Surfing 4 chicks! Stir the waters, learn to surf, now!
Has life become a little dull? Have you always thought surfing looks so cool but never plucked up the courage to try it?
Do you fantasize about having a surf-buffed body and sun-streaked hair?
Perhaps you'd like to be in the line-up with those surfers you watch from your comfy spot on the beach?
Read on, it’s not such an elusive pipe dream…
No bollocks required! That’s right – it’s all about expressing yourself, feeling beautiful and having real fun! More and more sisters are getting out there into the waves for amusement and exercise in the summer sunshine.
This recently male-dominated sport is heading for a shimmering takeover around the globe. Not that it always was just for the boys. Travel back in time to surfing’s early beginnings in ancient Hawaii and you’ll find out that surf, sand and board lured men and women alike. From Hawaii to Australia, Japan to Brazil, South Africa to Malibu, the surf Wahines of yesterday have carved the way for today’s hottest female surfing stars and inspired women who want to feel the exhilaration of riding a wave.
Whether you’re 8 or 80 it’s never too late to join your sistas in the water and get a new outlook on life. And to be styling doesn’t mean you have to pull into any giant barrels or thwack any lip that presents itself. The best surfer is the one who is having the most fun. You don’t need much gear either – just a surfboard, leash, some wax and a wetsuit if the water’s chilly.
So you’ve got no surfboard or wetsuit? Most surf schools will hire out all the necessary equipment required. Speed up the learning curve and sign up for some lessons with a surf school that has qualified surf coaches. The pros know the best spots for beginners and you’ll be up and riding in no time. They’ll teach you where to find dream waves for your level, how to paddle out, catch waves, stand up, turn your board and, more importantly, ocean safety. You’ll be initiated into a liquid tribal culture with its own language – a world of "dawn patrols" and "duck dives," "kooks" and "closeouts..."
But surfing is just a slice of the adventure. It's also about merging the beauty of the ocean with the rich experience of making new friends and visiting new places. You'll also remember what travel is really about - celebrating life, enjoying local culture, making new memories, meeting new friends, gaining a new outlook on life and coming home revitalized.
Surfing even has the power to soothe society’s ills and bring people together - the kids from north and south Ireland who learn to ride waves together are testimony to how healing can be facilitated.
Oh, and by the way if any dudes try to cast doubt that chicks shred waves with the best of them, tell them to check out photos of women’s surfing pioneer Frieda Zamba. Frieda shreds harder than anyone else and was the first to shatter illusions that radical surfing was for men only. She is an awesomely strong surfer; her turns exude power and confidence. Women's surfing was revolutionised by her aggressive style. She teaches surfing and has only good things to say about coaching girls – that they don’t give up, pay attention to details and have a blast learning!
Roxy Surf School for girls in Muizenberg, Cape Town was founded by owner and surfer-babe Roxy Towill. She chose the perfect spot, Muizies, for the easy, fun waves that just keep rolling in – even if the wind is onshore it’s a great place to learn. The club has lockers for your gear; coffee & hot chocolate; comfy couches to watch videos and a really cool vibe. It’s also conveniently located opposite the Empire Café, a great place to sip a cappuccino and munch a croissant while you watch hot longboarders put their toes to the nose. There are classes for ''Surf Divas'' too (...like 'older girls' and your gran).
The fee for group classes (with an average instructor/student ratio of 1:5) is R300 per month for 4 lessons of 1 ½ hrs.
Club Tel: +27 (0)21 7888687 | Roxy: 072 586 09 05 | Roxy Towill: 082 562 86 87
Check out Roxy Surf School
South Coast Surf School in Jeffrey’s Bay teaches beginners at Main Beach which has fantastic waves for brand new wave riders. There are no rocks and there are always decent sandbanks close to the shore, so you never have to venture deep out into the ocean to catch waves. And it’s rarely so flat in J’Bay that novice surfers cannot catch small “foamies” (broken waves), which is what you want when learning how to surf.
In conjunction with Billabong, South Coast Surf School will be offering special lessons for girls and “divas” who want to learn to surf. South Coast Surf School offers daily surf lessons on Jeffrey’s Bay Main Beach. A session costs around R200 and lasts for 2 hours. All equipment is provided.
Brenton : 083 5496795
Don’t leave J-Bay before being “stoked” by the perfect wave!
Liquid Dreams Surf Adventures in Port Elizabeth offers weekly surfing training clinics, February to November (Saturdays) and 3 monthly programmes for beginners. Boards, wetsuits, leashes & rash vests are all provided. In additional to surfing basics, you’ll also learn about safety and geographical aspects (equipment, stretching techniques, currents, winds, tides and rocks)
Call Barry Delport: 083 656 8429 or go to Liquid Dreams Surf Adventures.
East London is known for producing red-hot surfers. Former South African and world champion Wendy Botha learnt to surf in the waves that broke around here. She aimed to surf better than men and her combined grace, poise, power and aggression has earned the respect of the harshest critics on women’s surfing (guys).
Nahoon Reef Surf School, run by Andy Austen is the only licensed school in East London.
Andy Austen: +27 (0)43 7482308 Cell: 082 4540179
South Africa's sun and surf Mecca, Durban, also has a Roxy Learn to Surf School offering lessons at Addington Beach. Call Kenny Matthews on 082 4821542.
Hot Tip: tell him to take you on a beach holiday and throw in a few surf lessons from the pros as a Valentines Day gift or birthday present!
