more high-quality, low-price gear to all the surfers out there. Our men’s wetsuits were a big hit this year, so next up is women’s wetsuits.

And I want to put out even more video content than we already do… we have a lot of great ideas for skits, we just need to put them into action.

Gotta keep the people entertained!

Absolutely, Steve & B.

Check out Ho Stevie! and give that Insta page a follow!

Their YouTube page is pretty killer, too.

All Photos Courtesy of: Ho Stevie!

10 Beach Supplies for a Surfer’s Summer Backpack

July 20, 2022/in Listicles, Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

Summer’s here and the time is right—to spruce up those beach supplies in your summer pack. Here 10 of my solid standbys I never leave home without:

1. Avasol Surfer’s Barrier Stick—I never leave home without Avasol! This is a year-round must-have, but since the northern hemisphere is getting its full bronze on, any surfer knows that sunburns are a thing and with so many options out there, it’s a good idea to trust Avasol’s Surfer’s Barrier Stick. A big supporter of this product since 2012-13, I recommend this sunscreen because Avasol products are made of clean ingredients. Avasol makes it easy to pick the right sun protection that’s not only going to protect the dome, but also the environment in which the dome duck dives, swims, snorkels, wakeboards, hikes, and snowboards, mountain bikes and tans. This product is noted for containing environmentally safe ingredients. If it goes on clear, you probably shouldn’t use it. Don’t forget the ears, hands, lips and neck!

2. Dakine 25L Backpack—I don’t know what it is, but Dakine backpacks keep coming back to haunt my shoulder blades while trekking down to Trestles. I’ve tried many different types of backpacks, but Dakine’s design handles a salty bod squished up against an even saltier wetsuit and keeps me coming back for more. No matter if half the ocean leaks into your pack from your soaked 4 mil wettie, Dakine’s backpack will carry it all the way back to the parking lot for ya.

I’m going to need rehab to quit my addiction to this stuff.

3. Surf Soap Rehab Balm—I don’t care if you’re a guy or gal, this stuff is the shit. And it smells anything but the aforementioned adjective. Just think—would you rather your locks smell like those salmon-esque leftovers from wiping out in that bait ball-infested kelp patch? Or perhaps coconut, vanilla and lavender are better scents that rep your locks. Designed to be reef and ocean safe and free of fillers, silicones, parabens and all that other nasty junk, Surf Soap’s Rehab Balm is for your pre- and post-surf sesh and won’t wreck your playground or your mop. A little goes a long way! Slather it on before and after your surf to avoid finding Nemo in your locks.

4. Bikini #2—Done shredding or gliding? Wardrobe change! Lord knows I have enough bikinis ’til kingdom come, and I always love the opportunity to show them off. Or you might not want to walk all the way back to your car with a soggy bottom—unless you’re a fan of that one song (“In constant sorrowwww…”), for which you will be unless you have a cute ‘kini to change into and perhaps dry off and score some vitamin D before the trek. Might I recommend a custom-built kini? Check out Alanna Dawn Swimwear to design your own. You won’t be in constant sorrow.

purple and green bikini sites on the sand at the beach

Love at first surf–My custom Alanna Dawn Swimwear bikini

5. Clean Chonies—If you are a person on the go, skip the ‘kini bottoms and stick with breathable cotton for your post-surf trek back home.

6. Sand Cloud Towel—This one is a no-brainer, especially if you plan to stick around after your sesh or, more importantly, you don’t want to flash your beach community. Sand Cloud towels are the perfect answer to soaking up some rays and not towing half the beach back to your car—these towels easily repel sand, have killer designs, don’t take up too much space and the company donates 10% of all profits to marine conservation.

happy surfer girl standing with hands in the air on the beach in front of the ocean with her surfboard sitting in the sand

At Trestles, confidence is key and this kini definitely helps.

7. Surf Wax—Because you’re not asking that cute surfer to borrow some, are you? You’re a strong, wax-independent person. 😊

8. Snackies & Water–We all need to enjoy our snacks and re-hydrate after a sesh. Just remember to pack it in and pack it out! Or pack it in reusable bags and bottles.

9. Wax comb—because no one likes using sand to exfoliate that wax job…for your board that is…and your tummy…and your legs…and your naughty bits… 😲

10. Shades–We need to protect those peepers, especially if you stare at a screen most of the day. Might I recommend Woodroze’s wide variety of fabulous specs? While recovering from your epic shred sesh, your eyes can learn to #practicesafespecs.

Any other products I missed? Reach out!

Sirenas del surf surfer girls smiling on the beach

Sirenas del Surf, a Wave of Sisterhood in Ecuador

March 8, 2022/in Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

Sirenas del Surf is a surf community and blog for women who surf or want to learn how to surf based in Ecuador. This group aims to encourage women to get together and surf together. Below you can read more about how Iva, founder of Sirenas, came to the idea of founding her group and website.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I write from my soul. Sirenas means so much to me, not sure I will be able to put into words my feelings.

But let’s start from the beginning.

Sirenas del Surf means Surf mermaids in Spanish. It was an idea born during the pandemic, like many other good things. It was a rough year, but many of us found inspiration and decided to do something good with so much time isolated.

I asked myself: -What can I do if I cannot surf?

So, I started a blog for women who surf or want to learn: Sirenas del Surf, a wave of sisterhood.

I narrated my experiences about fears, wipeouts, surf etiquette, choosing the right board, and so on.

Later, when the pandemic was getting less severe, we were able to go to the closer beach with my friend Yami.

We met with Yami by divine coincidence. ✨ I was looking for someone with a car to drive to the beach (there were no buses allowed at that time, of course), and Yami was looking for someone to teach her to surf. Voilà!

We escaped every weekend of this pandemic and had the best times of our lives, in a remote fishing town in Ecuador. Free of masks, and with few locals.

We surfed. We laughed. We drank mate. We watched sunsets. We became sisters. ☀

And I found more inspiration to create content and motivate other surf girls, that we all soon would be on the water together.

Long story short, I quit my job, moved to the beach and started working on growing this community and giving surf lessons.

Now, I look back in time, and my heart explodes with joy. 🥰

I created Sirenas with 2 purposes:

Encourage other girls to not surf alone – organize meetings, make contacts with those who are in the same town or city but don’t know about each other. Sometimes I receive messages from women saying thanks for helping them find their crew even if they are in other countries! Inspiring these women to to communicate in the language of the ocean makes me happy–Creating genuine bonds with love, free of envy or competition.
Give the amazing experience of surfing to those that never have had it.

When you focus on giving, life brings you back better:

I got my surf girls crew, and not only in my spot, anywhere I go someone contacts me to surf or just to have a coffee in the city. We are not alone. We just need to talk to each other. To seek each other.

From the women I taught to surf, I get new genuine friends. They teach me more about life, empowerment, empathy, fears, patience, compassion, and that even though we don’t know what the other person is going through, we can see how much surfing helps them. I learned that surfing is therapy, even more for those women that are having a tough time.

I don’t know about you, but I used to think there were not many women that surf, because I learned here in Ecuador where there are more men in the water, I was always alone, in fear, thinking if I should paddle to the lineup or stay in the white wash.

And now I discovered that we are so many! We just need more communities for women who surf to form networks.

It’s the greatest sisterhood.

Peace & love, sisters!
Sea you on the water!

Iva, Sirenas del Surf.

*All Photos Courtesy of Sirenas del Surf

Product Review: Surf Soap

July 15, 2021/in Product Review, Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

Ah surf, sand, salt and summer sun! Sounds like sunny lyrics to a saccharine summertime song, right? Or maybe a not-so-sweet au natural exfoliate and dehydrator. There’s a reason why people often label their attitudes (especially post-break-ups) as “salty.”

Want to avoid turning into a human prune with a salty ‘tude to boot this summer? Read on.

I’m going to need rehab to quit my addiction to this stuff.

Salty suds do have a way of being baked into our hair follicles and skin and though we hear those sayings about salt and sand being the way to personal freedom, I’ve got to admit as a surfer girl of going on 19 years, the salty grime left over from a surf does tend to have an itchy, dry and unpleasant aftereffect that leaves me feeling like a California Raisin on her way to looking like my dad’s leather couch.

No thanks!

Remedy: Surf Soap

Built out of a love and respect for the ocean and a desire to help surfers smell good, feel good and arrive at their 9-5 not looking like a dried prune after a dawn patrol sesh, Surf Soap was born. Kayla Pearson founded Surf Soap with the mission to give the world hair and skin products that do not contain crazy chemicals and silicones, are biodegradable, ocean and reef-safe and plastic-free. Right down to the biodegradable packaging labels, Kayla gets it. Read my Q&A with Kayla.

Does it get any better? Better Butter FTW

My hair is as long as it’s ever been and booooy does it love to get tangled, especially when I’m surfing decent waves. After using the Rehab Balm both before and after I surf, my long locks actually DON’T look like a rat’s nest. In fact, thanks to the Rehab Balm, I can actually use the Surf Comb in my hair without it getting stuck mid-brush and my hairs do smell super pretty. Remember: A little goes a long way with this product! But I’d cover myself in it all the same.

Also, anyone else get that crusty dry-lip feeling after surfing for hours on end? Better Butter takes care of that. I got the Pineapple scent (b/c Kayla totally pays attention! <3), but it comes in Coconut & Mango, too. You can also order all three—see ‘Triple Crown.’ Does that include the World Surf League circus that comes with it? ;)

I also put Better Butter on my bikini line, fingers and tops of my hands after a surf. I might experiment with my eyebrows and lashes? Before you know it, I’ll be the Chiquita gal!

surf soap all in one purple disc of shampoo in a black tin

The ginger and tropic scented suds will make an Herbal Essences impersonator out of you.

Rehab Balm and Better Butter are now permanent products in my Trestles/Surf backpack.

During my post-surf showers, the All-In-One is a God-send. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed my shampoo/body wash this much. I have to use an additional conditioner just because my hair seems to be a conditioner black hole.

But, I joke you not—the first two times I used this product in my shower, I literally indulged like, we’re talking Herbal Essences commercial circa 1998 status, just minus the crappy ingredients and plastic containers—and yea, maybe the 90’s hairstyles and décor, too. Add in the All in One and I’m making my neighbors gossip for sure. I’ve never taken longer showers—my water bill be damned!

Check Out:

What I love: Everrrythinggggg. The smell, the feel, the way it actually hydrates my hairs and skin! Each product smells like a Hawaiian tropical drink. Each of these products really works. And trust me—I am a hair and skin product critic. And the best part—I rest easy knowing that what I’m putting on my bod and in my hair isn’t going to mess up our oceans.

Why: Their products are all reef and ocean-safe. They use eco-friendly materials for their products, shipping—plastic-free, vegan, ocean-safe.

I wish: I could buy in bulk

Price: $27-56 per product or set

Disclaimer: And yes, in case you don’t pay attention to my socials, Kayla is a friend of mine–but! I agreed to give her products a fair-and-square review and here it is.

No exceptions but, I’m not surprised– much like Kayla, her products rock my flip flops!

Check out Surf Soap.

Peace, Love and Don’tDropInOnMeOrElse

February 11, 2021/in Shameless Rants, Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

If anyone has been able to escape the craziness of the last few weeks (see: U.S. capitol & racist jerks), you might have noticed that there was a bit of a cat fight at Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore between two insanely talented surfer girls.

Local Pipe charger Moana Wong took off deep on a wave and was dropped in on by Brazilian professional surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb, who instead of riding the wave, straightened out towards the sand.

But this wasn’t just any cat fight—it was one that needed to happen.

Coming to you live from Moana Wong’s Instagram–this is what happens when you drop in on a local, brah. #socialmediasuicide

HERE’S WHY:

The incident brought to the surface an abundance of issues ranging from the obvious safety hazards of Pipe, local girl v. privileged pro, coaches blocking for their athletes and using social media as a platform to call each other out.

I’m sure we can dissect this six ways from Sunday, and I’m pretty sure you and your buddies already have or you let’s Stab’s report do it for you. But did anyone catch the fact that this sort of incident has happened a MILLION times over with guy surfers? Nah.

Yes, Moana had every right to call out Tatiana and Tatiana (and her coach) should’ve been way more careful since Moana had no other choice but to ditch her board and head straight to the reef. A fight on the beach later and up goes social media a la insults and canned PR-y responses—I guess it’s good for something, right?

Pipe is the most dangerous wave on the planet, and Moana had an unnecessary run-in with the reef, thanks to Tati’s “misjudgment” and “poor eye sight.” I call shenanigans. But Tatiana’s canned apology felt like her mom dragged her by the ear and forced her to Moana’s doorstep only having Tati make a half-assed apology when in fact Tati could take a page from Moana’s barrel riding prowess—anyone watch Tati in the Pipe Masters? Meh.

MY POINT:

All gossip girl shit aside, I’d like to implore surfers everywhere to think about how this has been portrayed in the media thus far: someone thought it advantageous to take a video of the two girls fighting on the beach hoping to get something juicy for the presses.

When I watched that video, it pissed me off. Thanks for capitalizing on an incident we’ve seen happen with surfer guys a million other times. Now because there are women involved, there’s suddenly surfer paparazzi.

What were you hoping for? A bikini wrestling match? Grow up.

We, as surfers, are an ever-growing population. Innovation and technology are ushering in a new form of surf culture by bringing surfing to the inland masses through wave parks and marketing tactics. More and more folks are arriving at our coveted breaks not knowing the rules or the locals. People who otherwise might not have a clue about your break might be dropping in on you next weekend. Rick Kane has never been more present!

I get it—it’s more crowded than ever and we’re grumpy.

But unless you like surfing frigid mysto reefs complete with submarine-sized sharks, it’s time to sack up and:

Learn the rules of the road or actually listen to the rules of the road
Be kind, unless someone almost kills or injures you

Otherwise, we’re all in for more incidents like these.

LASTLY

To the women surfers: it is up to each of us to rise above the anger, the privilege, the B.S. and support one another in and out of the water. In this case, it was imperative for Moana to call Tatiana on her shit as Moana could’ve been seriously injured or killed. Don’t hesitate to do the same—some people are just not aware.

And—don’t fall for the B.S. the press puts out there.

Peace, love and #Don’tDropInOnMeOrElse.

#TBT-My First Few Years of Surfing

December 10, 2020/in Surfing /by confessionsofasurfergirl

My first time in real Baja, circa summer 2006.

I have changed over the years. And this year is no exception, if not the biggest year for some growth and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Cleaning and reorganizing always feels good, but sometimes from the proverbial dust, you dig up certain memories that you completely forgot about and have lingered in your boxes and books, buried beneath a stack of magazine clippings, articles and other career-oriented memorabilia.

Recently, in my crazy cleaning (what else should I do right now besides surf, amIright?), I rediscovered a surf journal I kept where I documented the first few years of my surf journey. I stopped mid-clean and prepared myself for a funny and nostalgic afternoon.

I started surfing in January 2004 at good ole SanO with a surf class and a hilarious football coach, who always teased me about being from Austin (UT -hook ’em) since he was an OU fan, and from that class, I met a group of friends. Ah the days of yore! Where Myspace WAS the social media, cell phones with cameras baaaarely existed and GoPros flat out did not exist.

Throwback to ‘Jackie’s Session Notes’ on Wetsand.com, circa 2005.

With a 9’0 Stewart longboard barely tucked under my arm, I froze my tush off while innocuously learning about surf etiquette, paddling out, popping up and riding a wave…and not burning anyone in the process. Of course there is an entry in there where I got yelled at for my first time and was reduced to tears! Now I crack up thinking of how upset I was, even though it was my fault. But–in my defense, he was also a jerk. These days, I’d fire back at the jerk or just flip a bird and paddle away. :) Ah, lessons learned on a daily in the agua…that’s what I love about surfing: it is forever a journey.

Let me (sex) wax more nostalgia: 2005 was also the same year where I started writing for Wetsand.com. All the same, it was one of my first places I was published and wrote for consistently. And some of those adventures definitely stemmed from this journal and, on wetsand.com, would’ve been found in “Jackie’s Session Notes,” riiiight below the beginnings of “Liz Clark’s Swell Voyage” in the “Women Who” section.

My first few years of surfing were momentous on a daily basis and often heartfelt, although plenty of cracking up along the way.

Below are some excerpts I thought y’all might crack up about, too.

Here’s to a #ThrowbackThursday!