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.

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!

SWATCH GIRLS PRO

We headed on down to the Swatch Girls Pro finals today in Seignosse les Bourdaines, witnessing the best in women’s surfing under a hot sun and with awesome waves. Sally Fitzgibbons ripped the surf apart to take the title after a nail biting semi final in which she made it through in the dying seconds with the highest scoring wave of the contest so far.

The set waves were solid at Bourdaines, providing the perfect playground for the girls to show just how much they are advancing the sport. Pressure is on for when the girls return to France in July for the Roxy Pro… and we can’t wait!!

SWATCH GIRLS PRO COMING TO FRANCE NEXT 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.

O’Neill host Surf Affinity Camps in France Whether you’re a veteran, beginner or dabbler – surfing season is approaching and it’s time to unleash your inner surf-chick!

Lifestyle brand O’Neill are running Surf Affinity Camps in the South of France, where you – along with your best girlfriends – can live the beach life for a week.

Les Landes is the largest pine forest in Europe and is well-known for its miles of secluded beach breaks, sandy dunes and amazing sunsets. It will also host O’Neill’s Surf Affinity Camp in June, offering an authentic experience to make this the ultimate girly getaway.

Aside from the beautiful setting, participants will also receive daily surf tuition from guest coach Ashleigh Bennetts, who is the owner and head coach of the O’Neill Surf Academy in Cornwall. Then, you’re free to soak up the late afternoon sunshine while your hosts prepare you a home-cooked meal using produce grown in their own vegetable garden.

For those feeling more adventurous, the nightlife of the surf Mecca known as Hossegor is only ten minutes away.

The June camp takes place from 7th-14th June for £495 and includes an O’Neill goody bag, equipment, lessons, food and accommodation. For more information on this opportunity to live the life of a true surfer and discover the surfing culture of France, go to www.surfaffinity.com now!http://www.womensfitness.co.uk/viewblog.aspx?blogid=1971&viewuserid=320c5cc2-8de2-4666-b412-56b944c7315a

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!

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

HOSSEGOR, France (Monday, January 24, 2011) - Justine Dupont (Lacanau, FRA), 18, has joined the Billabong Surf team and will be touring in 2011 with a new sticker on her board. Dupont, who just got her ASP Junior career best when finishing runner-up in the Billabong ASP Women’s World Junior Championships at Narabeen, is one of Europe’s best female surfers.

A former ASP European Women’s Champion (2009), multi event winner on the ASP European Women’s Junior Series and having performed on the international stage with a couple of Quarterfinal finishes in 2010 (in Margaret River and Azores), the Lacanau resident has already made her intentions clear and will be aiming at the a qualification for the elite ASP Top 17 female circuit where her friend Pauline Ado (Hendaye, FRA) will be touring in 2011.

Congratulations to Billabong and Justine for putting ink to paper. More on Justine at www.billabong.com

http://www.aspeurope.com/2010/news_show.php?id=758