GROUNDSWELL MUSIC FESTIVAL COMING TO HOSSEGOR!!

Groundswell, a new music and surf festival, will bring Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum recording artist Jason Mraz to the shores of Hossegor France to headline Groundswell’s inaugural music stage on the 17th September 2011.

Mraz has sold more than 5.5 million albums and 15 million singles, won two Grammy Awards and had 6 Grammy nominations. His latest album, ‘We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.’ is five times platinum in France and includes the track “I’m Yours,” which has become the longest running song on the Billboard ‘Hot 100’ in its 51 year history.

Groundswell has also confirmed Felix Da Housecat to headline the dance stage with his world renowned bass lines, while DJ producer Erol Alkan brings his 24 carat party gold beats to the dance arena. The great French eclectic act Cocoon will be playing, and DJ Don Rimini will also be on hand to keep the Groundswell Dance Arena moving.

Chilling things out on the main stage, surf and music legend Donavon Frankenreiter will be providing a perfect foil to the incredible voice and acoustic mastery of Newton Faulkner. Aussie Mat McHugh of the “The Beautiful Girls” and UK musician Ben Howard will also both inject some carefree surf style harmonies to the French shores rounding out a line-up that will have an expected crowd of 15,000 surf and music revelers immersed in a unique ‘Surf Summer Sound’ experience that is Groundswell.

ROXY PRO BIARRITZ KICKS OFF HERE IN SOUTH-WEST FRANCE!!

The Roxy Pro got underway in two-to-three foot (0.6 to 1 meter) waves in Biarritz today, the famous Cote des Basques beach allowing three heats of Round 1 to wrap-up through the incoming morning tide before the deteriorating conditions forced things to go on-hold and eventually get postponed until tomorrow’s 8:00 AM call.

Second-to-last event on this year’s ASP Women’s World title hunt, today’s no-elimination round saw top seeds ignite and capture the crowds’ attention with high-level surfing in fast-changing condtions. Day 1 of competition was the stage to a series of close heats with the field of international top athletes focusing on wave selection and both left and righthand options to secure a direct jump to Round 3.

Causing the day’s surprise and advancing straight to Round 3 ahead of current ASP Women’s World No. 1 Carissa Moore (Oahu, HAW), Roxy wildcard and former ASP Elite member Lee-Ann Curren (Biarritz, FRA) managed to make the most out of the tricky surf to win her bout and please fans and home crowds.

« I am super happy to make that heat and go straight to Round 3, » Curren said. « I have surfed here since I was a kid and it feels so good to be able to compete in an ASP World title event in front of all my family and friends. Being a wildcard is pretty cool because there’s no pressure but I still want to do well and both Carissa and Melanie are of great inspiration for me so I wanted to perform as good as I could today and it worked out well. »

Curren, with her Round 1 win, added intensity to the ASP Women’s World title race, Moore’s second place forcing her to surf in the second round where a loss would push the world title crowning to the final event next month in California.

« I am not thinking of any consequence on the world title race between Sally (Fitzgibbons) and Carissa, » Curren said. « I am focused on doing well here, I am friends with both girls and I’ll just be surfing my best to get a result in the event. It is my priority. »

Netting the day’s highest heat result in the last minutes of her bout against rookie local-raised Pauline Ado (FRA) with 12.15 points (out of a possible 20), longtime ASP Women’s elite surfer Silvana Lima (Rio, BRA) prooved to be in good form unleashing speedy vertical turns on the righthanders to advance through to Round 3.

« I started really slow and Pauline (Ado) was in great form so I knew I had to give it my all to make that heat, » Lima said. « I am feeling great and that board I chose at the last moment worked really well so all is looking good. My knee hurts a little but it’s alright and I am stoked to be in Round 3. »

It took Lima a series of three on-the-rail top turns and full-speed on a walling-up righthander to overcome local Ado who had led the battle since the opening seconds, the multi ASP European champion notching the day’s top signle wave score of 7.50 points (out of a possible 10) but missing the heat win by a mere 0.15 points.

When Round 1 recommences, first out will be other ASP Women’s World title contender Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) up against rookie Laura Enever (AUS) and ASP replacement surfer Felicity Palmateer (AUS). Officials will reconvene Wednesday at 8:00 AM at the back-up venue of La Grande Plage downtown Biarritz.

The Roxy Pro could see the ASP Women’s World title crowning this week as Carissa Moore (HAW) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) are the only two remaining contenders. The possibilities are as follows :

- If Moore wins the event in France, she clinches the ASP Women’s World Title

- If Moore places 2^nd or 3rd in France, Fitzgibbons must win to keep world title hopes

- If Moore places 5th in France, Fitzgibbons needs to place 2^nd or win

- If Moore places 9^th in France, the ASP Women’s World title race goes to the US Open, this year’s final event

This morning, the qualification for the last wildcard to join the ASP Women’s World Longboard Event has been taken by Australian surfer Chelsea Williams. The 2008 runner up will compete in the Longboard main event from Thursday.

ROXY PRO ROUND 1 RESULTS

Heat 1 : Courtney Conlogue (USA) 10.90, Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.95, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.15

Heat 2 : Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.15, Pauline Ado (FRA) 12.00, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 9.35

Heat 3 : Lee-Ann Curren (FRA) 8.75, Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.95, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 1.75

ROXY PRO ROUND 1 REMAINING HEATS

Heat 4 : Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS), Felicity Palmateer (AUS)

Heat 5 : Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)

Heat 6 : Coco Ho (HAW), Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)

ROXY PRO in live on www.roxylive.com

O’NEILL SURF AFFINITY LIFESTYLE CAMP June 2011

For the third year in a row, the Surf Affinity crew have firmly dug their toes into the lush soft sand of south-west France after running their first ‘Lifestyle’ week of 2011. Having enjoyed another lovely winter in the alps, Coz, Lou, Ashleigh & Jess returned to the gorgeous pine forests and sandy beaches of les Landes along with eight budding female surfers, determined to strut their stuff in the waves!

More than just your typical surf camp, Surf Affinity has established itself as a destination for all girls who surf. Learning together in a safe and progressive environment, whilst cutting out the nonsense of fighting for waves with the boys, the Surf Affinity camp is the perfect way to introduce yourself to surfing, or push your skills further. Ashleigh Bennetts of the O’Neill Surf Academy uses personal teaching techniques that give each lady a realistic target for her surf session.  She acknowledges that each and every one of us learns in a different way and at varying speeds!

The O’Neill sponsored week kicked off with an introduction to the area, which is set in Europe’s largest pine forest and just on the border of France’s infamous Basque Country. With wild beaches that stretch on for miles, you would be forgiven for thinking that South-west France is forgotten about for eight months of the year.  Les Landes seems to come alive in July and August when Europeans flock here to enjoy the crashing waves and heady sunshine, but that allowed our young ladies to make the most of it all and relax in the peace and quiet!

Surfing was the aim of the game, with at least one surf session with Ashleigh each day. Ash explained that the girls would need to become accustomed to living ‘according to the times of the tide’ as that would allow for optimum learning potential! This wasn’t a difficult task, as the ladies learnt to make the most of their down time, by checking out the local markets, taking horse-rides on the beach or stretching out their aches and pains with yoga sessions from Caroline Beliard.

The girls at Nalu Beads also sent over some of their awesome jewelry kits, which included glass beads of all colours and patterns. Each of the campers could make their own bracelet or necklace and there were big smiles all round. Nalu Beads are based in Cornwall, in the UK, but are looking to branch out into Europe and with workshops like this one, we’re sure it wont take long!! 

Ash brought along her newest recruit to the team at the O’Neill Surf Academy, Jess Henry, who inspired the ladies with her awesome surfing skills and Nalu Beads knowledge! Tasty meals out at Mojitos and Le Surfing ensured that the girls could enjoy some of the delicious local cuisine and live music, and Coz and Lou did their best to make sure everyone was ready and prepped for the next day’s action! 

After sleepy dawn sessions and sunset BBQs, we’re pretty sure that the girls had a taste of what the real surfing lifestyle is all about and will continue to live it as much as they can once they return home.

Big thanks must go out to O’Neill who provided action packed goody bags to all the campers, Nalu Beads for their gorgeous jewelry kits and Les Ettes for providing samples of their action-inspired perfumes.

The O’Neill Surf Academy run camps and courses throughout the year. Check out their website for more info!

Awesome Moves from Jess & Holly last week!!!

SWATCH GIRLS PRO - Coming to South-west France!!

We’re super excited to see the world’s best female surfers in their element, surfing it up on our doorstep here in SW France!

Running from 1st to 5th June, the second edition will set the stage for the world’s best female surfers along the shores of some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.

Kicking off the women’s European star event schedule with a bang the beaches of Hossegor and Seignosse hosted the first edition of the SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE last year.

More than 100 world-class athletes are expected to turn out for the event, with high-performance radical surfing at the top of the agenda for a 100% female extravaganza.

As the most talented, athletic female surfers go head-to-head in Hossegor’s world-class beachbreaks, the thrill of summer will all but officially be underway in Seignosse - Hossegor and we’ll be there to check out all the action!.

Among the world’s elite invited to the second edition of the SWATCH GIRLS PRO FRANCE, will be none other than 4-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore. Other serious contenders will include Coco Ho, Alana Blanchard, Bethany Hamilton, Pauline Ado, Sofia Mulanovich.

Have a wee look at the trailor for the Swatch Girls Pro France 2011 - the girls are coming soon to Hossegor and Seignosse!! Book into Surf Affintiy Camp and come check it out!

Abi we love you!! xx

Surf Affinity Lifestyle camps in summer 2011…

Fancy a few clean, warm waves?!

Looking at the calendar its not too long now before our team will be heading off to the beautiful Les Landes coastline of Southwest France to tour wonderful camp at Surf Affinty. We hope you are as excited as we are…beautiful french food, wine and not to mention the waves and warm water!! Having travelled all over the globe, France is definitely one of our favourite and most cherished surf destinations!

The camps we host are in conjunction with our awesome friends at the O’Neill Surf Academy and are a great opportunity for you to receive the highest standards of coaching, from English coaches at one of Europe’s world class surfing destinations.

If you’re thinking of heading abroad for your first surf trip, or fancy something a little different this summer then you’ve hit gold!

This year, our successful ‘Girls Only’ Surf affinity camps will be running into their 3rd year, and new for 2011 we have also introduced ‘Aspect Surf Camps’ which means you can bring the boyfriend, a whole bunch of friends or even your whole family!

As the only English run, and English speaking school in the region as well as our exceptionally experienced and professional coaches there’s no wonder sooooo many people have learnt with Surf Affinity!

Flights to Southwest France ( either Bordeaux or Biarritz airports) from all over the UK are super cheap at the moment so get online and check it out!

If you want to know what went down at our last camp in September check out this great article from Cooler Magazine HERE

WIN A SURF AFFINITY HOLIDAY AT RIP CURL SISTA SESSIONS!

Yet another awesome prize to be won at the Rip Curl Sista Sessions 2011. The “Best Trick” prize is now a week’s holiday with Surf Affinity!!! As the only British all female surf camp near Hossegor, on the South-west coast of France, they cater for learner to advanced surfers so everyone is welcome. Their female team have hooked up with the fully qualified girls from the O’Neill Surf Academy to provide expert instruction.

Prize Information:

Surf Affinity : Surf Camps for Girls – Living the surfer girl lifestyle all summer long on the lovely beaches of South-west France. Progressing your love of the surf!

Rip Curl Sista Sessions “Best Trick” performance will receive:

* 7 Nights Accommodation
* 6 surf sessions (1 session daily) with our highly experienced female coaches
* 5 Evening Meals (eat out 2 nights)
* Daily Breakfasts
* Foamie surfboard rental
* Shortie wetsuit rental
* Trips out to explore the local area
* Transfers to and from Biarritz airport or Dax train station

Surf Affinity are really lucky to be the only girls surf camp in south-west France with the permission from local authorities to use our own female instructors, holding the highest qualifications, so you can really make the most of them and ask their advise 24/7! These camps are perfect for beginners and advanced surfers alike as, not only are you given instruction on how to ride a wave, but you’ll experience the surf lifestyle first hand! How to tie your boards onto your car, how to assess the surf conditions, yoga at sunrise, massages at sunset and barbecues on the beach. It’s all right here!

**Anna’s review:
http://cooler.mpora.com/features/surfbugged-surf-affinity-camps.html

Surf Affinity camp dates 2011:

• 31st May – 7th June
• 7th June – 14th June
• 30th Aug – 6th Sept
• 6th Sept – 13th Sept

Why not improve your chances by entering the video clip online to be in more of a chance to win! Plus, don’t forget to register before its too late !!!!!!!