Tag: lifeguard

New Instructor for Winter 2015 – Emily Nanninga

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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.
nanninga surf
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.
 nanninga lifestyle
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

Gender Equality – Sometimes Guys are Allowed

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE5Xd5BmIxo]
Most of the time ladies get all the fun. It’s like a week-long girls’ night out and we like it that way! We don’t have to worry about showing too much crack, high pitched squeals, calling waves “cute”, or incessant girl talk. Sometimes though, for guys that come highly recommended by Amigas, we do allow some testosterone into the group. Why not? We like guys too!
Meet John – a lifeguard from LA who has done some acting, who isn’t afraid to call a wave “cute” or shake his hips on the dance floor with steamy salsa style.
He came down to improve his surfing and left the retreat feeling a lot better!
If you’ve got a great guy friend who isn’t afraid to get silly with the girls, send him our way! We have a guy friendly retreat Feb 1-8 2013 with a few spots remaining!