From the category archives:

Savvy Surf Style

O! Ashley

by Bev Sanders
Ashley Lloyd in O! The Oprah Magazine

Las Olas surf coach, surfboard shaper, and singer/songwriter, Ashley Lloyd Thompson is featured in the June 2013 issue of O, the Oprah Magazine. Showing off her collection of custom, handmade surfboards, Ashley shares her story with Laura Birek as she explains what it was like to be an eight year old California surfer girl who [...]

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Shopping for a Surf Safari?

by Bev Sanders
Surfcamp checklist

When planning your vacation from work, the last thing you want is more work. Let us help with the research by answering the most important questions when picking your surf safari. And, allow us to brag a bit in the process. Obviously, we’re proud of what we do. At Las Olas Surf Safaris for Women, [...]

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Worth sharing.

by Bev Sanders
Julie Cox Video

Having just returned from spending two wonderful weeks at Las Olas, I’m not exactly ready to be back at my desk. So, this surfing video came at precisely the right moment and I just have to share it with you. The surfer is Julie Cox, a Las Olas surf instructor and, in my opinion, the [...]

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Secret to Great Surfing? Check the Tides.

by Julie Cox
Tides

Ever wondered how the really good surfers seem to always know when to paddle out? Bev Sanders caught up to Julie Cox last week to discuss just that. Bev at Las Olas: What are tides? Julie: Okay. Tides are basically the rise and fall of sea level. It’s when the water is even with sea [...]

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The Cross Step, Explained

by Julie Cox
Walking on water at Las Olas.

It’s not easy to catch up with surfer Julie Cox, but while she was in Carmel last week, she slowed down for a face-to-face with Bev Sanders, founder of Las Olas. The subject of the day? Cross stepping on a longboard. (No time to read? Click here for a full audio version of Julie’s interview.) [...]

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Dreams Come in Waves

by Annie Perry
Annie clears her mind for a little daydreaming.

What happens when a landlocked school teacher goes surfing at Las Olas? She becomes a student of the sea. Annie is now a surfer- she takes weekend road trips, repairs her own dings, and she’s returning to Las Olas for another warm water session this season. Can’t wait to paddle out with her again because [...]

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Rack and Roll

by Mike McDaniel
Mile 22 FAT Straps get your surfboards to the beach in one piece.

One of the little luxuries on a Las Olas Surf Safari is that you’ll never have to worry about strapping surfboards to the van. You’re on vacation, so let us handle that. But if you’re like many of our guests, you’ll want to take your board on a road trip once you’re back home. Las [...]

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Surfer Girl for Life

by Jill Robinson
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When I’m not working at my kayak shop on the beach in Half Moon Bay, I’m either sitting at my desk writing travel articles, or on the road to do research for those same articles. In a given year, I travel to more than 30 destinations on assignment—mostly adventure related. While my adventures on these [...]

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Choosing the Right Wetsuit

by Mike McDaniel
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Choosing The Right Wetsuit On safari in Mexico, we enjoy nice warm water and surf in our swimsuits about 98% of the time. Lucky us! Occasionally, maybe once every few years, the water temp might unexpectedly drop 5-7 degrees and then we get in our wetsuits for a few days. So far this season, it’s [...]

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How to Read a Surf Report

by Mike McDaniel
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Farewell, Mr. Collins. On Monday, the day after Christmas, I was just starting to rough out a draft of this blog entry. At that time, the working title was ‘How To Read a Surf Report’ and it was going to be exactly that. But an unfortunate and oddly coincidental thing happened. The news that Sean [...]

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5 Tips From a Travel Pro

by Mike McDaniel
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No matter where you’re going over the holidays—to grandma’s house, or to a perfect surf break for a mid-winter surf escape—these tips and reminders might make the difference between arriving ready to surf or ready to scream. Less is More The prevalence of iPhones, iPads and their counterparts means leaving the laptop at home is [...]

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12 Reasons Women Should Learn to Surf

by Bev Sanders
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Balance is Bliss Balancing on a board on top of a wave teaches you to balance in life. You’ll find yourself intuitively knowing how to bend with the breeze and go with the flow. Inner GPS Surfing stirs intuition. It helps you connect with things you were born knowing… like how to have fun. Being in [...]

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How To Manifest a Surf Vacation

by Bev Sanders
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As a kid, I was expert in the art of visualization. I believed I could manifest anything into reality. Like most kids, I daydreamed about roller skates, a brand new bicycle, or my very own puppy. To manifest my reality, my bedroom wall became my vision board. Unimpressed, my dad suggested I sell Kool Aid. Looking back, I admit the [...]

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Getting Fit For Riding the Waves

by Bev Sanders
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It amazes me how many mature women have considered the sport of surfing, but think it’s strictly for the young. As one who started surfing at age 44, I believe it’s never too late. And once you start there’s no reason to stop. Thirteen years of teaching women to surf has taught me some things. [...]

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Surf Camp Fashion

by Bev Sanders
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It can all start with a cute suit, preferably one that stays put. Gleaned from 13 years of “on the job” learning, here’s my list of surf camp Do’s and Don’ts: Surf Camp Swim Gear Do’s Rash Guards Rash guards are worn under a wetsuit to prevent rubbing.  In warm-water surfing locations, the rash guard protects [...]

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