Michelle Kienlen is a surf instructor at Surf With Amigas. Here she is shredding in Bocas Del Toro Panama, testing
Continue reading “Michelle Tests the GoPro Mouth Mount by HoStevie”
Category: blog
Quick Tour of Jacek’s House Jan 17 2015
Construction of “L” shaped hacienda by Hip-E Habitat in northern Nicaragua, Jan. 2015.
http://www.hipehabitat.com
FUNction + Fashion = Kassia Surf
You probably all know Kassia Meador. Super stylish longboarder. I traveled Australia with her one summer many years ago. She’s the real deal. After a long career with Roxy, she has broken out of the surf industry corporate bubble and started her own adventure, founding a wetsuit brand called Kassia.
I pulled this info from her website that you should definitely check out! KassiaSurf.com
WHO IS KASSIA MEADOR?
Kassia Meador is a long time mermaid with a love for quality living and a passion for all things aesthetically pleasing and aquatically functional.
WHAT IS KASSIA THE BRAND, ABOUT?
KASSIA is about Freedom and Empowerment. Superior Quality, Life Enriching, Enlightening, Functional, Future Flavor with a Classic Twist. Made by Mermaids for Mermaids!
WHAT’S THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR BRAND?
My want for things of great quality, design and functionality while at the beach or in the water. Ive been a surfer for over half my life and all the things I’ve been longing for to compliment my lifestyle I’m bringing to life with this brand.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR
BLACK
IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHAT ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE?
A sea hawk so I could soar above the cliff and the waves, and dive in when I feel like it.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Diana Vreeland! The way she speaks about things is pure poetry. The way she talks about surfing having never done it herself really makes you feel it in a way I’ve never heard anyone articulate so masterfully. “OH TO BE A SURFER, BETWEEN THE SKY AND THE WATER…”
WHAT DOES STYLE MEAN TO YOU?
To me style is everything… its an extension of your being, your thoughts, feelings and creativity in a visual language that you wear.
WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?
To build a boat that will clean up all the plastics in the ocean and take us to good waves all at the same time…
WHAT’S THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS COLLECTION?
For this first collection my inspiration is coming from my love of space and the free spirit of the 70’s. Tye dye space is the place…
Girl Crush – Stephanie
In my surf dreams this is what I look like.
http://vimeo.com/111789436
Baby Laughs at Dog Chasing Laser Pointer
This one’s fun for everyone. Dog, baby, mom, dad are all entertained by the lazer pointer.
http://www.saltwatermama.com
Sunrise Boat Trip
We had our most shredding group of Amigas in North Nicaragua ever and decided to reward their ripping with a sunrise boat trip to an island secret spot.
New Year, New Location!
Surf With Amigas is expanding further into Central America. It started with Nicaragua, then we added El Salvador, Costa Rica, and now Panama!
Keeping with our mission to seek out remote, uncrowded waves, with a small hotel within walking distance of a fun surf spot, we’re adding a Pacific Coast Panama location. Join us for our very first retreat in this new spot July 4-11, 2015.
We met an awesome Amiga from Panama on a retreat in El Salvador last year and she clued us in on a hidden gem in Southern Panama. We’ll go visit her spot and have her show us all the best waves and activities. This retreat is for advanced beginners and Intermediate surfers only! Expect to surf multiple spots during the week including a fun beach break out front of where we’ll stay, a couple of awesome right point breaks, and other beach breaks just a few minutes down the road.
We will also do yoga! The brand new yoga studio faces the Pacific Ocean and is fully stocked with mats, straps, bolsters, blankets, handcrafted wooden blocks, sound system and tropical hardwood floors.
Beyond surfing world-class waves, practicing yoga over the ocean, we will have other exciting activities!
Where we’ll stay and what’s included:
• Accommodations in an inviting beachfront Cabana at the brand new Sansara Resort
• Daily surf guidance, in water coaching, and post-session video analysis by Jackie, Michelle, and Amira.
• Daily yoga classes to relax and inspire you in the gorgeous ocean view studio with Carly
• Surfboard rental
• Wi-Fi internet access
• All delicious meals
• 2 way transfer from Panama City to the resort
• All the awesome adventures that you’ve come to expect from Surf With Amigas
Travel Info coming soon…
Email [email protected] for booking info and whatever questions you have!
all photos: Sansara Resort- Michael Phillips
Surf and Volcano Slide
The exciting highlight reel from our last retreat of 2014. Watch the ladies shred the waves and enjoy the Cerro Negro Volcano in Nicaragua on a Surf With Amigas surf yoga and adventure retreat.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/F471F5kdjdQ]
New Instructor for Winter 2015 – Emily Nanninga
Two Emilys for January to March 2015? You better believe it!!! You may have already met our first Emily – now to be known as “Em-dogs” who worked with us Nov-December 2014 and is returning for another season with us starting in January. We met this Emily on a retreat in Costa Rica last year that she attended with her awesome mom. She was everything we look for in an instructor – energetic, smiling, happy, super stoked, frothing, shredding, and awesome. She also happens to be smart and skilled in lifeguarding. Bonus! Here’s what she’s all about in her own words…
Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Emily grew up loving the beach, the water, and anything outdoors. So, naturally, when her mother brought home a $10 garage-sale surfboard in the summer of 2005, Emily was hooked, ready to terrorize the San Diego beaches with her mother who, thankfully, decided to pick up surfing again after a 20-year hiatus.
After graduating from high school, Emily’s love of swimming, surfing, and the ocean led her into a lifeguard tower, working the beaches every summer throughout college. During the UCSB school year, she kept herself busy surfing, rock climbing, and, beginning her third year there, working for UCSB Adventure Programs, where she led outdoor camping and backpacking trips and helped teach rock climbing, kayaking, and canyoneering classes.
The years flew by until June of 2014 suddenly came, ending her time at UCSB with a tarred surfboard and an Environmental Studies degree. Upon graduating, she spent the rest of the year lifeguarding, surfing, leading camping trips, and just having fun running around the west coast. Now Emily’s excited to start the new year off in Nicaragua with Surf with Amigas!
check out this video where Emily features prominently from our trip to Costa Rica last year
SWA Interview Series – Rachel
So many Amigas come on retreats at turning points in their lives. New jobs, breaking out of bad relationships, or just needing a chance of perspective. We love to help guide you towards a new point of view and leave the past behind. Rachel did just that and left the week feeling refreshed and re-inspired.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/DMV7WJzQI1c]