Escape on a Welsh Surf weekend with Surf Sistas #banging

More dates coming up in Llangennith Wales for our Surf Sistas weekends ..   19th & 20th July and 13th & 14th September.  Come and learn to surf in our beginner sessions or choose improvers if you have surfed before and want to take it to the next level.  Our Surf Sistas team in Wales includes former UK and Welsh champ Gwen Spurlock so you know you are in expert hands!

Kicking off our Welsh Summer with Sunshine and Waves!

The weather and wave gods were on our side this weekend with a fantastic reminder of why you don't have to leave the UK for an amazing outdoor adventure!    Check out the pics below of our happy crew of Surf Sistas this in Llangennith, Wales.  Beginners riding the white water with Mali and improvers charging small green peelers with Gwen :) 

We have more Welsh fun coming up in July - sign up to our beginner or improver weekends or our 5 day White to Green course.   

If you have never been to Llangennith before it is super easy. Either drive direct to the Gower or hop on a train to Swansea and then take a bus or taxi hop to Llangennith village. There are some great places to stay from a campsite right next to the beach to B&Bs or self catering cottages. Its such a beautiful place its no wonder it was voted the 3rd best beach in Europe

 

We've got that summertime feeling ..

El Sueño

We're in love with this short film by Bugeyefilms shot in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica .. we think it pretty much sums up how dreamy it is there .. want to see for yourself? Come and join us on a retreat or road trip and live the dream :)

El Sueño from bugeyefilms on Vimeo.

"Absolutely bursting with happiness"

pure stoke 

"I have a pain in my face from smiling and laughing so much, often for no other extraordinary reason other than being in the sea. A common sight over the weekend was me laughing uncontrollably by myself and to myself in the sea...absolutely bursting with happiness." 
Aoife, Ireland after a Surf Sistas Weekend in Cornwall


At Surf Sistas HQ we think surfing should be available on the National Health Service - the pure unfettered delight, or stoke as we call it, of learning to surf will soon have you in its grasp. The joy of being in the ocean, feeling fresh air and hopefully some sun on your cheeks, rising to the challenge of balancing on your surfboard, laughing with new friends, feeling the energy of the wave propel you to shore ..  a new passion is born!

This summer we have beginner weekends in both Cornwall and Wales, every month from June to September, so plenty of opportunities to come down and give surfing a try!  Our top Surfing GB and ISA qualified instructors will cover the basics that will have you riding your first waves in no time, including understanding your equipment, the conditions and how to stay safe in the water; how to position yourself on the board, catch waves and ultimately to pop up to that classic wave riding stance.

Click here to find out more about Cornwall and here for Wales .. we are always available here for questions and we can't wait to share our love of surfing with you this summer!

Summer 2014 Dates: 
Cornwall: 16-18 June | 4-6 July | 15-17 Aug | 19-21 Sept
Wales: 14/15 June | 19/20 July | 13/14 Sept


We can't talk about benefits of surf stoke without a shout out to some amazing charities in the South West who are using surfing to make a real difference -  Surf Action work with Military Veterans and their families, and the Wave Project provide surf therapy for young people facing challenges.  Take a look at what they do and get involved if you can. 

Sunday Slides

A motley gathering of vids for you this week .. an amalgamation of the visual treats that have rocked our world this week .. sit back with your Xmas eggnog and enjoy, we will start off slow ..

Always a big fan of Quiksilver photog Morgan Maassen's work ..



Part 2 of Heather Hudson's video series dedicated to Zeuf .. a lovely message of hope which we echo to you this Christmas..

Hope More from Heather Hudson on Vimeo.


Some old footage of Rell Sunn styling ..

Rell Sunn from ENCYCLOPEDIA of SURFING videos on Vimeo.


Beautiful bottoms and beautiful bottom turns .. we see alot of both in Santa Teresa .. here's Mario Rubbino's take on the situation..

Beach Mode from Mario Rubbino on Vimeo.

Summer 2014 Surf Courses in Wales

We can't wait to be back in Wales for Summer 2014 & we have a smorgasbord of courses lined up for you!

Our beginner surf weekends are great for anyone looking to ride their first waves under the watchful eyes of our Surf Sistas Coaches ..   Each two day course is £120 & dates for 2014 are:  14/15 June | 19/20 July | 13/14 Sept

Our White to Green Improver weekends are  the perfect opportunity to take your surfing to the next level in a relaxed, fun and supportive environment with other like-minded girls...  Each two day course is £135 & dates for 2014 are: 14/15 June | 19/20 July | 13/14 Sept

You might have noticed that we have scheduled our beginner and improver courses on the same weekends, this is no accident, we wanted you to be able to enjoy our weekends with your friends whatever your ability level. So bring your newbie surfers along, everyone will take the right course for them & we'll all be hanging out together for lunch!

If you have a bit more time to spare then check out our popular 5 day White to Green course, 7-11 July 2014. This is a real investment in your surf progression and its a really fun week as well!

Each course has a 10 person maximum, so book early and don't miss out .. you can book any Wales based Surf Sistas course with just a £40 deposit.

Dear Santa ..

So many lovely things we'd like to find in our stocking this Christmas and buy for our fave surf girls, so while we held our breath watching the final day of Pipemasters  (Congrats Mick, Kelly & John John!) we put together our dream online shopping list for Santa ..

1.  North Shore Oahu Retro Surf Map. £12.60
One for the walls!  A lovely map of the North Shore's famous surf spots inspired by watching Pipe today
https://www.etsy.com/listing/130338311/north-shore-oahu-surf-map-12x18-retro?ref=shop_home_active

2. Bkr re-usable water bottles  $28
We'd like to think we are in love with Bkrs because they are eco-friendly .. but it could also be because of all the gorgeous colours!  Here we have chosen Crush, Dive and Boy
http://www.mybkr.com/shop.asp

3. Oakley Plank Yoga Tote in Legian Blue. £30

Post Christmas we are going to need some encouragement to get to the gym and the thought of using this lush bag could be just what we need!
http://uk.oakley.com/products/plank-yoga-tote/82260-01K

4. Stance Socks, Electric Palm Print. £12.99
We can't get enough of Stance socks or Roos Beach Store
http://shop.roosbeach.co.uk/collections/socks/products/stanceelectricpalmprintsockswomensonesize

5. Oakley Frogskins, Crystal Black/Positive Red Iridium. £100

A girl can never have too many Frogskins!
http://uk.oakley.com/products/6829/27423

6.  Surf Sistas Dreamcatcher Bikini Bag. £18.

Keep your bikinis in pristine condition while you are travelling with our beautiful handmade Surf Sistas Bikini Bags.
http://surfsistas.tictail.com/product/dreamcatcher-bikini-bag 

7. Watershed Captain Longboard Refresher. £599
9'3 classic noserider from Watershed ..   how is Santa going to fit this in his sack?

http://www.watershedshop.co.uk/View/13/99/1638/Watershed-Captain-Longboard-Refresher

8. The Surf Cafe Cook Book. £17.99
Its the perfect time of year to bring out our inner domestic goddess and the Surf Cafe Cook book is the perfect inspiration. Yum!
http://shop.carvemag.com/collections/books/products/scck1

9. The Surfgirl Hand Book 
Essential reading for any surfer girl, this is a staple in our surf library
http://surfgirlbeachboutique.co.uk/collections/lifestyle-books-magazines/products/the-surf-girl-handbook

10. Cooler Magazine Subscription, 2 years. £14.99
How about a subscription to one of your favourite mags for Christmas? Its the gift that keeps on giving!
http://cooler.mpora.com/subscriptions-2/subscribe-two-years-for-14-99.html

11. Seea Hermosa Surf Suits. $135
One pieces are the easiest thing to surf in in warm waters and Seea have so many gorgeous ones to choose from, we like the Hermosa with the sweetheart neckline and long sleeves for sun protection.
http://www.theseea.com/collections/the-hermosa

12. Da Fin swim fins. £49.94

The number 1 choice for our inner bodysurfer, and lots of cute colourways to choose from.
http://www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk/da_fin_pro_swim_and_bodyboard_fins?gclid=COyI8szZsrsCFWnjwgodIAgAmQ

13. Zephyr Leggings in Ocean by Finisterre. £40

Finisterre have loads of great apparel for our cold water surf missions, love the colour of these cosy merino leggings.
http://www.finisterreuk.com/shop/womens/womens-zephyr-leggings-ocean.html

14. Westering Hand Planes. The Fish Supper. £60
Tried and tested by the Surf Sistas crew, we always have a Westering Hand Plane in our beach bag. You can choose the colour of your neoprene strap as well!
http://approachinglines.bigcartel.com/product/westering-handplanes-the-fish

15. Poler Camp Vibes bobble hat at Watershed. £30
We have long been fans of Poler products, in particular the nap sac!  So we are super happy to see them being stocked by Watershed in Newquay.
http://www.watershedshop.co.uk/View/36/110/1644/Poler-Camp-Vibes-Beanie-Blue

16.  Skinny Sea Legs Pants by Billabong. $79
We're die hard fans of surf leggings to protect our skin when we surf & this 2mm Aztec Neoprene pair we reckon we could rock for a lunch date too! 

http://us.billabong.com/shop/product/womens-wetsuits-jackets/skinny-sea-legs?color=MUL

17. Mystic Roots Red Raspberry Seed and Coconut Oil Lip Balm with natural SPF. £2.21. 
Loving this new skincare range lovingly hand prepared by Yogi Wendy & this balm makes a great little stocking filler! 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MysticRoots

White to Green week now in its 5th year!

Our White to Green weeks are back for their 5th year for 2014!   If you want some summertime fun, a serious investment in the progression of your surfing and a chance to let your hair down with some like minded Sistas .. then we can promise you lots of waves and lots of laughs!

Click here to check out all the info on our 5 day improver course, held in Wales and Cornwall in consecutive weeks next July.   They book up fast and spaces are limited so reserve your spot now now!

Artist Focus: Zoe at Salt, Paper, Scissors

creations taking shape in the Salt Paper Scissors Studio

Its coming up to Christmas so we are starting to think about present buying and as usual we want to support local artists and artisans with our spending.  We caught up with one of our favourite makers, the lovely Zoe Greenhough at Salt Paper Scissors for a wee chat.

As well as being an avid surfer and mum of three, Zoe is also pretty handy with a needle and thread as you can see from all these surf inspired delights she produces in her studio in Brighton.  The best thing for us is that Zoe is super eco-conscious, sourcing great recycled fabrics and packaging so that her gifts are easy on the eye and easy on your environmental karma too ..

Surf girl lavender bags by Salt Paper Scissors

Hi Zoe, we love your products, what has been the motivation behind Salt Paper Scissors?

It started out from one simple idea to make a gigantic surf/ocean inspired lampshade that I could hang above my bed to remind me of sunny days surfing. Then I started making gifts for friends. I got sick of shopping for presents because everything seemed to come in tonnes of packaging. Living near Brighton, and having grown up in a seaside town, I've always been inspired by the sea. I decided to make eco-friendly gifts from recycled materials.

ocean inspired teal and mustard purse 

How long have you been a maker? What advice would you give to us wannabe crafters?

Probably since I was 4! I think crafts are a brilliant way to bring out your inner child. The internet is awash with beautiful websites that can help you make anything from gift cards to dog coats. It's worth trying anything. Be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them. Never waste anything - you'll find a way to salvage it and turn it into something unique and useful.

Cute make up pouches by Salt Paper Scissors

Whats on the horizon for 2014 from Salt Paper Scissors?

I'm so excited to have had some great collaborations with artists this year, and have more lined up in the near future. Plus, 2014 will see more Salt Paper Scissors gifts stocked in small boutique stores across the South East and perhaps spreading. Who knows! Finally, the long-awaited website will be launched in the Spring, just in time to get beach-ready and surfed-up!

We can't wait to see what you have in store! Check out Zoe's work in her etsy shop and give her facebook page a like to stay up to date with Salt Paper Scissors news.

Letting the good times roll in Portugal

At the end of October we headed for the shores of the Algarve for 2 weeks of surf, sunshine, Yoga, and Sangria on our Surf Sistas Surf & Yoga retreats in Portugal .. here's a little of what went down .. 

  

Thank you to Katie Watson for all the lovely photos, see the whole gallery over on our flickr site alongside inspiration from all our other trips.

Our next stop is Costa Rica - see you there?