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theoceanisfemale

“It was a pretty big day and I grabbed on to my

“It was a pretty big day and I grabbed on to my brothers leg as he pulled me to the outside set. As we waited I told him to push me into the next big wave. I was a little scared, but was able to get to my feet, but couldn’t’ straighten out my board fast enough and fell at the bottom of the wave, and was sucked back up into the washing machine. I found myself crushed by another wave as soon as I took a breath. Once I got back to my board, by brother met me on the shore and I cried in his arms for a few minutes, watched a few more sets come in, and then he told me it was time to get back on the horse. So we paddled back out for some more fun... Surfing has made me stronger in my muscles and in my mind. This year in first grade, I won athlete of the year!” - Shiloh Page @shiloh.page 📸 @rickypage @elipage__ @elishaphotos #theoceanisfemale

Pt. 2 “[My surf hero is] a recent one and was af

Pt. 2 “[My surf hero is] a recent one and was after I watched her film ‘ A Woman’s Guide to the surfing the south Island of New Zealand: Winter’. Her name is Apolla Echino and she made this documentary of her solo trip around the South Island of New Zealand. I loved it because it wasn’t about her being the best surfer but was about getting out there and giving it your best shot. I watched this before I left for NZ and found this very inspiring, it reminded me that you don’t have to be the best surfer and how freeing and empowering surfing can be. I’m actually going to retrace her steps in my van after lockdown.” - Katy Roberts @katybob03 📸 @benbattell #theoceanisfemale @apollaechino

Pt. 1 “[My surfing philosophy is] to have fun an

Pt. 1 “[My surfing philosophy is] to have fun and not obsess over it. I know that sounds weird because surfing can be a beautiful obsession for some people but for me it became pressure, I couldn’t enjoy myself. When I had a bad surf I was angry and frustrated, which meant even before I got in the sea I was pre-empting these feelings and associating these feeling with surfing. I work for an ethical surfing company in Cornwall, my friends surfed, I looked like a surfer so I felt like I had a reputation and image to fill – I ended up surfing to fit this not because of my love for it. However when I started to let go and found other sports, it took the pressure off, I also started going with friends that I had fun with rather than friends that could surf well, we had a laugh in the sea and didn’t go out in anything too scary and big. I started to love surfing again and only went when I was feeling happy and excited rather than forcing myself to go. I have a deep respect for the sea, it’s not always happy and loving and neither am I – so we can appreciate each other.” - Katy Roberts @katybob03 📸 @benbattell #theoceanisfemale

“It is so hard for me to grasp the importance of

“It is so hard for me to grasp the importance of my surfing into words. Surfing is everything. It's the time to empty your mind, and dance with the water. It's a collection of instances that nourish your soul. It is investing, receiving, persisting. It's tears, it's laughter, and love. It's the way to play with the ocean's skin. Her skin, a mirror providing you with endless reflections. Surfing is about being open. Ready to grow, ready to flow.

I remember getting tumbled over by a set wave. Fin cutting into my knee, and me ending up on shore with a month long infection and a couple of stitches. I wouldn't recommend this event to anyone, but I got out of it with stronger character, and stronger commitment.
Just a month later, all of this paid off by a beautiful wave in Gerupuk. You know, one of those memorable waves where you feel like the ride was forever, and everything was perfect. Whatever dark moments I go through, memories like this will brighten my day and fire up my stoke.” - Rosie Ungheretti 📸 @alexandra.kmita #theoceanisfemale

“Mat surfing was very popular in the 60s in SoCa

“Mat surfing was very popular in the 60s in SoCal. A lot of kids did it. We bought our mats at Sav-On (now CVS). I love mat surfing because my entire body is in the wave and I'm experiencing the full force and energy of it. [My favorite memory was] early summer 2019: big outsider at El Porto, nobody but board surfer Zane Haig @zanehaig, and me. I yelled at him to snake me and we both caught an awesome long ride. Lots of jealous surfers watching from the inside. Lol” - Monique Bryher aka “Matty” @silversurfingfox 📸 @daveweldon #theoceanisfemale

“In February 2018 I decided to really focus on g

“In February 2018 I decided to really focus on getting barreled and I gave myself the month to achieve my tubular goal. At the time I was living near a barreling beach break so every day I would go surfing and only try and get barreled. Throughout February I was pulling into closeouts, getting the lip to the face and whiping out a lot! Unfortunately, by the end of Feb I had not achieved my goal. I needed to pull in and come out of a proper barrel; my little head dips and shampoos would not count. I decided to extend my goal through March. On March 22nd the onshore afternoon breeze swung offshore, so, a bunch of us scrambled to grab our boards and ran down to the beach. It was on! The waves were clean, head high and barreling! I was not surfing the main peak but rather a quieter peek a slightly up the beach. As I sat in the water looking out at the horizon I could see a wave building and I was in the perfect spot for it. I started to paddle for the wave and as I took off my friend Josh yelled ‘Pull In Lozza!’ At this point I was committed and as I pulled in time seemed to slow down. I was in the barrel watching the water over my head and surround me. To my surprise, I could also see the exit, I was going to make it out! Yessss, I did it, I was elated! I had not only got properly shacked for the first time but my friends in the water had seen it and several people on the beach! That night happened to be salsa night at a local bar so we drank Toñas and danced in celebration. I was buzzing for weeks after!” - Laura King @lking47 📸 @mattporteous @ahmed.madey #theoceanisfemale

“I'm from a home without waves and a passion for

“I'm from a home without waves and a passion for surfing. That's why I've been travelling to places with great surf over the last five years. After a while, I felt like I lived two lives. My life home with my family, friends and a business job did not seem to be compatible with my beloved life on my surfboard. I felt torn between these two worlds like many other landlocked surfers. However, I found my very own path of life. I followed my deep calling to produce my own surf movie. An empowering film that portrays surfing as a spiritual passion, emotion and feeling, motivating the audience and especially other women in listening to themselves and walking their own way in life. And here I am bringing my surf world to my home country by working together with passionate surfers from all over the world. Anything is possible!” - Friederike Anna @discover2uncover #theoceanisfemale

“Having grown surrounded by a natural coastal pa

“Having grown surrounded by a natural coastal park, my connection to the ocean goes back to as long as I can remember. My Dad was an environmentalist, so enjoying and caring for nature have always been part of my experience. When he got a cancer diagnosis, I turned more and more into the ocean for solace and relief; I was about 12 when that blue passion extended to surfing too. Nature, the sport and the community were essential in helping me coping with his tragic disease, loss and grief. When you live through something so deep you make a special bond to the things and people that help you, and so was my relationship with the ocean and its people - first in surfing, then in sailing.
For that, I try to give back and use my creative force into environmental protection - so others, now and in the future, can enjoy the same beauty, awe and health as I do.” - Lígia Oliveira @ligiaoliveirastudio #theoceanisfemale

“We’re both big nature and ocean people. We lo

“We’re both big nature and ocean people. We love to surf, scuba dive, swim, and be outside. For us, it only makes sense to do and support a consumption that is sustainable and saves the environment. We started Huppy because we wanted to make it easy for people to switch over from everyday plastic. Plastic, especially toothpaste tubes that cannot be recycled, lasts forever, end up in our ocean and our food chain as micro-plastics! We started with oral-care because it is one of the simple switches you can make that has such impactful outcomes. We brush our teeth twice a day, everyday (some more, some less!). Imagine the impact of that!” - Cathy Tran + David Phan, Founders of Huppy @huppy 📸 @soonastudios @greysontarantino #founderstories #vendorhighlight

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