You've dreamed of walking on water with the sun shining on your face. You pretend you're surfing in your bathtub. You start to use the words gnarly and awesome in  anticipation of actually riding something gnarly and awesome....

Ok, you know how to swim  & you feel like you're ready to take the literal and metaphorical plunge into the big blue and surf. Excellent! Welcome to the tribe of surfers. Starting anything is tough & surfing is no execption.

For women this is doubly hard - we're saddled with cultural and social pre-conceived notions about what we can do and what we can't, plus the fact that being outnumbered in the line-up can be intimidating. Here are some things you can do to  make surfing a life-long passion and way of life, rather than just a passing phase.

Get stoked

Well, people achieve this a whole host of ways, no one person does this the same way. Watching some surf flicks (especially before a session) or listening to music are some ways to go. Getting stoked also can mean sharing the stoke. Every time you go to the beach, consider yourself an ambassador of the sport. Vibes are contagious, both positive and negative. Decide which one you want to cultivate and multiply.

Get involved

Join a local surf organization like Surfrider and be active. You will not only help the environment, but you'll meet other like-minded people. You have the opportunity to make connections with other women who share the same passion you do.

Get educated

Hey, what's that thingy in the water? Why does the water move more quickly here? (Where can I get some coffee/wax/gas?) Knowing about your local break is a start, but how much do you know about the tides, the weather, tenets of oceanography and other patterns that come together to make the surf we all love. Take class, ask questions; Be curious!