Feature: Meet Thea McDonald-Lee

Talking Story

SaltyLips Womens Surf Mentawai Thea McDonald-Lee Surf Girls Salty Lips

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

Winter Sessions on the Irish West Coast

Magic Sessions and Mischievous Injuries

SaltyLips Womens Surf Ireland Surf Girls Salty Lips

Deep Winter Barrels

Whilst most surfers search for a life of perfect waves in tropical climates all year round, Rosary is quite content with her ‘best-of-both’ philosophy. Her year is split quite neatly in two between “Home”: the cold, unforgiving, gems that the Irish winter occasionally delivers to those with patience and local knowledge, and “Away”: an escape from the  inconsistent Irish summer to adventures and perfect waves abroad on her hard earned winter wages. Continue reading

Crew Catch-Up: Indo Adventures

Bali Bliss and Surfing Sumbawa

SaltyLips Womens Surf Bali Indo Surf Girls Salty Lips

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

Feature: Meet Skye Ventura

A Surfers Journey

SaltyLips Womens Surf Mexico Surf Girls Salty Lips

Surf Love

I met the inspirational Sydney-born Skye in the more tranquil, much less chaotic corner of Mexico’s Puerto Escondido, La Punta Zicatela. She radiated happiness and her positivity and zest for life was mesmerising. A travelling surfer, with a child, making all her dreams come true, all at once. But it was the stories of how she came to be there that really blew my mind. The Cancer, the self-healing, her spiritual and surf-filled journey and becoming a mother against all odds. Continue reading

Stories from an Indo Paradise

Playing in the Jungle

SaltyLips Womens Surf  Mentawai Indonesia Shannon Surf Girls Salty Lips

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

Land Locked Living to World Wave Wanderings

SaltyLips Womens Hawaii Alena Ehrenbold Surf Girls Indonesia Salty Lips

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

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

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

Feature: Meet Kat Charles

Soul Surfing and Creative Living

Salty Lips Kat Charles Surfing WA SaltyLips

Lady Sliders

Surfer, photographer, explorer, artist, musician, creator, environmental activist…is there anything this little lady can’t turn her hand to?

This creative creature hailing from the depths of WA bounced onto my radar during my first trip to Morocco many moons ago. Kat was there working as a surf guide and soon took me under her wing and educated me on the many sketchy rock-offs found along Morocco’s wave rich coastline. Her extreme frothability was infectious and I jumped at the chance to go back and hang out with her when the season quietened down, giving us more time to explore. Continue reading

Indo Rainy Days

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