Here Laura Crane shares some of the tips she took out of her coaching trip with Russ Winter.

Everyone would love to combine their passion and their job, and the image of the job of surf photographer is totally glamorous and alluring: getting paid to travel to exotic locations and shoot stunning images. But how do you get started?

When you’re having a good surf and surfing well, it breeds confidence. Likewise, when you’re confident you tend to have a good surf and so the cycle feeds itself. But what can you do in order to make sure you’re feeling like a proud, confident queen of the seas each time you paddle out? This is part two of a series, focusing on girls who can already surf and need more confidence to boost their wave count.

SurfGirl has just come back from the most amazing adventure in the Grand Massif Resort in the French Alps. We stayed with Willy G (chalet-loreade.com) who has the enviable life of spending his summers in Newquay and winters in the Alps! (by Jane Chambers, photos Simon Dobson.)

So you want to start surfing but you don’t know where to start, and you’re afraid of hurting yourself and looking like an idiot? Surf Confidence Part 1 will get you out there and having fun!

So if you’re still waiting to take that first step or feel like you’re needing a push to get to the next level? Here’s some advice from SurfGirl surf coach Nat Fox.

- Don’t be too scared to take the first step – because the first step is always the hardest.

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