There is a multitude of ridiculously amazing neoprene goods to keep you warm this winter. By purchasing the kit that is in this year’s wetsuit guide you can actually spend most of a session without actually getting cold, the seams and fit are that good. Check out the latest wetsuits on offer this winter in SurfGirl’s winter wetsuit guide.

But how about the bits out of the sea? That’s when you’re most vunerable to the cold, here’s some tips to make it more bearable.

In the water with the right kit which fits properly you should be fine surfing through the winter. But the bit in between leaving the car and being in your wetsuit or in the other direction when you have got out of your wetsuit but aren’t in the car are the truly painful bits. So make a plan. That’s when an organised surfer really comes up trumps:

• Remember to wax your board, organise what’s happening with your car key, take out contact lenses, prepare your seat covers if you’re driving home in your wettie or any other faff that you need to do as early as possible. Not when you are prancing around in your underwear in the snow.

• Next up, have a mat of some kind to get changed on. Get a Frostfire Moonbag, you can stand on it while changing which will stop your feet from getting cold and you can use it to put your wetsuit in afterwards.

• The second that you take off your jacket, jumper, t-shirt, you are going to be totally exposed to the elements and that’s when your core temperature will take a dive. So invest in changing towel like the Robie Robes. They come in a range of cool colours!

• Don’t forget to protect your extremities as it affects your core temperature. There’s a selection of wetsuit boots, hats, and gloves available at the Orcashop, with last season’s prices. Check it out here

• When you get out of the water, if you have car seat covers and you’re not too bothered about your cars interior, get in and drive home. Try these van seat covers from Northcore. It’s a top tip to remember to take off your boots though as they carry loads of sand and often a good amount of water so can create a big mess quickly.

• If you can’t drive home then wear loose fitting, warm clothes as they’re easier to get on.

So get out there and enjoy the winter surf, just make sure you’re prepared!

With the above in mind, you should be saving a fair bit of your winter rubber wear budget to invest in some decent protection for your feet, hands and head. As we’ve banged on about before, wetsuit technology has advanced so far that the latest suits barely let any water in at all.

Make the correct choice from the excellent range we have prepared for you here.

SurfGirl 35 Winter Issue

This issue it’s all about snow and surf. We look at why winter sports are good for you, and some tips on how to stay motivated and surf through the winter months, keeping the summer fash vibe in winter, plus how to keep you from hypothermia when you’re surfing and the best winter wetsuit accessories. It’s all about keeping warm now the weather’s getting chilly! With this in mind if you want to escape we suggest some great warm water boltholes from tropical paradises to short haul trips.

Plus there’s snowboarding tips from Britain’s top snowboarders – Aimee, Jenny and Jessica, plus some advice on how to work the season on a budget, exercises to strengthen your muscles for snowboarding and the latest gear to ensure you’re stylin’ on the slopes this winter.

We head to the Maldives with the Rip Curl girls team, and French surfer Lea Brassy goes on an adventurous surf trip to Iceland with some beautiful images, looking like something from the Frozen Planet!

And with the festive season approaching we’ve some fab Christmas present ideas. Looking forward to next year we’ve some achievable earth friendly resolutions and a cool SurfGirl calendar to cut out or download on 31st December.

And one of the best things about this mag is the DIY mag. 16 pages in the magazine of your contributions from art, to making tips and travel stories – good work!

The mag is out this week, or you can subscribe here, we’ve some fab subscriber deals this month!

By Caroline Nieuwenhuis

Take up a hobby – Everyone has got something that they’ve always wanted to learn to do, and dark, cold evenings leave you with no excuse not to. Whether it’s picking up a guitar, learning to knit or playing chess until your fingers bleed, finding a new hobby is a great way to pass the time whilst being productive!

Workout – The gym inevitably becomes a more inviting place during the Winter as you can burn some calories whilst keeping nice and warm. However, you don’t have to join an expensive gym to get a good workout and If you’d rather not spend your evenings with several other sweaty people, you can always buy a few workout DVD’s and get fit in the comfort of your own home. Whether its boxing, aerobics, or keeping it more chilled out with some yoga, it’s never too early to get working on that bikini body!

Watch some surf DVD’s – Grab yourself a nice big mug of hot chocolate and cosy up on the sofa with a few surf DVD’s to keep you going. They’re sure to boost your spirits and what’s more, it’s a good incentive to brace the cold outdoors and hit the waves yourself!

Have a ‘Twister’ party – You may have bid farewell to your old board games a while back, but getting some friends round and having a game of ‘Twister’ is actually great fun. Throw a glass of Baileys into the mix and you’ll have people doing the splits in no time! It even helps improve your flexibility for when you’re next out catching waves….(it’s as good an excuse as any!)

Decorate – It’s been proven that colours such as orange and yellow make people feel warmer, happier and more at ease. So grab yourself a paintbrush and get to work on your bedroom. You can even design yourself a feature wall by painting on some flowers and palm trees. Get your creative juices flowing and you’ll feel like you’re in Hawaii all year round!

Featuring on-trend knits, the ultimate in evening warmth – the Superfleece, a diverse range of new beanies, hats and jackets, as well as snug autumn boots, this collection from OʼNeill is a must-have to get ready for the change of season ahead.

To launch the collection OʼNeill teamed up with OʼNeill One Way Runway winner Tatjana Maul.

Tatjana became the face of OʼNeill after winning the modelling contest with a difference in Ibiza on June 9th. She also won a modelling contract with Next Model Management.

“It has been such an amazing experience since winning the One Way Runway,” said Tatjana. “Not only do I feel more part of the OʼNeill lifestyle than ever, but starting to model the collection has been such an amazing experience – and the clothes were amazing! I didnʼt want to take them off!”

And see the full collection at http://www.oneill.com/#/women/europe/collection/

As you drag your winter wettie, boots, gloves, hat, thermal rashie, hot water bottle, Thermos flask and handwarmers out of their summer storage and prepare to do battle with the winter storms, remember that there�s more to optimum surf warmth than just all that neoprene. SurfGirl and the pros show you how to keep warm in the surf this winter.

Before

Have everything ready and as clean and dry as possible�simple advice which often proves hard to follow. Make sure everything fits properly, and patch up any holes as soon as they appear.

If you can�t bear that wet wetsuit, dunk it in a bucket of hot (not too hot) water beforehand and bag it up. Drive to the surf with your stereo on full, heaters full blast and a warm mug (or metal bottle) of tea in your hands. Check it quick and don�t give yourself time to chicken out by standing about in the cold listening to old people tutting at your madness.

If you can drive or walk to the beach in your suit, get changed at home, as wind-chill is hideous. Inside or outside, pull your gear on as quickly as you can. If your suit is wet, make sure your swimmers and rashy are at least dry � a cold wedge of neoprene on those most sensitive areas will have you making monkey noises of pain.

During

Paddle around. Don�t sit there doing nothing or you�ll feel yourself beginning to stiffen up. Tucking your hands under your armpits feels nice, but when you bring them out�you only feel colder. Keep your hood on unless it really is that warm; you�ll be protecting your ears from surfer�s ear if nothing else. Bomb sets on the head will also make you wish you�d just worn it and stuff the ugly/deaf factor. Peeing in your suit is a time-honoured tradition, but it�s up to you (you need to be the dedicated suit-cleaning kind to do this!).

After

Run back up the beach if you can possibly manage it! You can start the engine and get the heaters going again now. Stuffing a quick snack in your face or a gulp of tea can also bring the smile back.

It�s almost impossible to get totally dry with the quick rubbing you can bear to give yourself with your towel while standing outside getting changed! So take a tip from the snow bunnies and pull on a synthetic base layer first � granny-style thermal vests and longjohns will warm you up and wick away residual moisture. Then pile on a fleece, hat, some lovely fleecy boots and anything else you can get your hands on. Jump up and down a few times to get the blood back to feet and hands.

Alternatively, if you�re not far from home, whip off your gear down to rashy and swimsuit (or whatever you wear), stick a towel around yourself and put a bin-bag on your seat to drive home. Then just jump straight in the shower. The problem with this is that once you�re warm and cosy, it�s hard to go get all your stinking gear and wash, dry and hang it properly. Do it, it�s worth it for when the cycle begins all over again!

Tips from the pros…

	Candice O�Donnell, Newquay Before: Eating a bowl of hot oats always does the trick. Pre-make a hotwater bottle and another separate bottle filled with hot water ready for when you exit your iceberg session. During, I know that a lot of people like to pee in their wetsuits to keep warm�I don�t recommend this for hygiene purposes, but if you have to go you have to go! After: This is where your pre-made hotwater bottle and hot water come in to action. Hot water to be opened and poured over hands and feet and hotwater bottle to be places around your freezing cold kidneys on the drive home.
	Tassy Swallow, St Ives To stay warm after a surf in the winter I bust out my trackie b�s and a hot pasty� (chicken, broccoli and sweetcorn).
	Gwen Spurlock, Swansea Staying warm before going surfing is pretty easy, either keep inside or layer up with t-shirts, jumpers and coats. Make sure your feet are super warm as well. My feet and hands get affected most in the surf in winter. It�s important that they are warm before you go in otherwise you have no chance of staying in the sea for very long. Ugg boots or woolly boots are perfect for post-surf as well. Before going in the sea maybe go for a little run and do some tuck jumps because it gets the blood pumping around the body. I personally swing my arms around in the sea when I feel like I�m getting cold because this helps the blood get to my hands. When getting home, get in the shower but make sure the water isn�t too hot. The contrast to your skin temperature can be big and you don�t want to get scalded!
	Kathleen Spears, Croyde Best method of staying warm�book a six month adventure to Hawaii, Australia and Indo! Yey! Apart from that, Ugg boots, coffee, built-in wetsuit hood and some seriously good knitwear!

SAS reps Alice Middleton and her boyfriend Ross are hosting a European film premier of 180� South in The Refectory in St Davids next weekend presented by TYF Adventure. Saturday 23rd October will see the first screening of Chris Malloy’s new film as a fundraiser for Surfers Against Sewage. After the success of previous film nights,�we expect next Saturday to be a sell out raising around �600 for Surfers Against Sewage. The film is about an adventure from California to Patagonia, the mountains they climb, the waves they surf and the lessons they learn along the way. Patagonia have sponsored the event and have some great prizes which will be raffled off on the night.

Tickets are �5 on the door but there’s only 100 seats so come early! Doors open at 7pm and film will be on for 8pm. To reserve tickets or find out more call TYF on 01437 721611 or pop into our high street office in St Davids if you’re up this way!

The film’s great, see a snippet of it here.

It was an amazing feeling to end the week and see some real progress.

Each day Will took us out to his secret spots and really helped us perfect our technique and work on any area we wanted to improve on.

For me it was jumps. I wanted to know the technique behind a really good jump, getting decent air and, most importantly, how to land the jump.

So here goes, SurfGirl’s Top Tips For Getting Air

• First of all visualise yourself completing the jump. Really see it in your mind.
• Go into the jump with confidence and enough speed to get you up and over.
• As you approach the jump, bend your legs and get closer to your board.
• You don’t need to push off the jump. You will be accelerated naturally from the jump. Adding an extra push from you, may throw your body off balance.
• Keep you body aligned, that is keep your shoulders in line with your hips, your knees bent. Only your head is turned to see where your going. This is really important part. Most people tend to swing there shoulders as they jump which in turn throws you off balance and usually results with landing on our backside, or ever worse your head!
• As you hit the jump remember to look to where you want to land, keep you legs bent, stay low and ride it out.
• Confidence comes with practice, so try to keep repeating a set of jumps and keep the technique strong in your mind.
• And just when you least expect it… AIR! Enjoy.

Willy G, our instructor

If you fancy hitting the slopes this winter and would like to progress a certain area of your riding, or maybe you are a complete beginner, then it is really worth investing in some coaching. Will offers lessons from beginners to advanced skiers and snowboarders, specific coaching days to perfect any area you want to work on, as well as video coaching and photo packages. If you’re lucky he’ll even bring you to the infamous Irish Bar, Covey’s where he DJ’s on a Monday (http://www.coveysirishpub.com/) – but be warned, if they hand you a shot of black liquid that makes your eyes water just from the smell….. be afraid, very afraid!

Contact:
William Giles
0033 450 897073
www.chalet-loreade.com

Jane gets some air!

Outfit 1
Kuccia Knit Dress ��35
Kuccia Knit Cardigan ��35
Celtic Sheepskin Classic Boots ��115-120

Outfit 2
Kuccia Knit Dress ��35
Gul Sleigh Cardigan ��40
Love From Australia Sheepskin Poca boots ��169

Outfit 3
Kuccia Knit Cardigan ��35
Gul Jolly Jumper ��45
Celtic Sheepskin Shortie Boots ��85

Stockists: www.lovefromaustralia.com www.gul.com www.celtic-sheepskin.co.uk www.kuccia.com

girlie camps laax

Girlie Camps has an exclusive set up with lodging in the Curnius building. You wake up on the mountain at 1800 m, with only 50 m to the world-famous Laax Pipe.�� After 4 nights you move down to stay at The Riders Palace, a hotel specially designed for skiers and snowboarders, who like to be in the right spot.�� With a Bose sound system in the hotel disco and the best DJs, you will have the best of both worlds.

Camp dates for 2010
Laax, Switzerland���������������������������� 7 -���14 March
Laax, Switzerland���������������������������� 14 ��� 21 March

What is included in the camp
Accommodation 4 nights up on the mountain with breakfast and 4 dinners.
Accommodation 3 nights in the Riders Palace with breakfast
7 days’ lift ticket.
5.5 days coaching and snowboarding
Coaching and snowboarding with riders from K2
Lesson about safety on the mountain and on the slopes.
Do your own GirlieCamps video with a video camera and Apple MacBook Pro.
Video analysis to keep up with your progress
Girlie Mountain Compendium
2 yoga sessions
Girlie night out!

Price
840 EUR

For more detailed information check out the website www.girliecamps.com. Book at bookings@girliecamps.com.

/Marika and the Girlie Crew