CB: When did you learn how to surf and how long have you been competing?

Lindsay: My dad taught me to surf when I was about 6 or 7 and i was hooked. I did my first Menehune (kids) contest at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA when I was 12.

CB: Since being bit by the surfing bug, where have you traveled to surf?

Lindsay: I have been surfing in obviously Mexico, because it’s so close…but my first real surf trip was Costa Rica, and from there I was hooked. I then travelled to surf in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and of course just recently France.

CB: What fears do you have in surfing and how have you overcome them?

Lindsay: As far as fears in surfing, I guess it would be when I find myself paddling out in big waves and being stuck with a 9 foot board when a big set comes through. It’s hard to get through big waves with a 9 foot floatation device! To overcome it, I just try to keep myself in good shape so I am more likely to make it through the set, and work on keeping myself calm. Not that I surf giant, gnarly waves, but it still happens.

CB: What inspires you to keep pushing the limits of women’s longboarding?

Lindsay: I would like to push women’s longboarding to new levels to create more buzz around the sport, thus creating more support, and more opportunities, which could include bigger sponsorships and contest winnings.

CB: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to progress down from a longboard to a shortboard?

Lindsay: Transiting from longboard to shortboard, it a whole different game, but one worth trying! You have to have a different mind set. For me, Its more of a get up and go, I am going to rip this wave a new one type of mind set. So I like surfing both long and short, that way depending on my mood, and the waves, I can surf accordingly.

CB: What advice can you offer to beginning women surfers?

Lindsay: My advice to beginning women surfers is to keep with it! I think the older you are when you learn to surf, the harder it is to get going, but it is so worth the hard work once you finally get it!!!

A thanks to Lindsay for taking the time to chat and a huge CONGRATS  for her win in France- and good luck in China. Lindsay is definitely missing the World class waves we have down here in Nicaragua, hopefully she can travel down and show us a thing or two in longboarding!!

~Candace Pattillo

Click here to see the full article!

You can also download the Nicaragua, the New Frontier pdf file by clicking on the link.

Click here to see the full story on the “Seven Ghosts”. If you have any troubles viewing the link, visit Rip Curl’s site directly by clicking here.

For those of you that are not familiar with the Sacred Craft- this show was created to re-influence the surf community about the craft it takes and took to create what surfing is all about today.  Simple to say, this show is all about the BOARDS! So many technologies have developed, new eco-foam is available, and even recycling plays a part in advances of surfboard shaping. Check out the shows website: sacredcraftexpo.com

During the show we got to meet a few women that are shaping the path for women surfing, music and art. First we met Julie Cox and Ashley Llyod. Both of these women have been on the Womens Pro Longboarding Tour and and have now developed their own collection of surfboards. Julie Cox has created the Jule Collection with the collaboration of Jed Noll- son of legendary surfer/shaper Greg Noll.  The  Jule Collection is specifically designed for women with 5 models of boards that suit each body type. Check out her collection at: Julecollection.com I recently purchased the “Opal” model to get into some bigger surf with a longboard feel! Ashley Llyod has been developing and expanding her collection for 10 years and continues to expand. Offering a different variety of progressive quads to single fins, she has the classic “soul surfer” approach! Ashley was featured in the recent womenʼs surf movie “Dear and Yonder” not only for her surfing craft and skill but her musical talent as well. Check out her collection and music on Ashleyllyodmusic.com We also had the chance to meet the fantastic artist Susan Wickstrand from Encinitas, CA. Susan will be the new RipCurl “Artist of the Search” for the upcoming ʻ11-ʼ12 seasons. Check out her website at: SusanWickstrand.com We fell in love with all her prints so get ready for see her artistic clothing collection at the ChicaBrava storefront!

And as we are all trying to help in our part of saving the planet and going green, check out rerip.com These guys are a newer company that is devoted to reusing surfboards for art, reselling, and using broken boards foam to re- use as a filler in making cement!

Muchas Gracias to Katie Williams for being a fantastic tour guide and spreading the ChicaBrava stoke in Santa Cruz, CA!!

Loving to spread the ChicaBrava word!!

Candace

Click here to see Sympatico.ca article of “10 Surf Camps from Around the World”

The excerpt on us reads: “San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Located in a quaint fishing village, all-girls resort, Chica Brava not only offers beginner, intermediate and advanced instruction but also offers lessons specifically for women aged over 40 and other customized packages. The Cloud Farm package includes three healthy meals from farm to table. Chica Brava offers the chance to go horseback riding, zip lining and partying in town for additional costs. The owners don’t sugar-coat the realities of living in a small village in a third world country. Packages start at $990 per person (based on double occupancy).”

Yay! Thanks Sympatico!!!!

Check out CHICABRAVA in the handbook here: Moon Handbook CHICABRAVA