International - Wahine Kai Women`s Surf Club

 International
November 2012
www.wahinekai.org
Aloha Ladies of
Wahine Kai,
I founded Wahine Kai Women’s Surf Club
in 2004 while living in Huntington Beach,
California. I wanted to find other women
to surf with in Orange County and to
create a community of women surfers. I
grew up on the coast of Maine where
surfers obviously were not as numerous
as they were in Southern California;
however, in my small town there was a
pack of 10-12 men ranging in age from
21-52 years old who I frequently saw
surfing. When I was 15-years-old I
became intrigued by the “surfing scene”
and I decided to give it a try. I went into
the local surf shop looking for someone
to help me find the appropriate sized
wetsuit and board, but instead I had to deal with Burt. Burt was a cantankerous older man who always
seemed to have a scowl on his face. In fact, he dismissed me rather quickly, saying, “Girls don’t surf.”
The first time I tried surfing I felt frustrated, humiliated, and unsure. The men did not seem to appreciate
my addition to the lineup. I met two types of men in the water that day: men who wanted to know if I was
naked under my wetsuit and men who told me to go surf somewhere else. To avoid them, I began surfing
at a small cove near my house. The cove was surrounded by rocks and seaweed, and the waves barely
broke there. I felt incredibly lonely and ostracized from the sport because I was a girl. Because of this
experience, I began to wonder what kind of surfer I would be if I had gotten more positive reinforcement
when I was learning how to surf. This feeling has been one of the driving forces behind my desire to start
Wahine Kai Women’s Surf Club. My vision for the club is to create a community of women surfers in surf
spots across the country. Going forward, we hope to create more chapters throughout the country and
Maine Chapter in
essence,
grow the sport of women’s surfing in a positive and supportive way.
cont.
www.wahinekai.org
I want to acknowledge the fact that Wahine Kai International
would not be possible without the leadership of
Cathy Young, our board of directors, and our
newest chapter president, Sarah Kellerman. I
value and appreciate everyone’s willingness to
help me grow Wahine Kai and promote
women’s surfing.
I want to conclude with one of my favorite
quotes by Merrick Bamberger who stated that,
“The thing that is different about surfing with all
women is that everywhere you look you see girls
and the smiles on their faces. Everyone is
rooting for one another and they just seem so happy.”
See you in the water!
Aimee Vlachos
Executive Director
Wahine Kai International
All photos on this page are from the first days of Wahine Kai - 2004
2 www.wahinekai.org
Suit Yourself!
Liz Chirles Each surf session you put on one of your most
important pieces of equipment before you even leave
the house – your suit! You know you are surfing in a
great suit when you don’t even think about it. No
tugging at straps or sagging in the rear, just feeling
confident in a great fitting, beautiful and comfortable
suit.
A well-made suit will last you season after season and
stand up to the wear and tear that wahines naturally put their suits through. Here are a few key
components to look at when picking up your next suit.
Fabric: Look for heavier weight fabrics that stretch in four directions. Don’t be shy - give the suit a good
tug in the shop before you make it your own. Take a close look at the lining of the suit…this hidden layer
not only helps you keep your modesty, but it acts as a foundation to the suit. Look for a suit that is fully
lined with nylon netting, or even better, another layer of spandex fabric.
Fit: Remember, what your suit feels like standing in the dressing room will be different than what it
feels like when you are cross stepping to the nose of your board. When your suit is wet it is going to be
heavier and stretch slightly. If your suit is a little too big in the store it is going to be REALLY big in the
water and that means wardrobe malfunctions! When trying on suits, take a moment to bend and
stretch – see if the suit shifts with your body and if you feel the need to adjust after every move.
The little things: Sun, salt and chlorine will take their toll on a suit and the materials it’s made out of.
Although no suit is immune to the elements, a good suit will last you at least two seasons of daily
surfing, and a lower quality suit will show the wear and tear after just a few sessions. Look on the label
to see if the suit is made with elastic that is salt and chlorine resistant. Also look for the details in the
stitching – a double stitch showing on top with a weave on the back will stand up to repeated wearings
and hold the stretch that is important in a suit.
Care: Once you take it home this one is up to you. No matter what your suit is made out of, it will last
longer if you take the time to give it a fresh water rinse and hang to dry after every session. Washing in
cold water in the machine is OK for most suits, but remember to keep it out of the dryer!
When looking for a new suit, consider it an investment in surf equipment. A great suit allows you to feel
comfortable and confident, concentrating on what is most important in the waves – having a great
time!
About Liz
I have been surfing for 13 years. My favorite board at the moment is
a 5'8" Dumpster Diver that I picked up used. My favorite surf spot is
Folly Beach, SC but I have also had wonderful travels and some of my
favorite breaks include Domincal and Pavones, Costa Rica, Playa
Venao, Panama and Burros, Mexico. I've been enjoying the SSC ESA
(Southern South Carolina Eastern Surfing Association:
http://ssc.surfesa.org ) for a few years and recently placed 1st in the
Womens' Open Shortboard at the 2012 Governor's Cup.
I design and produce ready to wear and custom swimwear for Coral
Custom Swimwear. Check it out at www.coralcustomswimwear.com
or on facebook at Coral Swimwear Charleston.
That’s Liz in the photo at the top, stylin’ on her wave.
3 www.wahinekai.org
Shark Tracker
Mary Lee became a Charleston local for
a few days in November, causing a stir in
the local surf community because for the
first time ever we were able to see a
Great White Shark’s general whereabouts thanks to OCEARH’s global shark
tracker
http://sharks-ocearch.verite.com/ .
While here in Charleston we were
especially interested in Mary Lee, there
are many tagged sharks in the program.
The interactive map and information
make this a fun tool for everyone –novice
to experienced oceanographers – to use.
From their website:
OCEARCH facilitates unprecedented research by
supporting leading researchers and institutions
seeking to attain groundbreaking data on the
biology and health of sharks, in conjunction with
basic research on shark life history and migration.
Sharks play a crucial role of maintaining balance
in the delicate oceanic ecosystem as they have an
effect on all levels in the food web below them.
Unfortunately sharks are being slaughtered every
day putting the shark at risk for survival. The
navigational and migratory data being collected
from OCEARCH will be used to support and devise
successful conservation and management
strategies which will affect policy for global
change.
And since we surfers make an almost daily request to
share their home, this information just might come in
handy.
Back to Mary Lee. While here in Charleston, Mary Lee
seemed to travel inland though the coastal waterways to
Daniel Island and then pinged seemingly playing some golf
at a very ritzy Country Club. We were told that while it is
rare that Great Whites travel that far inland, it isn’t
unheard of but in this case they decided it was probably a
mistake. It must take a lot of fishies to fill up the belly of a
3456lb Great White who is reportedly pregnant!
4 Coach’s
Corner w/Holly Beck
Focus on surf
www.wahinekai.org
My name is Holly Beck and I am a professional surfer
who has been coaching women of all ages and abilities
for years. I love helping someone to achieve a goal in
surfing whether it be standing up for the first time,
learning to duck dive, or getting over their fear of
bigger waves. We have a range of tools available to
facilitate the training including super user-friendly, fun,
uncrowded, warm water waves, a quiver of surfboards
in all shapes and sizes, awesome instructors, and
video feedback. We film every session and then go
over the footage in the afternoons with replays and
slow motion to help you see exactly what you're doing
now and how you could improve it.
Recently we had an Amiga from Western Australia
visit us for a retreat. She had quit her job and decided
to embark on a journey around the world to surf and
explore. You can read about the whole journey on her
blog http://this-surfing-life.blogspot.com/.
After Rebecca’s trip she emailed me to say thanks and also to ask for 1 thing that she could work on back at
home in order to continue to improve her surfing. Rebecca is a yoga teacher, she’s super fit, has been surfing for
a few years, and she brought a thin, narrow shortboard on the trip. My response was as follows:
“ Hey Bec,
I think one of the things you could work on is to
relax and not be as serious about it. I feel like
you are a perfectionist which is what makes you
so awesome at things but in your surfing it may
lead you to get frustrated which is
counterproductive.
You’re surfing really well I thought but riding a
thicker/wider – but not longer – board might
help too. Your board doesn’t carry speed very
well because it’s thin, so you have to work really
hard to make sections. You looked really good
on those longer boards that you rode, but they
were so long. Riding something like 6’0 or 6’1
but 19″ x 2.5 or even 2.25 thick might really be
awesome. If you have mates at home with
boards like that you should ask them to try
theirs to see how it feels.
Ok, I know that was more like two things, but in the end it just comes down to enjoying it and having fun!
That response sums up the advice that I have for multiple Amigas. I’ve noticed that the girls that improve the
most have a few things in common.
1. When we give feedback, they don’t make excuses. They don’t take the criticism personally.
They say “ok, cool, thanks” and then immediately try to implement the advice.
cont.
5 Coach’s
Corner w/Holly Beck cont.
Focus on surf
www.wahinekai.org
2. They don’t get down on themselves. They think
positively. They don’t say “I can’t do it” or even “I’ll
try” but “I will do that on the next one.” The way we
talk to ourselves makes a difference. If you say “I
can’t” you’re right. Saying “I’ll try” leaves room for
failure. If you say, “I will” then you will, maybe not
that very next time, but eventually you will! 3. Don’t get too caught up in trying to ride a board
that’s not right for you because it’s cool or it’s
what you have. Finding the right board for you
whether it’s a longboard, fish, or fun shape, will
allow you to get the best waves and thus have
more fun. 4. Remember that it is all about fun. With a smile and happy attitude, none of the rest of it really matters.
If you’re having a good time, you’ll surf longer, be happier, and enjoy improvement.
For a video that shows a few Amigas and their
improvement (including Wahine Kai member Kelly
Latimer), click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpAVosDrUoU
10% Wahine Kai discount . 6 Coach’s
Corner w/Lisa Johnston
Focus on health
www.wahinekai.org
I do a juice cleanse about every 3 months. I don’t do the cleanse to lose weight as
I am at the proper weight for my height and age; however, if you have weight to
lose, it is a very quick and healthy way to do so and will help accelerate your
exercise efforts.
I have found benefits of juice cleansing can be seen in a 3-5 day cleanse and the
results are always amazing!
The best part of the
cleanse is afterwards
you don’t crave
processed food,
sweets, excess carbs
or anything unhealthy. It
is like a RESET button!
Wahine Kai HB
member
I have been surfing for
10 years, my favorite
board is my Al Merrick
5"10 Pod.
I love surfing Costa Rica,
Hawaii and anywhere in
Southern California.
Nearing 50, I run 4 days
a week, Barre class 3
days a week, mat pilates
2 days a week and yoga
1 day a week. It's my
4,3,2, 1 and surf
whenever I can.
You can juice your own,
but I find it is much
easier, practical and
still affordable to order
online or at your local
juice bar.
My favorite is Nekter
Juice Bar (http://www.nekterjuicebar.com/ look for the cleanse sales) or
BluePrint Cleanse (http://blueprintcleanse.com/). They deliver 6 16 oz bottles of
prepared juices and, if you are a first time juice cleanser, you can supplement with
nuts and raw veggies and fruits to appease your need to chew.This is termed a
‘FEAST’ rather than ‘FAST’ because one gets ALL the calories one would normally
get in a day (i.e. 1500 for an average woman) – from at least 4 litres/1 gallon of
fresh juice, daily (green vegetable juices, fruit juices and coconut water all
included). Often when people fast they take in very small amounts of
liquid/calories, the metabolism slows, their energy slumps, and they may feel quite
‘dysfunctional’. Juice Feasting works differently, supporting the feaster to be very
functional in daily life and meeting all calorie needs, while experiencing massive
cleansing on a cellular level.
There are SO many reasons why juicing is so beneficial, here are just a few:


Juice requires hardly any digestion, so all its nutritional goodness gets rapidly into your system
while simultaneously giving your digestive system a rest. Your body can then use that saved energy to
clean out old matter, especially from the small intestine. The average person holds 5-10lbs of toxic old
matter in their intestines, and Feasting is an ideal way to release it, giving the body a phenomenal chance
to rejuvenate and restore. Far from being a time of ‘deprivation,’ this extraordinary healing program is an
experience of abundance and massive nutritional intake. We lose weight, skin becomes radiantly healthy,
illnesses are healed, scar tissue rejuvenates, and we detox our whole system on a massive scale.
When you juice, you use waaaaaay more fruits and vegetables than you could actually eat at one time. As
a result, you are drinking a HUGE quantity of vitamins, minerals and other plant-based nutrients that would
be impossible to get otherwise.
cont.
7 cont.
Coach’s
Corner
w/Lisa
Johnston
Focus on health
www.wahinekai.org

All vegetables are alkalizing. The benefits of maintaining alkalinity in the body are crucial. There are entire
books written on the subject , here are just a few benefits of maintaining an alkaline environment in our
tissues:
 Improved focus and mental clarity
 Improved heart and cardiovascular function
 Anti-aging
 Improved bone & joint function
 Stronger immune system – infections and disease thrive in an acidic environment
 Better digestion
 Better overall mood
 Healthier hair, skin and nails
 Natural body weight
 ENERGY!!!

Heart Health: Both antioxidant vitamins C and E prevent the damaging effect of free radicals on artery walls.
They prevent blood from sticking, clotting, becoming toxic as well as helping to lower triglycerides levels.
Great levels of vitamin C can be found in most fruits and vegetables. Good levels of vitamin E can be attained
by adding blackberries, kiwi, asparagus and spinach in your juice recipes.
Liver detoxification: One of the primary functions of the liver is to serve as the body’s detoxifier. It is involved
with detoxifying harmful substances (like environmental toxins, chemicals, food additives, preservatives,
drugs, etc) before they can enter the bloodstream and harm the body. Periodic cleansing of the liver through
juicing can be important in maintaining good health. Fresh juices reduce the burden on the liver and give it a
chance to catch up. Juicing allows the liver to rid itself of accumulated toxins, thus permitting it to operate
more efficiently.

Try a 3 day to start and you will be amazed at the results! If you find it too hard to do the juice only you can
supplement with raw veggies and nuts if you feel the need to chew.
You are responsible for your health!
Lisa Johnston is not a health care provider nor does she provide
medical treatment or medical advice. The information provided by
Lisa within this newsletter, is not intended to be medical advice. All
information provided by Lisa is for general educational purposes only
and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of your
physician. If you have any concerns about your health or the health of
a family member, you should speak with your physician.
Maine's All Girl Surf School & Stand up Paddle Board Lessons http://www.themainesurfschool.com 8 Charleston
November 2012
www.wahinekai.org
Events. Events. Events!
What a great first summer season it has been for the newly formed Wahine Kai Charleston group! Looking back on it… So my friend wants to learn how to surf…
In late July, Wahines and friends took to IOP to share surf
knowledge and introduce surfing to friends.
The surf boards were donated by Parrot Surf Shop
(http://www.parrotsurfshop.com ). (Thanks Angelo!) The
waves were not as friendly to us but everyone braved them.
And surfing occurred – for some for the very first time!
This event was so
popular that a
second round was
held later in
September and
more are already
planned for Spring
2013.
Day Trip: Pawley’s Island
www.wahinekai.org
Pawley’s Island is a quick hour and half trip from
Charleston. This is a beautiful beach with a great
beach break in the right swell. The wind came up
pretty quick and squashed what were some pretty
fun waves.
Surfing Photo Shoot
With the surf report not really giving us
support, three Wahines and local
professional photographer, Abigail Marie
went on faith and ventured out on Folly for
the first annual Surfing Photo Shoot! After a
few shots on the beach, we saw the tide was
bringing some smaller size nuggets and took
to the water.
A super sized of fun surf session followed
with the photos to prove it!
More about Abigail Marie:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/nonpar
eil-photography/184629258858?fref=ts )
Check out more Photo Shoot photos at:
http://wahinekaichs.shutterfly.com/117
Wait Summer Don’t Be Over!
Our final formal event for the summer was
in October. The waves and weather agreed
that summer was best and gave us one of
the last true summer days – with warm
water and fun consistent waves to boot!
Hours of surfing later a few Wahines
made a quick trip to watch the Joe Hiller
Contest before the wind came up.
10 www.wahinekai.org
Meet a Member
Growing up in the coastal town of Kennebunk Maine, I was
always aware of the sport of surfing and admired the few
brave people who would paddle out into freezing cold waters
just to catch a few waves. Despite wanting to learn and my
many years living in Florida, I never had the courage to actually
go out and try surfing.
On a whim, while pursuing my graduate degree in Louisiana, I
finally had the courage and signed up for a surf camp in
Hawaii. To say the least, I was hooked! Fast forward too many
years being land-locked in Louisiana, my husband and I were
finally in a position to relocate back to the east coast. For me
it was essential that wherever we moved, there would have to
be a place I could surf. Fortunately we discovered Charleston,
South Carolina. Despite the allure of Charleston’s amazing
historical past and present day beauty, there is also a thriving
surf community. There are a variety of breaks, suitable to
various surfing abilities.
Kate Atkins (Cheeky Monkey)
Favorite board: Pat Madden 8'0
(Green Beauty)
Years surfing: off/on about 4 years
Favorite Break: IOP - 9th street
Always & only go left
As a beginner, I have to admit to still being intimidated while
paddling out into the surf with a bunch of folks who look
“amazingly talented” from shore. Not to worry! Here in
Charleston, fellow surfers are friendly, the water is warm and
the waves are gentle and forgiving. There are definitely surf
spots that are deemed only for only the experienced surfers,
but there are so many more that offer some great longboard
rides and some friendly people willing to share the stoke.
Beautiful Places, Smiling Faces!
Events
December 8 – Oyster Roast-ing the Holidays
2013
February – International Surf Trip TBD
May – So My Friend Wants to Learn How to Surf…
October – El Salvador Surf Trip
Purchase your own Wahine Kai
Charleston shirts and sweatshirts.
Don’t forget the boys too!
http://WKCHS.logosoftwear.com
10% of proceeds go to the Wahine Kai
CHS Group
11 Huntington
Beach
November 2012
www.wahinekai.org
Surfing is not for sissies
Some things just go together: wine Laura Klees Thornton Wahine Kai HB member
Favorite board: Well that changes often,
but right now my favorite board is a 6'4"
Rockin Fig. I also have a 7'6" Robert
August that I like pretty well and I just
purchased a 7’0” Stewart that I’m hoping
I love.
Years surfing: 5
and cheese, salt and pepper, yin and yang, and unfortunately, surfing and injuries. I started an album on Facebook called "Surfing is Not for Sissies" a while back. From time to time I'm "forced" to add new photos to the album. Most of us have had some sort of surfing injury at one point or another. Fortunately, most are minor and heal within a few days. Some take longer, or hurt Favorite vacation: one that involves surfing
more, and some even leave permanent marks (also known as scars!). Somehow, that doesn't deter us from going back out again. Maybe it's the draw of the ocean, maybe it's our inherent sense of adventure, or maybe we are just plain stupid, but whatever the reason, we keep going back to surf. One thing I learned early on in my surfing career is never surf alone. I had not been surfing too long when I had my first injury. I cut my wrist on my fin. It only required a few stitches, but it was bleeding quite a bit, and I couldn't carry my board. Fortunately someone helped me to my car and out of my wetsuit, then wrapped it up so I could drive myself to the hospital for repair. I know there are many other Wahine Kai stories about how one of us has helped another Wahine in need. The most recent event happened at the End of Summer party at San O. Artie cut her lip on her board and needed to get stitched up. Marcia and Asa (two fairly new members) were relaxing on the beach, enjoying the day. When they saw Artie needed help, they sprang into action. After-­‐all, that's what friends (Wahine's) are for! I'm hoping to never add another picture to the album, but since I know that's not possible, please send photos. We all love to gasp at them! And remember, surf with a friend! Favorite break: Trestles but since I moved
to HB, it's a long drive so don't get to go as
often.
www.wahinekai.org
Last Page of the
first ever
National Wahine Kai Organization newsletter!
A big Thank You to all the members and non-member-supporters of Wahine Kai who took their time and
talent to support this community endeavor.
Holly Beck
Liz Chirles
Pete MacPhee (Swamp Yankee for the graphics)
Jennifer DeVito (proofing)
and all the Wahine members who shared their knowledge and selves with the collective through this
newsletter.
Wahine Kai a 501(c)7 non-profit corporation.
We are dedicated to promoting women's surfing and creating
opportunities for women surfers.
Currently at about 200 members with chapters in Southern California,
Charleston-South Carolina, Northern New England (Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts) and –most recently- New Jersey.
11/2012
Issue 1
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