Posted: August 25, 2010 by
Nicky
Time for a
surf holiday road trip: bags of clothing, check; food supplies, check; wetsuits, check; can hardly fit self into car... check; so where are the boards going to fit? If you can’t fit your surf boards into your car then it’s time to bring out the straps and strap your baby to the roof. Here are your options:
Long distances
- Board bag + Ratchet Straps: When you are going on a longer surf trip it is better to use a boardbag as it gives your board extra protection. If you don’t have a roof rack you can then strap your board tightly to the roof of your car directly with ratchet straps. These pass around the boards and fix on the inside of your car.
- Board bag + Roof Rack + Foam Pads + Straps: If you can fix a permanent roof rack to your car, then it will be worth investing in foam pads for your board to rest on, and then using straps that will pass around the rack and board before locking them down on the outside of your car.
Short distances
- Soft Roof Rack: This is a great option if you don’t need to take your board too far. These straps are an ‘all-in-one’, as they attach like ratchets on the inside of the car to provide a semi-permanent roof rack, then also provide the strap that will tie the board to the rack. Plus they are padded so your car and board are happy.
- Roof Rack + Foam Pads + Bungee Cord Straps: The easiest of all the options- this is for when you have your permanent roof rack in place. Keep foam pads on your roof rack, then all you have to do is put your board in place, and then wind the bungee cord straps around the board and then each other so that they are tight enough to finally link and hold your board in place.
Take a look at the quick and cheesy ‘how to’ vid below for an idea of how to strap your board using a soft roof rack. One thing that is not mentioned but we find useful is to put a twist in each strap either side of the surf board (so that the straps are not facing flat but have a twist) - this will allow the wind flow past without creating that really load buzzing noise
Posted: August 23, 2010 by
Nicky
This post comes courtesy of Yoga instructor Peggy Hall...
Have you ever thought about combining your two passions -- yoga and surfing?
The good news is that you can actually get paid for doing what you love!
That's right -- check out the first-ever surf-specific Yoga Teacher Training to be held in September 2010 and learn how you can inspire others around the world to surf better -- and live better!
As creators of the best selling Yoga for Surfers DVDs, my husband David and I have traveled to Australia, Tahiti and Hawaii several times for the filming and production of the programs. Can you imagine? Surfing the world as a tax write-off!
Now you can join us and learn our secrets!
The Yoga for Surfers Teacher Training is not for everybody, but it IS for you if ...
(1) you want to become a teacher, especially trained in my style of Yoga for Surfers
(2) you are already a yoga teacher who want to specialize in Yoga for Surfers!
(3) you simply want to improve your understanding of yoga and deepen your yoga practice
(4) you want one-on-one yoga training from me, Peggy Hall!
(5) you want an amazing retreat-style experience, immersing yourself in yoga and exploring the premiere surf breaks in South Orange County with like-minded surfin' yogis!
Go sign up now for a free 60-minute audio where you'll learn all about making money with yoga + surfing!
And I look forward to sharing some amazing insights with you that you will not find anywhere else!
Until then, hope to see you in the lineup!
Peggy Hall
About:
Hall is an avid surfer, certified yoga instructor, surf-nutrition specialist and the creator of the first-ever yoga program specifically for surfers! Surfer Magazine calls Peggy a "legend" in surfing fitness, as she has helped tens of thousands of surfers all over the world surf better -- and live better through her Yoga for Surfers® instructional videos.
"The moment of being on a wave is so fleeting -- yet so thrilling! -- that you want to experience it again and again, no matter how many waves you catch! In that moment, you are whole, complete, one with the wave, one with life!
Like surfing, yoga gives you a glimpse into what it is to be in that place of utter freedom – completely outside of the boundaries of time, constraints, obligations and expectations -- just powerful, alive and free!"
Posted: August 23, 2010 by
Nicky
After months of dreaming about your next
surf holiday, the day has finally come when you’ll be whisked off to your ideal destination- bags and boards in tow. However, to avoid extreme heartbreak, make sure that your surfboard arrives in one piece by packing your baby nicely for the flight. Here’s a few ideas for how to look after your beloved...
Wrap it! Airlines are unfortunately notorious for charging an arm and a leg for the joy of transporting your surfboard, however how often have you seen your precious investment being thrown off your flight, then dumped under a mass of other boards or worse? So to help you board make it in one piece a bit of protection is needed.
Start by investing in a good durable boardbag. Make sure that you think about how many boards you’ll be traveling with, and whether it would be a good idea to team up with a friend and get a coffin bag- one bag can mean the difference of being charged for multiple bags, and more pennies = more surf trips abroad.
Find a boardbag that fits snugly around your board. Usually the right size will be whatever your board’s length is plus 6 inches. To help with the board’s protection, you can had foam piping around its rails (especially if it’s a shortboard), you can bubble wrap (always fun after) and then there is the trusty clothing, towels and virtually anything soft that you own.
When you are deciding on which airline will fly you and your board, it would be worth your while checking their policy on surfboards and sports equipment. Just because you are paying extra for the privilege of taking your board doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be given a bigger weight restriction. So check with the airline directly. Plus pre-booking your board will often help on the end price you’ll be charged for taking your board.
So after all that prep- get out there and surf! PS don’t forget to take some roof straps- just in case.
Posted: August 20, 2010 by
Francesca
Name: Taj Burrow
Nicknames: TB
Hometown: Yallingup, Western Australia/ Bali, Indonesia
Age: 32 (dob 2 June 1978)
Stance: Regular
Sponsors: Billabong, Firewire Surfboards, Von Zipper, Globe and Boost Mobile
One of the most respected and innovative surfers on the world championship tour, Australian elite surfer Taj Burrow has been pushing the boundaries of surfing since he joined the ASP’s world championship tour in 1998.
Renowned for his aerial and progressive maneuvers, Burrow is all about moving the sport of surfing forward. Yet in spite of Burrow’s phenomenal ability to make throwing a superman look like a piece of cake, he has yet to win a world title. So what is it that drives this unique surfer?
Growing up in Western Australia and surfing since the age of 7, Burrow knows a thing or two about competition. However, whilst being a great competitor, it seems as though Burrow’s focus isn’t necessarily world domination. Burrow’s attitude is refreshing in that he not only competes and does very well, but he makes a point of always bringing out the goods and surfing 100% in whatever the conditions are...
2ft and mushy, not a problem: micro jumps, airs, turns and sprays are in order. 20ft and barreling, yes please: arching cutback, carves and massive airs before disappearing into the barrel and then flying out. Burrow really does make the most of any wave.
Currently sitting at spot number 2 on the ASP’s world championship title race with 24750 points behind South African Jordy Smith with 28500 points, Burrow wont be giving up the chance for that elusive world title any time soon.
TB has been on fire for the past year or so. He won the Billabong Pro Pipeline last December, finishing the year with a bang... and then went on to win the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast at the start of the year. None too shabby. Since his brilliant start to the year he hasn’t quite managed to repeat his initial win, but he has certainly kept his spot in the rankings. What with the next stop on the tour coming round very quickly, Burrow will be one to watch as the Billabong Pro Tahiti gets underway next week.
To get a feel for just how good Burrow is, check out some of Burrow’s amazing tube and aerial moves in a slightly older but spot on clip from Billabong’s film “Passion Pop”.
Posted: August 18, 2010 by
Nicky
10 ft of barreling thick lipped ocean over a few feet of super sharp coral reef? Yes it’s that time of year again... Say hello to one of the heaviest left hand breaks on the planet:Teahupoo, and get ready to watch the world’s finest surfers battle it out The Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Stop number 5 of 10 of the ASP’s world championship race is about to start next week over on the idilic French Polynesian island of Tahiti. Normally when thinking of Tahiti’s dangerous and exhilarating break of Teahupoo, surfers break out with sweat. However this year the guys on tour have another worry... elimination.
The ASP has seriously upped the stakes with the tour this year. If you are not sitting in spot number 32 or higher at the end of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, then you will no longer be on the ASP’s world championship tour for the rest of the year. Surfers can qualify the hard way- through qualification rounds or wildcard entries, however they will no longer be part of the seeded elite.
So who will be scrambling to get a great result and leap up the rankings?... Sitting at 33rd in the ratings with 5750 points each are Tom Whitaker, Kekoa Bacalso, Patrick Gudauskas, Tanner Gudauskas and Neco Padaratz. Next on the firing line at 38th are Dean Morrison and Ben Dunn with 4500 points each, whilst Mick Campbell, Drew Courtney, Jay Thompson and Nate Yeomans sit at 40th with 3250 points a head. The final two surfers who have everything to ride for are Marco Polo and Blake Thornton at 44th with 2000 points each. If these guys don’t get high enough results then they are off the tour for the remainder of the year.
Our European representatives in the form of Portugal's Tiago Pires and France’s Jeremy Flores are pretty much safe, as Pires is 15th and Flores is 24th in the ratings.
The Billabong Pro Tahiti has been part of the ASP’s tour since 1999 when the ultimate comeback kid Mark Occhilupo took the event title and the world title. Since the event’s birth winners have included Kelly Slater (3 times), Cory Lopez, CJ Hobgood and his twin brother Damien Hobgood, Andy Irons, Bruno Santos and last year’s champ Bobby Martinez who also won it back in 06’ as well.
So what can we expect from the event itself? At the moment the wave forecast for Tahiti is looking good, so head high waves are set to be a minimum- which means great barreling waves. Teahupoo, found just off the coast of the town of Taiarapu, Tahiti Iti (Tahiti’s small island joined to the main big island of Tahiti Nui), will certainly bring out the best in the ASP’s surfers as they all clamber to either remain on the tour, or to increase their lead in their attempt to claim the world title.