Almos Pau

It was the last day of 2007 and Surfline reports raved big waves and beautiful conditions, so I had to paddle out. NorCal grown I have spent the last three years living-and surfing- in Hawaii. The cold waters were a bit of a shocker.

I’ve notoriously bad-mouthed booties, claiming I’ve never step foot in them. However, it was freakin cold. I checked the surf, walked to the shoreline, kicked off my sneaker and stuck my porcelin foot into the gray water. God damn it was artic. So I made a quick trip to the local surf shop down the road and picked up my first pair of booties. Shh, don’t tell anyone.

Although my review mirror read a shivering 56 degrees the street was lined with cars piggy backing surf racks. I slipped off my jeans and big furry coat and forced on my tortured old wet suit. I don’t remember it being that hard to fit in it properly and zipping my seal skin on. But I managed and waddled my way to the surf with my booties.

It was a beautiful Northern Californian day. Not a cloud in the sky, revealing a beautiful coast line with houses blanketing the hills in the far distance. The sun was shining and glided over the 1-2 foot surf.

I do not remember wet suits being that restricting when u paddle and pop up.

There were a lot more women in the line up then I remember. Most with their significant other but a few flying solo.

There were over 30 surfers in the line up however I seemed to always find a spot where I could slip in.

Every so often there is an encounter between two surfers where someone is in the wrong. There is a yeller, and a yell-y. At some point or another we’ve all played both roles.

Sitting on the concerete slab above the break after my session I witnessed several of these encounters. Every single time the yeller took advantage of their title and gave a piece of their mind to the other surfer. There were a couple kooks that were totally out there- sitting on the inside, dropping in on a wave a surfer claimed a full 6 seconds ago up the coast, couldn’t even pop up, tipped over and let his board tumble along the wave. I laughed my ass off.

And yes, I felt lame sitting up there another 30 minutes while I could have been surfing. But god damn it was freezing.

At the end of the day a brave soul walked ahead of me, tip toeing across the rough pavement with cold, bare feet. Damn, maybe I should have stuck it out.

The death of a waterman

It isn’t the way that you die that you are remembered, it’s the life that you lived. I’m sure there is truth to this statement, but people remember the day that you died as well.
I recently went to the opening ceremony of the Eddie Aikau Invitational. So many legendary watermen in the ocean together at Waimea Bay was a striking sight.
The event is held in remembrance of the late Eddie Aikau. Aikau was a great waterman and respected surfer of Hawaii. He rode waves of huge proportion and sailed around the Pacific Ocean, navigating only by wisdom and instinct with his crew.
Aikau died while making a heroic attempt to save his crew’s lives while sailing through Polynesia. While navigating from Hawaii to Tahiti, Aikau’s crew hit bad weather. Aikau swam to get help and never returned.
The Eddie was held December 1st and reminded everyone of great surfing, amazing waves and heroic individuals.
A week later Northern California surfer, Peter Davi drowned while paddling into 30 foot Ghost Tree, exploiting the risk surfers take in the water.
The news of death is heavy, especially when it’s unexpected. I was abruptly woken from a day dream while driving to the gym that day by a phone call. My friend Margret from the north shore informed me “Kelly Slater drowned in California today.” I was shocked, and in disbelief. Without a reliable news source on hand, I biked and lifted at the gym for an hour, contemplating what Slater’s death would mean to the surfing community.
Now I don’t want to create bad Ju-Ju by writing this, but imagine if one of the most talented, most record-holding surfers in the world died before he could even retire.
Slater is labeled a “freak of nature,” winning eight world titles amongst many other record-breaking accomplishments in the surfing world. How would his death impact the surfing community?
Fanning’s title would mark the defeat of Slater in his last year of the ASP tour. Surfing magazine editors would be at a loss for words trying to encompass the life of Slater, endless Bay Watch reruns would play and who knows when the next mainland American surfer would be crowned.
As human beings with a dangerous passion we unite and remember the lives of fallen surfers who will forever be in the water like the leis place on the ocean’s surface. Respect the ocean and its Mana and enjoy being a surfer.

Kauai's Roy Powers takes Reef Hawaiian Pro title

Dawn breaks on the north shore of Oahu to reveal the biggest swell of the year. Nearly every car on the Kamehameha Highway has surfboards strapped to the roof, sticking out of windows and resting in the beds of trucks. Waves curl, barrel and break along the seven mile miracle as the top professional surfers in the world head to small town Haleiwa to catch some big time waves.
The 25th annual Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa was the first stop on the Van’s Triple Crown of Surfing that broke records and renewed dreams. Waves built to a record 25 foot-faces, Sunny Garcia returned to Hawaiian surf after spending three months in federal prison and Kauai native, Roy Powers took home $15,000 and the title of Reef Hawaiian Pro 2007 champion.
The three competitions of the Triple Crown give World Qualifying Series surfers the last opportunity to qualify for the World Circuit Tour in 2008.
Professional surfers from 17 countries compete on Oahu’s north shore this winter, bringing international attention to the North shore.
A North-West Swell brought big waves and strong currents to the Haleiwa contest. This wave break has the strongest currents on the north shore that force surfers to constantly paddle to maintain position in the lineup, where they can catch the best waves.
To the left of the waves, as seen from the beach, is “Toilet Bowl.” This section has super sharp reef blanketed with only one-to-two feet of water. Surfers must be extra careful, riding waves into Toilet Bowl or getting caught in the impact zone, where powerful waves can throw them into the dangerous reef.
The wave breaking farthest from the beach at Haleiwa is called “Avalanche.” As the wave breaks it creates a huge wall of white wash that tumbles down the face, resembling an avalanche.
The contest format has heats of four surfers competing for 25 minutes. The top two surfers advance to the next round, 16 surfers advance to the quarterfinals and only four surfers move on to the finals.
Maneuvers, style, wave size and barrels all factor into the judges’ scores. Waves are judged on a 10 point scale, the best two waves combine to make the final score for each surfer.
The Reef Hawaiian Pro marked the return of local surfer and six-time Triple Crown Champion, Sunny Garcia. After spending three months behind bars and wearing a house arrest anklet for six, Garcia strapped on his surfboard leash and returned to the event where he holds the record for most titles won.
Three-time World Champion, four-time Triple Crown champion, Andy Irons took a heavy fall on the first wave he charged of the biggest swell of the year. With a strong current and heavy waves crashing through the line-up, Kauai native, Irons rode the white wash in and paddle back out through the channel. This killed valuable time in the 25 minute heat and wasted energy. Irons, uncharacteristically, falls on the second drop-in attempt as well, but recovers to win the heat with good wave selection and strong, stylish, surfing maneuvers.
“There are some big waves coming in right now,” Irons said. “Definitely riding a bigger board in this heat,” referring to his 6’8” surfboard, decorated in sponsors’ stickers.
The judges look for surfers charging the wave break on the outside, farthest from the shore. Bigger waves curl at this point with stronger point potential. Surfers who dropped into the steepest, biggest waves, showing the most commitment, received the bigger scores of the day.
Dean Morrison advanced to the quarter finals with a heat score of 18.40 out of 20 possible points. The Australian pulled into a barrel, rare for Haleiwa, scoring him the only perfect ten of the contest.
Haleiwa local, Sean Moody sat in the lineup as Morrison dropped in on the big wave.
“I didn’t think he’d do it,” he said. “I don’t know if I would have.” Moody took second in the heat against Morrison, finishing with 15.16 points.
While young locals advanced to the next round, world title holders were eliminated.
“I don’t know, I’m just getting smashed” says Australian, Mick Fanning, who has already secured the 2007 World Title.
Wildcard Sean Moody and WQS surfer Roy Powers beat world title holders Irons and Fanning in the quarterfinal. Both Moody and Powers need to perform well in the O’Neil Pro at Sunset Beach to be invited to the final stop on the Triple Crown, the Pipeline Masters.
Australian, Joel Parkinson, threw powerful cutbacks and pulled through a beautiful barrel to advance throughout the contest. With his plan, “to survive,” in the finals, Parkinson not only survives but conquers, finishing second.
But it was WQS surfer, Powers, who took home the oversized check.
“I’m stoked,” said Powers. “Nothing better than being at Haleiwa in the final. It’s everything.” Powers scored two, nine-point rides to finish with a commanding score of 18.84 and bring the title home, to Kauai.

Secrets for the Slopes

After spending years at high elevation in blizzards, to spring sessions and everything in between, I’ve found a few products that allow me to make the most of my riding time and focus on fun.

Thirty-two boots: Women and men shoes are designed and sized differently- snowboarding boots are no exception. Women’s boots are designed to fit women’s calves for the most functional and comfortable fit. I highly recommend thirty-two brand snowboarding boots. After a couple days on the slopes, the inner lining of the boot will mold to your foot, personalizing the fit and allowing longer hours on the slopes. Plus it’s easier on your tired feet!
Anon Goggles: Goggles are also gender customized, a women’s model will better fit your mug and prevent fogging. Anon has released some radical models this season. To add some flair to your face, check out their new line with rad patterns and colors. www.store.burton.com/goggles
First Layer: Keep your bum warm with first layer pants, worn under your snowboarding pants. These are vital if you have a buddy who loves to give powder showers. This lining keeps snow from going down your pants and keeps your legs warm and snug without creases to cause discomfort.
Da Kine Visor: This visor is awesome. When you’re caught between putting your hair up and wearing a knit beanie, this product is sublime. The Da Kine knit visor keeps your ears warm and blocks snow over your goggles while leaving room on top for a bun or pony tail. I’ve gotten many compliments on this visor that is both functional and stylish.


Photo sources: http://www.store.burton.com/, http://www.thirtytwo.com/

SwellZ and SnoW

October 28, 2007
Today I woke up around ten, eyes still closed, reached for my phone on the window sill and called Surfline to see if the waves built enough over night for the XCEL Pro to be held. The event was given a lay day, contest organizers waiting for a swell to hit Sunset Beach.

I rolled out of bed, slipped on my bathing suit and found a lonely yogurt cup for a quick breakfast. I popped in a Rolling Stones CD and drove to the east side, to my favorite beach on the island, Makapu’u. The isolated-cove like beach had sets of waves breaking and creating a sea of white wash on the shore line. Body boarders were dropping knee and getting shot down the line, into the powerful close outs. With the exception of firing north shore days, Makapu’u often has the biggest waves on the island.

Watching the waves build and break, nature’s display of power and everyone having fun in the water, I was stoked. I saw the craziest drop ins from the skinniest local boys. They were super ballsy, dropping in on these steep, close-out waves and taking the consequences.

I cruised with my four girl friends all day, skim boarding, digging for crabs, playing with turtles and having a mad jam session with drift wood and lava rocks. We were hanging out on the isolated rocks, laughing and having a good time when this random guy hikes over with a tri pod and digital camera. He asks to take a picture of us, trying to get us to gather together and pose. We say no, he tries to convince us for a few minutes. We all spread out, pulling our hats down and flipping him off until he retreats to his buddies who watched the episode from the beach below.

Across the Pacific to the other side of the boarding spectrum, two inches of snow blessed Boreal at Tahoe, the storms have calmed down with ZERO inches of snow in the summit. Mother Nature must be waiting for me to book my flight. Thanks.

I watched coverage from the 2007 Vans Triple Crown at Northstar, (last March) which got me stoked for the powder to come. The video showed true Northern California Snowboarding, sunny skies, clear view of the Lake Tahoe backdrop. I wish my old room mate could see this video. Colorado born and raised, it took me a few weeks to convince her that there was snow in California! Actual, nature derived snow. In Colorado, rumor has it all snow in Cali is man-made. Book a flight Colo kids and shred some Golden State snow!

Anyway, the park looked super shredable. Competitors flew through the Terrain Park, super stylee in the Slope Style Event. Quick clips flickered of various boxes and rails that have left an impression on my noggin, buttocks, as well as annihilating my ex-boyfriend’s Siadic Nerve.

Watching Elena Hight throw back-to-back 900’s at my local park inspires me to step up the game this year. My talent might be a little rusted from the island 80 degree weather but I plan on grabbing my polka dot goggles and shredding some pow come December.

A breezy, buzzkill to your slope time or a spirit-lifter? You choose.

Fun Things to Do on the Ski Lift:
1) The “Winter Wonderland”: Kick snow onto people bellow you. This is an oldie and a Goodie. See your friends below you? That cute someone from the Gondola? Ski Patrol, if you dare? Tap the edge of your board to your free boot and give others a snow shower.

2) Yell random names and phrases at people bellow you on the slopes. “Brad!!! There you are!!!” Or,“Kathy! Mike broke his neck you gotta meet us at the emergency care center!” You fly above and away, leaving them confused, worried and a bit disturbed.

3) The “lazy boy”. It can be a lonely, cold, ride if you end up flying solo. At least you don’t have to cram on the lift with a few others and a bunch of crap, get comfortable! Stretch your tired, free leg across the bench, perch your board in whatever manner you feel right with, lower the bar and bust the mp3 player!

4) The “Booze and Cruise”: Bring a little liquid courage to the slopes? Enjoy your beverage until you exit the lift. Chug, chug, chug!

5) Point to every random aspect of the run and tell your buddies all the superman moves you’ll be doing. “See that rock? I’ll back flip off the foot of powder on it, onto the fallen tree, backside 50-50 and land switch stance.”

No Can Do:

1) Call your lover back home (no one wants to listen to that crap).
2) Tell stories of breaks and benders (bad ju-ju).
3) Talk about how you used to rip when you were little…sure buddy.
4) Ask other people to hold your gloves, goggles, etc. so you can take a picture or reapply Chapstick.
5) Don’t drop anything! Sit still, squirrelly pants, get whatever you need at the top.

2007 Monster Energy Pipeline Pro

Jamie O’Brien Hana Hou
As a North West swell arrives at Hale’iwa, surfers from around the world fly to O’ahu in anticipation of the 2007 Pipeline Pro, returning the energy to Pipeline once again.
The Pipeline Pro started in 1984, first sponsored by Hawaiian Island Creations. It began as a one star event, grew to a two-star event, and has since blossomed to a four-out-of-five-star event. “The prestige of this event has really grown,” said contest announcer, confirmed by the media attention and excited crowd lining the shore.
The Pipeline Pro is held at Pipeline on North Shore, Oahu, named one of the heaviest waves in the world. There’s $75,000 up for grabs in this competition, as well as $4,000 of prizes provided by sponsors.
The Pipeline Pro offers surfers to qualify for the WCT circuit, as well as claim a spot in the Pipe Masters for the following December. North Shore local Jamie O’Brien took the title in 2003, as goofy-foot Rob Machado won the Pipeline Pro in 2006
Machado admits there’s pressure to perform well the following year, but he tries to have fun and “just roll with it.”
Curling tubes under cloudy skies set the stage for the final day of competition for the Monster Energy Pro presented by Billabong. Conditions changed hourly throughout the holding period of the contest, causing surfers to cross their fingers for optimum conditions during their heats this year.
This year 162 surfers participated in the event from eleven different nations. Surfers compete in four-man heats lasting twenty minutes, while judges rate them on a ten-point-scale combining their top three wave scores. Judges base their score on several aspects of surfing,
§ Size of wave
§ Drop into wave
§ Degree of difficulty
§ Position in barrel
§ Length of barrel
Overall, the most important aspect judges are looking at in this competition is “tube rides” Rob Machado says.
Twenty-five boards broke during the Pipeline Pro this year, a true testament as to how strong this wave is. Powerful sets came crashing through, forcing surfers to think fast and try to position themselves away from the breaking waves and powerful white wash. Waves rolled in from the northwest, so powerful even the third reef began breaking, as could be seen on the horizon. Water raced further onto the beach, chasing startled spectators away from the shoreline, stealing slippers, towels, anything that was not held on to.
Water patrol on jet skies idle alongside surfers in the line up, trained and prepared to assist competitors if caught in a dangerous position. “I’d like to thank the water patrol program and lifeguards for keeping it safe out there” announces commentator McNamara enjoying Wahoo’s tacos and Monster energy drinks provided by Pipeline Pro sponsors.
Conditions improve as the sun comes out around noon. Ricky Witlock, Rob Machado, Myles Pedaca, and Danny Fuller sit in the lineup of heat five of round five. Fuller shows his determination, dropping in deep, not quite pulling out of the closeout tube. California native, Rob Machado, pulls into a tube as Pedaca drops in backdoor. Machado, gets spit out, gaining a score of 6.25, moving him into first place. Spectators, awed by Machado’s persistent grace and display of talent forecast another successful competition for the style-master.
“Rob’s skills as a waterman and surfer will make him victorious just as it did last year” predicts John McDermott, north shore resident.
Jamie O’Brien, Wiggolly Dantas, Damon Harvey, and Naohisa Ogawa follow in an international heat. O’Brien wins the heat by .25 points with 55 seconds left in the heat. This north shore local confirms mastery of pipe, dropping into heavy waves late, all the while making it look easy with his confidence and smooth style.
Mark Mathews, Gavin Gilette, Rob Machado and Jamie O’Brien advance to the finals. Jet skis escort them to the lineup while a huge wave breaks, the horn is sounded, and the thirty minute heat begins.
Surfers charge hard, attempting any wave with scoring potential. Jamie O’Brien awakens the crowd, catching three waves with a high of 8.0 and low of 7.25, putting him in the first place spot. With 11:50 minutes remaining in the heat cheering and whistling projects from the Volcom house balcony.
Ten minutes are left on the clock as Machado gets hit by the lip and breaks his board. Groms race to the beach to retrieve the board as Machado’s caddie rushes to get him a new board. Paddling hard against the strong Pipeline current, Machado reaches the lineup in an astounding two minutes, but can’t catch the wave score needed to win, and the Pipeline Pro finishes with Hawai’ian surfer Jamie O’Brien on top once again.
Final Results:
1st: Jamie O’Brien $10,000
2nd: Mark Mathews $5,000
3rd: Rob Machado $3,000
4th: Gavin Gillett: $2,400
Complete coverage of the event can be found at: www.monsterenergypro.com www.billabongpro.com

Unfortunately this year the Pipeline Pro will not take place on O'ahu's north shore. Contest holders could not obtain a permit from the city and county of Honolulu to hold the event at the infamous Bonzai Pipeline break. Locals protest the traffic and populated beach that continuously runs throughout the winter season.
Bad for Monster, good for others. The denied permit allows another, smaller, contest to charge the break.

Bringing it to the Bay

Bob’s love of surfing creates new possibilities for Northern Californians

Every surfer has their own unique story of how they got turned on to surfing and catching their first wave. Just as every wave rolling into the shore is slightly different, so is every surfer, their reason for surfing, and how surfing affects their lives.
Bob resides in Bodega Bay, California. The waves rolling into these shores may not grace the pages of Surfer Magazine, but where there’s water and there’s wind, there are waves, and where there are waves there are surfers braving the cold bay waters and shark infested breaks.
Bob grew up in Sebastopol, roughly forty-five minutes north of the Golden Gate in beautiful Sonoma County, California. When Bob and his older brother were growing up, the surfing culture was yet to reach much of Northern California, no Surfline to check swells and nowhere to buy a stick of wax. The first board Bob saw was his older brother’s, who received his longboard via mail when Bob was twelve years old.
With extremely limited knowledge of surfing, the boys curiously studied the foreign polyurethane foam board and leash that arrived with it.
“I think you tie the leash through that hole at the end” Bob suggested to his brother.
“What do you know squirt?” his proud brother fired back. Bob turned out to be right, and smiled at the thought that he might know more about surfing than his older brother.
“I decided I wanted to be a surfer, even if it killed me” he says.
Bob felt an immediate attachment to the surf. He enjoyed both the challenge and the peaceful aspects of surfing. “I knew I was heading for ‘surfism’” he says.
“I surf because it makes me feel good, and there’s a lot of things in life that are the opposite” he says. “I feel it’s a rejuvenation of the soul. Surfing just feels good. Everyday I paddle out, I duck dive and it just washes away all the crap”.
Bob turned his passion for surfing into a way to make a living and spread surfing in the bay. Bob opened up the first surf shop in Bodega Bay alongside sharky surf breaks at Doran Beach, Bodega Head and Salmon Creek.
The Surf Shack sits among quaint beach house shops in classic Bodega Bay form. The two story shop is packed with goodies for surfers, skaters and ocean lovers.
“If I packed up the surf shop and moved to Idaho because the real estate is cheaper, then came back to a surf shop fifteen years later and said, ‘yeah, I used to surf’ that’s when I would feel like I sold out. Owning a surf shop doesn’t make me fell like a sell out”
he explains.
Now, twenty years later, Bob still happily owns and operates the Surf Shack alongside wife and surfer, Laurie.

Boarding Bettys

Women’s skateboarding is stronger than ever.

The snow had melted in Tahoe after many tank top and sun glasses sessions and memorable long weekends in the mountains. After living out of my Honda Civic and crashing on couches for a few months, my relationship with my long time boyfriend came to a close and I needed a distraction. Still amped from the winter season, I was itching to continue board riding through the spring and summer.
Back in town, I saw a few hippie guys crusin on long boards around campus and decided it looked easy enough. Recovering from nearly losing my job after too many “sick days,” I bought a $60 long board from a sporting goods store. The design was so whacked out, it looked more like a wood shop project than a skateboard but I didn’t know better and was stoked on the jagg long board.
After coasting through a couple of parks, learning to turn, I decided it was time to bomb some hills. Living in the rolling hills of Northern California, I drove to the top of Hidden Valley, a neighborhood of perfectly smooth pavement curling around lawns and trees.
Lindsay, my partner in crime and a skateboarding virgin accompanied me on this mission. We picked a hill and I was amped to tackle it.
Standing at the top, I kicked off on the board and started rolling down on my trusty three feet of plywood. Slowly, I picked up speed…a little more…a little more….a lot more…crap, I was flying! Terrified as the speed wobbles kicked in, I did the only thing I could: stand there. Once I safely rolled to a stop I, was stoked.
Hanging around board shops and watching other skaters I began to learn what the action sport was all about. Skateboarding is not as main-stream as other sports like football. There aren’t jerseys or minivan moms handing out orange slices and juice boxes at the park. Skateboarding is more individual, driven by passion. Skateboarding is challenging as well as artistic. The city paves our playground letting us live our daydreams of kick flips and board slides. Pedestrians pass by, often shooting irritated looks in the direction of skaters as they kick their boards in the air, slam them down on the pavement, disturbing the peace. Both physically and mentally challenging, skateboarding stimulates endorphins, strengthens muscles and teaches patience and precision. Skaters have a unique perception of urban life, appreciation of the potential of a simple hand rail, or a freshly paved hill. Yes, skaters love seeing their tax dollars going to good use.
Without a coach or friends to teach me, I attempted to build a skateboard deck on my own. Backwards, forwards, the trucks looked the same and I had no idea how to pop the bearings into the wheels. My first attempt looked outstanding. After thirty minutes of toying with these parts on my lunch break, the board looked ready to go. Exciteditly I ran out the backdoor to my work’s parking lot. I set the board down, put one foot on the deck to stabilize, kicked off, and bam. Fell straight on my ass. A worker from next door pointed out one of the trucks was on backwards (of course, right?) I retreated to the back room, fixed the problem and felt somewhat satisfied from my dissection and building of a skateboard.
I had always snowboarded, but soon discovered what mountains are to snowboarding, street is to skateboarding, and everyone you know happens to share your concrete mountain.
If I ate shit during my afternoon sesh/ going to grab a bite to eat, that hot guy at the burrito shop, my co-worker, or classmate will probably see, and some days it’s not so easy just to laugh it off.
Other times I wish I didn’t feel like such a sore thumb hanging out in the quad with my peers. My trendy, high-heeled, friend called my skating “cute” one day on campus, as she giggled at my Sector Nine. I later caught her filing her white tipped-nail on the grip tape of her boyfriend’s skateboard. Secretly, I wanted to punch her in the face (love you, chica).
Women skaters are often given the infamous title of “tomboy” for simply living with skateboarding style. Today, skateboarding juxtaposes feminism, as if somehow clenching a board under your arm makes you an unavailable candidate for a girlfriend, or someone looking for trouble.
So here we have this non-girlfriend-material, skating, rebel. How do we categorize her? The category is somewhere between a rock and a hard place.
Generally someone finds friends with the same interests as themselves and share the things you have in common with one another. While other girls give time to pedicures, Cosmopolitan and finding the perfects heels, the skater girl is breaking nails, (possibly bones), trying to nail that kick-flip and wishing Vans had that shoe in women’s sizes.
Peggy Oki wrote history as the only female member of the Zephyr skating team in the 1970’s, better known as Dogtown and the Z-boys. This group of outgoing teens rocked the skateboarding world as they skated with a progressive, surf style. Oki skates with her signature stance, bending to lower her center of gravity and dragging her hand along the pavement as you would surfing a wave. Critics bashed Oki for skating “like a man” as she power slides with aggression, dominating any bowl she drops into.
The bud of the Women’s skateboarding industry blossomed once snowboarding hit the slopes in the 90’s. The two board sports compliment each other. As the snowboarding scene grew, more board riders looked for something to get their stoke and found skateboarding as a placeholder for the summer void.
More girls began to skate and participate in competitions. Women such as Cara Beth Burnside and Jen O’Brien grew up competing in the boys’ divisions of skating because there was no girls division. As skateboarding became popular, the women’s industry reached a sink-or-swim situation, which was a trying time for women skaters.
Jodi McDonald, notable skateboarding pioneer, struggled with this transition. She didn’t like where the skateboarding industry was going and disappeared from the scene.
Originally a skateboarder, Cara Beth Burnside discovered snowboarding when women’s divisions were established in contests. After receiving exposure for her board riding skills, Burnside began competitive skateboarding, entering her first competition in 1991 against male skaters. She has conquered many women’s contests to date, as well as holds medals for snowboarding in the Winter Olympic Games for five consecutive years.
Finally, in 1997, Patty Segovia founded the All Girls Skate Jam. As this culture is fresh from the roots of skateboarding, girls meld innovative board riding with a feminine flair.
Apparel brands are also picking up on women’s interest in skateboarding and the need to have clothes to fit their lifestyle. Brands such as Roxy, Hurley and Volcom have widely extended their market to action sports chicks as well as fashion hungry females to support their cause.
Iceland snowboarder Heida Birgisdottir created her own clothing line, Nikita, for action sports women. With the appropriate motto, “For Girls Who Ride” Nikita provides women living an active lifestyle with clothing created with both function and fashion in mind.
It can be a lonely world as a skater chick, there aren’t that many of us. It’s fun to skate with others, regardless of gender but to balance yin and yang we need more estrogen in the skate scene.
Women who break into male-dominated cultures are celebrated and praised, as they should be. As more women expand their interests to other cultures, such as skateboarding, girls will be given more opportunities and more appreciation in the centuries to come.
Although the vibe transcends camaraderie and pure stoke, women are still struggling in the industry, as they may lose half of any possible prize winnings just getting to the competition.
As another deck of wheels hit the pavement with a female as the driving force, women’s presence in the skateboarding culture gains momentum. Today four skateboards wait to ridden in my room in Hawai’i, two of my girl friends have purchased their asphalt quiver and you are reading my words. I’d say life’s pretty sweet as a skater girl.

Women rocking in the action sports industry
From the slopes to the surf, women are out there shredding.
Layne Beachley, natural foot surfer from Australia has dominated the women’s surf scene claiming seven world titles riding the waves of the world. Beachley claimed the biggest wave ever ridden by a woman as she dropped in on a beastly fifty foot-face wave.
Beachley’s achievements are not limited to standing in the barrel, either. This Aussie ripper has established her own clothing line, runs a charity, and sponsers her own women’s surf contest, the Havianas Beachley Classic.

Goofy-foot Hannah Teter out of Vermont pushes women’s snowboarding to higher levels. A progressive half-pipe fiend, Teter was the first chick to land a 900 in competition and has showcased her talent to the world, winning an Olympic Gold Medal in 2006 for the women’s half pipe division.
Sponsors like Burton and Anon Optics have Teter’s back, allowing her to travel the world and continue to innovate snowboarding. Oh, and did I mention she skates between snow trips?

Surfing Rulebook

Surfing Magazine created “The Rulebook”, a list of playfully, sarcastic rules for surfers to abide by, or define. Playing off this idea, I have conjured some surfing rules of my own.

Rule #1: If a surfboard in your house has been deprived from water, collecting gnar for more than six months, it’s free game.

Rule #2: If you borrow your bro or brodette’s board and ding it, own up. And don’t make an extravagant story has to how it happened. Nobody saw a ten-foot set or the sea monster that day.

Rule #3:Chick surfers automatically get kudos for surfing in a bikini. 50% of a successful duck-dive is keeping your bottoms on.

Rule #4: There’s a 15 minute grace period to catch a wave in after your mate has reached shore. After that, find your own ride home.

Rule #5: Eating bananas does not ensure a cramp-free sesh.

Rule #6: The line-up is not happy hour, don’t spend your sesh spittin game to the cutie riding the short board. However, if you’re so talented as to remember their phone number…rock on.

Rule #7: If you kindly bum a ride to the break and don’t plan on throwing down gas money, you better bring wax.