Feature: Meet Thea McDonald-Lee

Posted on April 23, 2015 by surfsaltylips

Talking Story

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Drawing Lines

There are times when the female surf-travel community seems so incredibly tiny, where six degrees of separation appear to dwindle down to an insubstantial one degree. My chance encounter with Thea in South West France was yet another perfect example of this. I was on one of my channel hops over to France to surf and catch up with friends, when Thea and I crossed paths in a bustling French bar down a little cobbled street in Biarritz. Thea was staying with SaltyLip’s Sarah, while she was following the Womens World Tour to Hossegor for the Roxy Pro, as a writer for Australia’s Surf Magazine, Tracks. An incredible achievement, to become a published writer in the surf media, an even bigger accomplishment being of the female variety in such a male dominated industry. Continue reading →

Crew Catch-Up: Indo Adventures

Posted on February 9, 2015 by surfsaltylips

Bali Bliss and Surfing Sumbawa

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Sumbawa Sunset

Never one to stay put for long, SaltyLips’ India and her dream-chasing partner in crime, Carly, set off on an Indo adventure for work, play and most importantly surf! Taking their business, Papaya Wellness, on the road for a Bali Bliss retreat, to spread their passion for surf, yoga, adventure, and all round healthy living. They managed to squeeze in some solo surf time in Sumbawa to kick the trip off, hunting for birthday barrels to celebrate India’s 30th! Continue reading →

Stories from an Indo Paradise

Posted on January 22, 2015 by surfsaltylips

Playing in the Jungle

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Standing Tall!

With Shannon’s feet firmly back on Ozzie soil, we caught up with our barrel-loving jungle-dweller on her new Indo home, it’s perfect waves and the occasional hazards; the price to pay for living in paradise.

Having tied the knot, Indo-style, with local shredder Imer, and built their new home from scratch, Shannon is taking time out to catch up with family and friends, and the clear, refreshing ocean of South coast WA. Continue reading →

Feature: Meet Alena Ehrenbold

Posted on January 16, 2015 by surfsaltylips

Land Locked Living to World Wave Wanderings

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Beneath the Surface

Fearless, entrepreneurial and passionate are three words that really embody professional Swiss surfer, Alena Ehrenbold. Yes, I did say Swiss! Hailing from the landlocked country that is Switzerland, Alena lives and works in the city that shares it’s banks and name with Lake Lucerne. Nestled between Switzerland’s famous mountainous peaks, this would not seem like a probable breeding ground for talented surfers, but that never stopped Alena. Continue reading →

Indo Second Home

Posted on January 9, 2015 by surfsaltylips

Chasing Waves and Waterfalls

SaltyLips Womens Indo Rosary Surf Girls Indonesia Salty Lips

Getting Some Shade

Stop three, for the last few months of Rosary’s 2014 Indo trip, was back to a place close to her heart; her home away from home.

Rosary caught up with some of her favourite humans, surfed some much loved waves and met some new legends along the way. One of which was West Oz ripper Shannon McGowan who provided endless laughs in the line-up. And of course the “Team Hawaii and NZ” crew who ventured to a near by waterfall for a flat-day-fun daytrip!

Continue reading →

Feature: Meet Carmen Kershaw

Posted on November 27, 2014 by surfsaltylips

Barrels, Beatings and Broken Bones

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Quick Pit Stop

Intrepid explorer and surf seeking nomad, Carmen has dedicated her life to the search for waves and isn’t afraid of “roughing it in return for a few barrels”. Originally from Canada, Carmen has been on the road for 10 years and this open-ended ticket to ride is nowhere close to being traded in. Currently living in Margaret River with her husband and best friend, Rick Kershaw, their life consists of saving-up and travelling together to different surf destinations all over the world. Continue reading →

Indo Rainy Days

Posted on July 31, 2014 by surfsaltylips

Perfect Pancakes and Stormy Sessions

SaltyLips Indo Surf Rosary Walsh Salty Lips

Rosary Charging!

After an awesome first two months in Indo, Rosary packed up her stuff and jumped on two flights to the next Indonesian wave on the hit list. It was her first trip to the spot and arriving just in time for a swell, she was not disappointed!

Super fun waves and thunderstorms to thin the crowd, Rosary scored some epic rainy sessions, where she wasn’t being burnt to a crisp. Kipping at Kristov’s Place and living off Mama Kristov’s awesome banana, coconut and peanut pancakes, she hung out with the locals, put in some serious hammock time and befriended a stray cat (of course!!). Continue reading →

Going Dark in Indo

Posted on June 11, 2014 by surfsaltylips

Barrels, Friends, and More Barrels

SaltyLips Rosary Walsh Indonesia surf Salty Lips

Getting some shade.

After two months of radio silence on an Indonesian Island, Rosary finally reappeared for just long enough to share her surf stories and photos before heading off again to another spot. And it certainly looks like she has been having all the fun! After leaving the cold waters of Ireland she returned to some of her favourite Indo waves, catching up with SaltyLips’ crew member Shannon, along with some old friends, and collecting a few new ones. Continue reading →

Feature: Meet Georgia Bourke

Posted on May 20, 2014 by surfsaltylips

Barrels, Beatings and Building Paradise

SaltyLips Georgia Surf Sumbawa Indonesia

Georgia in D E E P

On one particularly spontaneous Indo trip, I found myself in West Sumbawa with SaltyLips’ Shannon and an amazing surfing couple Gareth and Cassie. We left the maxed out windy conditions in the east, drove 10 hours through the night and found ourselves faced with almost perfect conditions at one of West Sumbawa’s heaviest waves. Guillotine lips and razor sharp shallow reef, this was a wave I had no intention of surfing and I stuck to the tamer stuff. If I couldn’t surf at the peak of this monster swell, I might as well watch one of the craziest waves turn on. Continue reading →

Indo Dreaming

Posted on May 16, 2014 by surfsaltylips

One Wave, One Sequence

Rosary loving life!

After a long winter at home back in Ireland, Rosary has swapped her second skin of neoprene for a bikini & boardies, and jettted off to her second home, Indonesia. While we eagerly await the surf stories and photos from her trip so far, here is a look back to a previous Indo adventure. One wave, one sequence, but an epic one at that … thought it deserved it’s own post!