FN Blog - Seven heads are better than one!

One of my must-do lists is to learn something new as much as time permits, and one of these is to surf. Recently I didn’t say no to an opportunity to learn and to brave the waves of La Union for a two-day surfing clinic organized by Liquid Body Surf School, through the kindness of Christian Ong and Tim Goetsch. The experience was overwhelming, with both my body and my mind put into exercise. To learn the discipline on how to catch the wave and to strike a balancing act required a lot falling, white wash outs and waiting for the right wave to ride on. The constant practice and focus was rewarded with a sense of calmness as I glided either gently or roughly in the sea. It was an addictive feeling even if it made me feel like I was spinning inside a washing machine.

Now I must admit that I can’t wait to back to La Union to be with the waves. I appreciate the kindness of Christian and Tim, who helped me mark another check at must-do list. And lastly I would like to thank Ree Soria for capturing these moments.

Tips for girls who want to go surfing

Surfing: the art of wave riding, an outlook, a lifestyle, and a sport that can be enjoyed by both girls and boys, young and old. While surfing is a very enjoyable past time, it can also be dangerous. So, here are some tips and reminders for those girls who want to go surfing for the first time.

Paddle first - surfing is 95% paddling, so it is essential for one to know how to swim first.

Preparations in the city - It is also good to develop your upper body strength and flexibility. There are numerous ways of doing this in the city. You can try swimming a lap or two everyday, or you can take up yoga lessons.

Get an instructor - When at the beach never ever go out alone, always take an instructor and make sure that you are using proper equipment.

Protect yourself from the sun - Always use sun protection. There are a lot of choices now being offered in the market for the skin, the face, the lips and even for your scalp and hair.

Tie your hair - Tying your hair in a tight ponytail is also not a bad idea. There are sports and waterproof headbands and ponytails that you purchase at any leading department stores.

Dress Code - Wear proper attire. For beginners, it is best to wear rash guards and board shorts to ensure that your bikini doesn’t fall off every time you wipe out and it will also protect your skin from rashes (you get this when the skin rubs against the wax on the surfboard)

Capture the moment - Bring a camera and make sure that your friend can take a picture of you riding a wave.

Surf climb to San Juan La Union
San Juan La Union, the premiere surf destination in Northern Luzon, boasts of good waves and the hospitality of its people. San Juan is very accessible, only less than 300 kilometers away from Metro Manila. A drive would take 4-5 hours. Public transportation would take 5-6 hours and will cost no more than PHP 450. Bus terminals are located in Pasay, Dapitan and Cubao districts in Metro Manila and usually depart every hour.

To learn more about this sport, log on to www.liquid-body.com or www.surfpinoy.com.