surfing

Surf Secrets Behind The New Blue Crush 2 Movie

June 6, 2011 at 9:48 am
By Karla Walsh

The stars of Blue Crush 2 soak up the sun—with SPF, of course! (Photo courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment)

Tomorrow, the follow-up to the popular surfing movie Blue Crush hits stores on DVD! We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek (which made us dream to have those surf skills) and meet with the film’s stars (who seem to be great pals in real life). We asked the ladies for their best surf tips for beginners, and to top it off, we had them team up to create a killer beach playlist!

Blue Crush 2 Starter Surfing Hints

• “Be safe and have fun! Know your boundaries when it comes to the ocean, but don’t be scared to get out there and give it a go!” —Sharni Vinson, also seen in Step Up 3D (Tara in the film)
• “At first you’re going to fall a lot. But keep getting back up! And always wear your leash—never get into the water without it attached. Have fun and watch your body transform. It’s such a great workout!” —Elizabeth Mathis, also seen in Unstoppable (Pushy)
• “Relax! Even if you don’t stand up on your first try, you can still enjoy being in the ocean. A lot of surfing has to do with muscle memory, so if you are relaxed and keeping in mind how you are feeling on the board you will learn a lot faster.” —Rosy Hodge, ROXY pro surfer from South Africa (Catherine)
• “It’s very daunting and scary to go into the ocean at first, but I got the best advice from our free diving coach Hanli Prinsloo: When being tossed and turned underwater or held under, instead of being frightened, just smile and acknowledge that the ocean is ‘playing with you.’ It’s easy to feel very small and powerless when you first surf, but if you switch your mindset it changes your experience drastically.” —Sasha Jackson, also seen on One Tree Hill (Dana)

Blue Crush 2 Star’s Surf-Friendly Playlist

• “Islands,” XX
• “Land Down Under (Acoustic),” Jason Mraz
• “The Lazy Song,” Bruno Mars
• “Pure Shores,” All Saints
• “Sun is Shining,” Bob Marley & The Wailers

Now tell us: What sporty movie inspires you to get up and move?

Surf Like A Pro

May 2, 2011 at 10:42 am
By Karla Walsh

Maya's suit was selected from entries to a design contest and is available on billabong.com. (Photo by Dove Shore)

Big wave surfing has long been a men’s sport. But 24-year-old Brazilian Maya Gabeira is out to show the men how it’s done! Maya’s fearless attitude has helped her tackle some of the biggest waves across the globe, including the one she successfully rode in 2009. The 45-foot wave near South Africa was the biggest wave ever surfed by a female! Maya has won an ESPY for Best Female Action Sport Athlete and last year, she was selected as the Billabong Girls Best Overall Performance Award for the fourth time in a row.

• “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga
• “Moment 4 Life,” Nicki Minaj (feat. Drake)
• “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z (feat. Alicia Keys)
• Anything by Rihanna
• “Not Afraid,” Eminem

Maya’s Three Tips for Beginning Surfers:

1. Never give up! “Surfing is a difficult sport to learn. Remember to have fun, relax and try not be afraid of falling. Everyone falls a lot in the beginning. It took me a month before I was able to stand on the board!”
2. Show some effort. “Once you do get the basics down, it’s the most exhilarating experience. It does require time and dedication, but I’ve never heard anyone say they regretted it.”
3. Get educated. “Personally, it helped me a great deal to go to surf school. Getting help from trained people who have lots of expertise and can provide an easier and more appropriate board for each person makes a big difference when you are learning!”

More from FITNESS: Flaunt your beach body boot camp figure in one of these surf-inspired looks for summer fun!