Surf Articles

Find out more about Women In the Waves Boardriders Club

Women in the Waves is a club for female board riders based at Avoca on the New South Wales Central Coast in Australia. The club celebrates its 21st birthday in 2007. The club runs regular competitions on the first Sunday of each month at Avoca Beach. This year WITW are challenging other women's only, board riding clubs to see if we're the longest continuously-running club in Australia if not the world!
Find out more about WITW >>

Find out more about Billabong Team Rider Nicola Atherton.

Billabong team rider Nicola Atherton is on the rise. After finishing second at the world junior championships at Narrabeen last year, the Sydney slayer has been embarking on her maiden WQS campaign. Nicola recently won the Billabong ASP World Junior Women's Crown. Follow the link for more details.
Find out more about Nicola >>

Find out more about Billabong Team Rider Lea Brassy

Lea Brassy is French, a free surfer and a member of the Billabong Team. She is also a model and studies Nursing - a very busy lady.
Find out more about Lea >>

Surfing Lifestyle

A colleague started a training course a few years back for a job that they had just got. As part of the introduction to the course everyone was encouraged to step forward, give their name, history etc., and also their hobbies. It was an IT related training course and when asked he gave surfing as his main interest He did not realise at the time that he should have qualified this with saying that he was actually a surfer of waves and not of the internet. It seems strange how some people when hearing the word 'Surfing' automatically associate it with the Internet, and not not with surfing waves on a surfboard (perhaps this may only seem strange to a surfer). Still, for the purpose of this site they could be both right. Here we are talking about surfing waves, the sport of surfing, the lifestyle of surfing. For the favoured few in the world, surfing's elite such as Kelly Slater and Andy Irons (but to name two of many professional surfers out there), it is their job. For a greatly increasing amount of others it can be one of the most enjoyable pastimes there is.

Why Surf?

Ask anyone who surfs why they surf and they will give you there own individual answer. 'Because it's fun', 'its cool', it keeps me off the streets', 'surfing is my life', 'I like to get wet'. Each to there own. To some it is their entire life and to others it is something to do when they have a week in the sun every year. To many like me it is simply because there is nothing else like it. It is one of few sports that directly utilise the power of nature, nothing mechanic - purely natural. If you are thinking of giving it a go then YES - It is great fun and that is the bottom line.

The Best Way To Start Surfing

The best way to start surfing is to have great parents who before giving birth to you decided that they would settle down in Jeffrey's Bay, The North Shore of Hawaii, Raglan or somewhere equally near great quality waves, and who as a fourth birthday present buy you your first surfboard. Unfortunately if you are reading this and do not already surf then it is probably a good few years too late. Still, lets not let that little setback hold you back. You may never become world champion but that does not matter one bit. As we always say - 'the greatest fun can be had from a the smallest of wipe-outs!'. What you need to consider is how you can get yourself - complete with the equipment you need - to where there are waves.

Surfing Lessons. Your Friends. Surf Holiday

I guess how you start surfing can be pretty different for everyone. Personally, we here think that the best way to start surfing is with your mates. It does not matter whether they can actually surf or not, the important thing is about having fun. Becoming a good surfer takes an awfully long time and a hell of a lot of practice. You will forget about how many times you have fallen off or how many mornings following a day of surfing that you wake up hardly able to move your stiff arms. If you happen to be a coastal dweller of Hawaii, Australia or similar you will not need to be reading these pages - surfing is a way of life. Your dad surfs, your mates surf - even your little sister surfs. That is just the way it is. If you happen to live in Arizona then it is a little different. If you are land locked then the best start is to arrange a trip with a friend or two with the sole purpose of giving surfing a try. If you are lucky enough to have a mate who can lend you his surfboard for a try then all the better. If not you are looking at having to hire the surfing equipment you need, or taking part in an arranged surfing lesson or two. Surf schools are springing up all over the place (although not quite sure about Arizona yet!). It is not a good idea to get all the gear before you actually find out if you like it or not - there is a considerable cost in getting yourself kitted out for full time surfing. Check out the sections on The Surfboard, The Wetsuit (if it's gonna be cold!) and Surfboard Accessories. If you do not have anyone experienced to help you out, or if you are taking a lesson and want something to start you off then check the Beginners Guide. The information here should help you get off to a good start, and mean that you do not have to stare blankly when someone mentions that you need to duck dive! (you may want to have a look at the Surf Talk section to learn some of the useful surfing lingo around).

Next stop the beginners guide to surfing. The information here should get you started. Have a look, try the suggestions here and if you feel something has been left out then let me know. Read the lessons - there should be something useful in each one of them. Well, what are you waiting for - Good luck surfer to be!