One Month.

Last night I dreamed of a Newfoundland, you know those big hairy dogs that likes to swim. I dreamed about living by the sea and surfing with this giant of a dog swimming next to me. Then I woke myself up convinced that I was going to persuade my parents to let me have one here in the family home. In my languid half awake state I bumbled over to my bookcase and pulled out all the dog books I owned determined that I needed to do some research before I presented my argument to my folks. 

I must have at some point climbed back into bed and fallen asleep again because I woke up to a blue sky and the conviction that I was going to get a female Newfoundland and call her Sanoe (after Sanoe Lake the Hawaiian surfer girl). 

You see in the aftermath of a relationship your mind is a revolving door of possibilities, with each revolution a new idea steps forward to whirl around for a turn...Naturally this vulnerable state is not the time to be making drastic decisions. 

I know of two seaside places I'd consider living and have been logging onto property sites at regular intervals to check out accommodation  Yesterday I nearly got pierced, I've contemplated chopping off my hippie tresses and my fingers are itching to call someone I probably shouldn't.

Restless it the word. 

The benefit of being this age and still living at home is that I have siblings around me who are more like friends now. My sister Emily made me sit and watch some Sex and the City episodes with her, which we interrupted intermittently to have hearts to hearts. Accompanied by the primal screaming of Samantha in the background Emily told me about the one month rule. 

She told me to wait a month, to sit with my ideas without acting upon any. One month feels like an agonizingly long time of being inactive but I am astute enough (despite everything), to realize that she makes a good point. 

Our motivations are usually derived from desire and much like a changing tide within desire there a rips and channels in which to drown. Acting upon impulse, whilst good in some circumstances, is not the antidote to a healing heart. In the aftermath of a break up I have to sit with myself, I have to brood and give myself time to reflect. 

I had someone email me some very profound advice recently: 

'I think that any two people in a relationship merge and connect through emotions and life experiences and if/when they separate there needs to be a time of healing in order to regain a sense of who we are as individuals.  As painful as it can be, that time alone can bring insight and growth that can empower us and move us on.'

So as much as I want to rebel against staying, I'm going to tread water and consider my options. 

There will also be some surfing too and we all know how that helps! 

Until next time 

Stay strong and surf well! 

Love Sophia 

Catalyst.

As much as blogging is about the individual using a platform to air their views it is also about open dialogues and community. Blogs provide an amphitheater in which ideas and thoughts can be discussed from different perspectives, very healthy, when its big topics there for analysis. 

Real women have curves and surfboards is largely a place of solace for me, but its also an opportunity to examine the feminine stance. In a week which has seen the internet discussed widely in Britain and how social media can sometimes be a place for vigilantes against equality, I feel more than ever its imperative that both men and women alike, start and continue conversations surrounding gender equality. 

I was initially nervous when approached by sponsors, I didn't want my blog to become something that I didn't recognize. I am however infinitely glad I continued my conversation with ActivInstinct, yes they are a sports brand, yes they're good and I would suggest looking at their stuff but they also produced this fantastic article for me. Its a reflection on the recent Roxy promo video. We're just people talking to other people and isn't it wonderful that we've opened a dialogue about the representation of women. Whatever side of the fence you stand on this debate, I feel the important thing is that we're making it a conversation and with more talk comes more understanding. 

To remind you here is the Roxy video. 

 

We know my opinions on it but here's ActivInstinct's perspective. 

Promo video for top women’s surfing which event features no surfing… Am I missing something?

Writing on behalf of UK sports brand and leading wetsuit manufacturer, ActivInstinct, published writer and anti-sexist blogger Maya Verber comments on the controversial promotional video released for The Roxy Pro, Biarratz, and the problem with how female athletes are portrayed in the media.

When leading surf brand, Roxy, recently released a promotional video for The Roxy Pro, Biarratz, the second to last stop on the women’s world championship tour, outrage and criticism was widespread.

Controversy surrounded the short film, which features world champion surfer, Stephanie Gilmore, for a number of reasons.  The anonymous ‘teaser’ was posted under the hashtag, ‘#WhoAmIJustGuess’ and as such, you are not shown the female surfer’s face at any time, (it was later revealed that Gilmore was the star, and a full length video was posted). What does feature, heavily, are supposedly arty shots of Gilmore’s bottom. During the piece, Gilmore writhes around on her bed, almost naked, before stepping into the shower, putting on a tiny bikini and heading to the beach. No actual surfing, bar a close up of her bottom as she paddles out for a few seconds, appears.

While clearly Roxy were trying to create a buzz and promote intrigue around their event, the product is at best reminiscent of a sexy girl in a music video, and at worst, as put by Guardianjournalist Tia Calvo, ‘voyeuristic semi soft-core porn’.

The fact that Gilmore is not even shown standing up on her surfboard at all during the clip, despite her awe-inspiring talent and five-time world champion status, highlights the way in which female athletes are consistently sexualized in the media, and particularly when they are featured in advertising campaigns and endorsements.

I see no problem with Gilmore looking attractive, or even sexy - she has previously appeared inVogue, looking beautiful, and is a great ambassador for a sport which has been fighting for gender equality for years.

Roxy have almost always used size 6, stereotypical ‘surfer’ girls in their ad campaigns in the past and commented, in response to the criticism of this film:

“We believe all athletes are naturally beautiful, in and out of the water. You certainly don't have to be sexy to be an athlete, and we also believe it's not wrong to be an athlete and to be sexy, if you choose to be. We don't judge one to be better than the other and we don't believe in excluding one for other.”

However, I think it is important to note that this is not an advertisement for Roxy clothing. It is a promotional video for a surfing competition – which doesn't show any surfing. How can that not be problematic?

Written by Maya Verber

Pretty good don't you think?! I was really stoked when I read the article, not only is it very well written it sums up my frustration towards Roxy and the representation of female surfers perfectly. So...

We need to talk, what do have to say for yourself ladies? 

(And gentlemen, we're inclusive here at RWHCS)!

Stay strong, surf well 

Love Sophia  

The only thing constant in the world is change. 
'Growth' by India Arie



This photo changed everything. This is me at 5am in the morning surfing towards the sunrise, excruciatingly happy because I'm exactly where I want to be. My boyfriend of two years having seen this picture among others (taken on the Land Locked Surfer's trip), realized we hadn't been making each other as happy as we should. We were always town mouse and country mouse and although initially these differences weren't a problem, recently we started to notice it wasn't just separate interests, it was separate lifestyles dividing us. 

We sat in an open space in the city and slowly realized our demise. It was a strange reality talking affectionately, laughing even, knowing that it was the last time we'd know each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. Regular readers will know this isn't the first time we've broken up and I'll never regret trying again with him. I feel sad because I wasn't able to make it work with someone as wonderful as him, handsome, kind, artistic and sensitive. He was a good man and we have a lot of love and respect for one another. 

It appears wanderlust is my greatest love and continues to spearhead the direction of my life. My boyfriend having achieved great success, was happy to continue living in the fashion that he was. I on the other hand have this insatiable curiosity about the world, I want to explore and try living somewhere else until I find my niche. In Africa there is a saying:

'Born away from home.' 

Its about people finding a country which isn't there origin but feeling like they've returned. I've always believed homes not a place or a feeling home is simply being. 

The weeks events have spun out of my control and in the shards of another broken relationship I contemplate my next move. Tomorrow I'll get up at 5am and go to work. I'll stand on a commuter train daydreaming about my next surf trip until I'm at the nursing home where I make my money. 
I'm lucky that I get to spend my days with people who are the most honest people you will ever get to meet. I'll help them rise, assist them with personal care, be there for every meal time, maybe we'll go out maybe we'll stay and do the gardening, but for fourteen hours my time is there's for which I am massively grateful of. 

For a day I won't have time to think about myself but hours to luxuriate in the chaotic routine of their lives. Amid this I'm conscious of a wage at the end of the month, I'll save and budget like I always do, until I have enough to make a drastic change in my life. 

I've been listening to a lot of India Arie, Valerie June and Joss Stone lately - women with soul to remind me that its ok to grieve this relationship even though its naturally run its course. Fundamentally I'm a strong woman, I'm constantly rediscovering myself and finding my path in this world. I hope this diary esq. post today helps others realize that its ok to be vulnerable and admit your not ok. 

We are all in progress so embrace the change. 

Thank you for reading it helps knowing your there. 

Stay strong, surf well 

Love Sophia 

The Land Locked Surfer Club II

Breathing with a snorkel
The surfer leers over the smoldering sea
Takes up the seaweed soiled waxed manuscript

And paddles out of the basement
Walks down to the beach and what remains
Of the water and casts out the paper fish net

Into a set of scaling waves
Lit with a lustrous industrial moon
The waves curling letters in blue neon.

From "Watermarks from a Night Spring" by Joe Linker

 

 

 Above photos courtesy of Jemima Stubbs (https://www.facebook.com/JemimaStubbsPhotography)

This is me.

Above photos courtesy of Thomas Cleeton.

 

 Above photos courtesy of Evie Gruchala. 

For three glorious days we lived the dream. A band of city folk abandoned the conditions of their lives to go explore the Welsh coast, carrying all they would need in rucksacks and carrier bags. Together they created a camp, a mini Utopia, where the children ran care free and sat round camp fires laughing until late. As the sun climbed slowly to become a tenant of the sky, they surfed until bone weary, hair and skin slick with sea salt. At night they climbed into tents to sleep the deep, contented sleep of happy people, cold sand in sleeping bags reminders of earlier joys. 

Then they surfed some more, ate some more, they laughed until sides became sore. In the sunset they reflected upon the natural beauty, the wonderment of the children so infatuated with the ocean that they had to be dragged out goose pimpled and hungry. Romances blossomed, friendships strengthened in vigor and acquaintances became confidants. In transit homeward bound they hugged like siblings dragging, their feet at the prospect of reality. 

We are the Land Locked Surfers and this is our story. 

Thrift Radiates Happiness.

I've probably used the 'thrift radiates happiness' phrase before but I am such a fan of the meaning that I'd thought I'd recycle it!

Today I set myself the challenge of spending £20 on clothes- no more, no less. Naturally if I had taken this homily sum to the high street I'd probably have been able to afford one top, unless I went to the not so ethical bargain stores that is, (I'll be honest I have succumbed to a bargain when the finances have been stretched, but I can't justify cheap clothes at the cost of another persons suffering. Its just not right). 

Instead I jumped on my bicycle and pedaled to my nearest town to scour the local charity shops (that would be thrift shops to my American readers). I love nothing more than going into a charity shop and having to rummage like I'm looking for buried treasure. I have very eclectic taste in clothing and have been known to wear anything from sequined biker jackets to floor length paisley dresses, so the jumble of clothes in a charity shop is like an Aladdin's cave to me. If I had to label myself I'd say I'm a hippie mixed with vintage sweetheart - the odd surfer girl style piece thrown in here or there! 

Today's bounty amounted to: 

2 designer paisley shirts
1 African style top
1 pair of never worn silk hippie trousers (still had the tag)!
1 knitted dress 

Not bad for £20! A while ago I was supposed to post about an upcycled lamp I made for a friend of mine, so as today's theme is very much about recycling here's a step by step guide to create your own handmade masterpiece. 

This Lamp does not contain a Genie. 

You will need:

An old lamp with fabric lamp shade (I got mine for £3)
Scrap material
A glue gun
Buttons, felt, ribbon and anything else you want to stick on.
Tracing paper (any old paper will do)
Pins
Scissors
Tape measure

To make:

1. Start by measuring the sectioned panels on the lamp shade so you know how big you need to cut the fabric.

2. Once you know roughly how big your squares of material are going to need to be, draw this onto paper, pin down to material and start cutting!

 


















3. Using a glue gun very carefully apply glue to the lamp shade and quickly add the squares of material (glue guns dry really quickly so its ill advised to put on loads of glue, your going to need to do it piece by piece).

4. Now comes the fun bit, once your lamp is completely covered with material then you can start gluing on felt pieces, or buttons. Use your imagination and go wild!

Voila your very own upcycled lamp! Happy crafting (perhaps in a flat spell...)

Stay strong, Surf well 

Love

Sophia 

x 

The Dream Catcher.

I am a human dream catcher. Sometimes my ideas cluster like a thousand voices all talking at once or at night, when I'm trying to sleep, my dreams are the low rumble before an impending earthquake. 

The trouble with having so many ideas is that its difficult to pin one down. Sometimes you manage to achieve something and having realized it, its parable to seeing a butterfly pinned on a cork board. It is beautiful to look at but better when it was free and flying. 

Taking things day by day is, in my experience, the best way of revealing what it is you actually want. It is easy to become distracted by the big picture, about the lives we think we want to lead instead of looking around us at the things we already have. 

Every fiber of my body wanted to get a job relating to my degree, to be a conservationist protecting wildlife. And yet every single thing I've done in the last three years since graduating has been people centered. Without even realizing I was tailoring my skills and experiences to be of better service to people in need. I've worked with refugees, as a humanitarian in Ethiopia, as an intern at Responding to Conflict and now as a support worker. If I look at my present situation it appears that my forte is people.

Some time ago I discussed an idea on my blog. Having been so positively effected by surfing within the confines of my own life I wondered about its potential to help others in need. Then I discovered the work of Maui and his charity Street Waves in Miami, how he helps inner city kids be distracted from the difficulties of their lives by going surfing. In Handsworth where I work you can feel tension and everyday there is more news of young people living in ways they shouldn't ever have to. For a long time I've wanted to help youth like this, refugees, all genres of person through surf therapy and finally I think I'm ready to do this. 
Now that I'm getting counselling I also want to help people who are suffering with depression or other mental related illnesses. 

A seemingly normal conversation with my man Antonio gave me the eureka moment I needed to help me get this project off the ground. The problem always was, how am I going to fund taking lots of inner city youth to the coast by myself? The answer is I can't fund it by myself, I need a community around me. Antonio has a projector and mentioned that we should watch movies on the wall of his bedroom one night. A-ha! A community cinema of course! 

I can show surf/skate films and any profits can be pooled into the 'Surf & The City' project (the name of my organization). Once we are actually up and running its easier to get grants and funds that way as we've got evidence that we're fully functioning. 

I was inspired by people around me and in order to realize this dream I need people. If you are interested in becoming a part of this project please let me know, I need people on side who know things about obtaining grants, youth work, about showing films and licensing. Above all I need passionate people who care about getting through to those who need help the most. 

So...any takers?? 

Please get in touch with my via sophia.cant.surf@gmail.com or through my facebook group 'The Land Locked Surfers,' 

Until next time 

Stay strong, surf well 

Sirena.

 
















Sirena means mermaid in Spanish.  
Women in the water often have many different connotations, to sailors gone by we were bad luck, or mythical creatures who lured ships to their peril. Later we were deemed too frail and indecent to be allowed to swim or when we did impressions were that of disdain or disbelief. 

Talk to any modern female surfer and the feeling is of evolution and positive change, girls are coming through the ranks ripping harder, faster and doing more dynamic manoeuvres.  

Women are defining themselves not as better or worse but different. 

And yet there is still a blurred line in existence between female surfers and modelling. It appears a chicken and egg phenomenon when examining the competitive surf industry - what came first the surfing or the modelling? Without the big sponsors surfers full stop would find it difficult to afford to get to contests and have the relevant equipment, which is ironic when you think the ocean is free. 


In the aftermath of the 2012 Olympics in London many of the female athletes, despite winning medals are struggling to find sponsors. Helen Glover, who won Britain's first gold medal of the London Games with Heather Stanning in the women's rowing pairs, despite her high profile - Glover went on to win BBC TV's Superstars - the 26-year-old has failed to attract a personal sponsor, as have all her medal-winning colleagues. 

In the plight of Brit Andy Murray winning Wimbledon British newspapers called his success 'First win since 1936' completely forgetting Virginia Wade who won the Women's Singles Championships at Wimbledon on 1 July 1977 and was the last British tennis player to have won a Grand Slam singles tournament until Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012. 

When I read this it makes me incredulous. Especially in the context of surfing where my impression is that if you wear clothes well you have more opportunities available to you. 

In the upcoming weeks sports brand activinstinct are writing a post for me about their perspectives on the recent Roxy Pro video. Without giving too much away its caused major controversy for appearing more like a soft porn film than for representing female surfers actually, well, surfing. 

In my meanderings I've recently come across these two videos which I feel show the energy of female surfers. The first is 'Water Warriors' by the bikini brand Calvera. Yes the girls are attractive in this video but that is not the point, they are fierce and it concentrates solely on their abilities- Ride on sisters! 

The second video is from the blog The Sea Life and the video is called 'Jack and his girl.' Although the video isn't exclusively about Roya the female surfer featured, she steals the show for just surfing pretty dam well. I like how the video perfectly illustrates the linearities and differences between male and female surfers and how perfect they are in their differences. A stunningly, well made video!