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Billabong Girls Get Out There – Ocean Grove


Learning to surf can be difficult as you may already know, so why not make it fun! This seems to be the strategy behind the popular Billabong Girls Get Out There days helping beginner and intermediate girls hone their surfing skills.

Also, learning to surf amongst the boys can be frustrating, especially if you don’t know them, so getting together with a large group of girls really is the best way – I think!

I have to say I am not a good surfer…it’s always been my Achilles’ heel. As a skateboarder, snowboarder and adventure sport lover…it’s always been one of my favorites, but always struggled to stay on the board.

I think all along I just thought I would pick it up, like skateboarding and snowboarding.  I never took lessons…I was self-taught.  So, I always just thought eventually it would come naturally…or not!

So, when we heard Billabong was holding a Girls Get Out There day near-by in Ocean Grove I grabbed two other girls (my cool step-kids) who’ve been boogie boarding, but never surfed and out the door we went.

Before, we talked about how we’re not going to give up…no matter how frustrating it might be…this is going to be our summer to surf! So, we listened to the instructors, took all the advice we could get and headed into the water.

And, eventually something clicked! When it came to me we realized I was trying to use my snowboarding skills and stand up too tall and leaning to far back.  I worked on centering myself on the board and keeping my knees bent and low.

Finally, it happened!  I was up and riding a wave! And, the same happened for both Emily, 12, and Madeline, 10.  The best part, we did it together!!

It’s such a wonderful world for girls and action sports these days. When I was 12 there were no Billabong Girls Get Out There tours, in fact…there were not many girls in the water. (I’m only 31!) So, to look out across the shore and see 60 girls, all aspiring surfers, was such a great site.

Everyone was cheering on eachother and laughing together after taking big spills.

Through out the day they must have taught over 100 girls to surf…that’s 100 more girls who will be better people because of it. The day also consisted of learning fun dance moves, meeting professional girl action sport athletes, getting a show bag full of goodies and even signing a petition against whaling.

Thanks Billabong for a great day! (and, finally getting me standing on the board!!)

See ya in the water!

(see more photos!)

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Courtney Crow

Images: JeffCrowPhoto.com

More info: Billabong Girls Get Out There