The sanctity of sisterhood cannot be denied - all women are united by a common soul thread, how much stronger is the thread between surfers? Two young women share their passion for surfing and offer some insights into the feelings of our younger generation...

Soul Twin Jess

Muizenberg… bad waves, long paddle, learn to surf freakin’ people, kook, kooks and more kooks! That’s what most people say when they hear Muizenberg, for us it’s something more, surfing for us is about something more.

When I arrive at the beach, I see people learning to surf, people who think they can surf and guys and girls who actually can surf and rip! They’re there because they enjoy surfing, they love the ocean, its waves and its moodiness. The stoke is contagious and shared amongst all swell riders young and old. It’s not about sponsors, heats and trophies to me.

This is what it’s all about…

It’s about arriving at the beach with that butterfly feeling in your stomach. Seeing people out there totally clueless but with huge smiles on their faces. Just stoked! To them surfing is about pure enjoyment and the shared stoke they have with friends.

If you look at competitive surfers you’ll see they surf mainly to make a name for themselves. They only surf popular breaks and on good days with their little click of friends trying to dominate the rest of the crowds.

Have they forgotten their roots? Why did they start surfing in the first instance? The first time I picked up a board I never went to the beach thinking “I wanna be world champ or Heather Clark”. It was just for a laugh really… but soon it became a must do!

The laidback lifestyle of hanging out at the beach all day surfing, skating, tanning and just chilling out with friends is unbeatable. Who needs contests or competitions to do what you love doing.

Surfing is for your own enjoyment and well being, it was never about beating your best friend instead its about sharing and enjoying the most beautiful gift of nature and appreciating its uniqueness.

Every wave, every day and every beach is different. Soul surfing is not a sport, it’s a way of living, capturing a unique moment everyday is something that only soul surfing can give to you…

My advice is go where the waves are gentle and pay tribute to your roots!!!

Soul Twin Kerri

You would think surf contests would be full of surf stoke - for the waves, good times and of course to go home with a title as a winner! Everyday I rock up at the beach, to see a bunch of hippies chilling, laughing, surfing and tanning, enjoying the fresh air and beauty that surrounds them.

I was actually very surprised when I did my first comp. I saw girls I was going up against, kitted out from head to toe in sponsors clothing, definitely not my choice of clothing for the beach. I preferred my striped pants that look more like pj’s.

Anyways, I’ve always found that a lot of girls are too competitive to even manage a smile which is not what surfing is supposed to do to sufers. In my heat I was shocked when I found that everyone was blocking one another not allowing fellow competitors to even catch a wave and to see them surf. I was just trying to have some fun and catch some waves.

Obviously not all surfers are like this, but I’m just worried that the lifestyle is being turned into and made out to be something its not! What happened to plain old beach bums just hanging out to surf? What happened to soul surfers who smiled and welcomed you to share some waves, who were un-opinionated and free spirited? What happened to trying to surf your best for the absolute fun of it without material reward at the end of the day?

I think a lot more people would enjoy surfing even more if they didn’t turn it into a competition between one another. Waves were created for us to enjoy as something between us and nature. A place to be free and a place to harness and experience the power of nature first hand. I understand that surfing has become a profession for some of us, just remember that it started with a passion. If it ever starts to feel like work you you need to rethink why you are where you are and why! Remember what fulfillment really is.

Surfing is a privilege, especially if you have a talent and ability for it, so keep surfing and stay stoked.

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