Here at Chica Brava we are all about the journey, not the destination…The journey, of course, being surfing. We love having women from around the world here with us in San Juan del Sur for a week of surfing, fun and sun, and especially love sharing our joy and passion for surfing. Often they are on the path to discovery, or perhaps already deep into their surf journey, or somewhere in between. But wherever our CHICAS are, once they leave we love to get the occasional check in to see…where you at, girl!
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“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
Jacques Yves Cousteau
One year ago I didn’t care about the sea. My landlocked being had no time for salt water. And then last November, in the midst of turmoil, I decided to attend a week at Chicabrava and everything changed.
Six months later it’s late May and I’m at Diamond Head in Oahu, Hawaii. At 6:10am onshore winds make for sloppy and inconsistent breaks. Even if the conditions were perfect, I’d barely know what to do if a wave came my way. But, that doesn’t matter. If all I do is sit on my board and bob all day, I’ll count myself ahead. My arms ache and waves crash overhead. Every once in a while I’m quick enough to do a little turtle roll to avoid annihilation. This is heaven.
Waveless in Southern Ontario I’m impatient for the sea. Every opportunity on a board, whether on snow or concrete, is simply counted as “practice for surf”.
One day I’ll be a “real” surfer and I’ll chase waves around the world. From the pacific blue to the cool atlantic, off the shores of south africa to the Austaralian gold coast. But despite my worldly disposition, I’ll always look forward to the day I come back to the place that made me fall in love with the sea. I’ll think fondly of my relentless pursuit to walk on water and of the Chicabrava surfer girls who taught me how.
Jennifer Anne
Toronto, Canada
