Women’s 3 Star longboarding is back at Boardmasters 2012 in Newquay, Cornwall from the 8th – 12th August.

This is the only chance to see the World’s best women longboarders and this really is the cream of the crop!

But that is not all Boardmasters has to offer, with the 6 Star Men’s Surfing Series and the Vans Skate & BMX Summer Sessions.

Top all this with music acts from Ed Shreeran, Dizzee Rascal DJ Fresh and Reel Big Fish and you have got yourself a super rad summer festival.

Get your tickets here – we’ll see you there.

3 years on and Girlzilla now rivals any girls skate event in the World.

They come from afar and never disappoint. The standard continues to grow and 2012 see’s Girlzilla enter the WCS calendar as a prime event.

With 2011 podium going to Lacey Baker, Alexis Sablone and Laeticia Buffoni; we can’t wait to see what 2012 holds.

Win Stuff For the Longest Tripod

Whether dry slope, mountain or dome – get tripoding…

Film your tripod and send the link to us at onlinecomps@westbeach.com

If you donʼt know how to tripod then check out Westbeach rider Jesse Smith showing you how itʼs done.

Cornish Surfer Corrine Evans has been out in the beautiful island of Sri Lanka enjoying all the best the Indian Ocean can offer. I am sure I am not the only one who wants to follow in her footsteps and head out to explore such a beautiful location!

Sri Lanka is a country I have always wanted to travel to, so when my close friend Jack Phillips decided to set up a surf camp on the jewel of the Indian ocean I jumped at the chance to do a girls trip there.  Together we rounded up some top surfers from the UK, Ireland and Australia along with wonderful photographer, Lucia Griggi. Surfgirl magazine kindly offered to feature the article; all we had to do was nail some shots!

After what felt like a life time of travelling with reached Columbo airport and began our five-hour drive to Talalla.  As we drove down coast I could see skeletons of houses dotted along the ocean road. These were remains of the people’s homes that were hit by the tsunami.  This sent shivers down my spine as I was meant to be in Sri Lanka that Christmas with my family. It is an extremely surreal experience sitting in a taxi on my way to enjoy a lovely surf trip whilst looking at the remains of people’s homes and knowing that the people who houses remain are no longer with us. It really puts things in perspective and really made me want to make the most of my time on earth, life is too short. With that in mind I was adamant I was going to grasp every opportunity whilst in Sri Lanka.

The 10-day trip was jam packed with long surf sessions, intensive yoga and lots of delicious food and sunshine.  Talalla is no ordinary surf camp; it is based in the grounds of the beautiful Talalla Retreat. The retreat has a wonderful aura about it, the atmosphere is extremely calming and everyone was so welcoming; we all felt at home straight away. Talalla’s wonderful chefs fed us on home grown fruit and vegetables and copious amounts of rice, fish and chicken. There was not a hamburger or chocolate bar in sight!

When we weren’t surfing fun reefs or shooting lifestyle we had time to explore the local towns and even do a spot of shopping. We all purchased exquisite saris, which we then had made into outfits by the women in the village. I decided to go for the Arabian princess look, with some genie pants and a crop top. The local women are amazing seamstresses they can make you anything your heart desires. I only wished we’d of had more time so I could have had more beautiful garments made.

The swell and weather throughout the trip was consistent, luckily for us the Indian Ocean graced us with some perfect shooting days. When we weren’t shooting action shots we were increasing our lung capacities under water shooting the “Mad Hatters Tea Party” I took a couple of clips from the shoot so be sure to check out my video and the final piece in Surfgirl soon.

I found Sri Lanka so welcoming. The locals are extremely inquisitive but not in an intimidating way, they are just curious. We certainly did stand out wherever we went. You just have to make sure you dress respectably and are always polite and friendly. Sri Lanka is a very spiritual place, with a vast amount of astonishing Buddhist Temples and statues of Gods, being there made me really want to explore the Buddhist religion and learn a lot more about their culture and way of life.

Sri Lanka is a must see if you want fun waves, lovely weather and some culture. All I will say is make sure you wear lots of sun cream in the day and even more mosquito repellent in the evening, as Sri Lanka is home to some pretty hungry mosquitoes.  I have to say a massive thanks to Jack Phillips and everyone at Talalla, Surfgirl and Lucia Griggi as without you guys the trip wouldn’t of been possible! Roll on the next trip! Yew!! x

The Alliance is looking for the best up and coming female street skateboarders! We all know girls are out there skating and progressing in their hometowns, so Alliance want to see your best footage!

The top 3 entries will win special “behind the scenes” passes to the 2012 X Games Women’s Street contest (held during June 28th – July 1, 2012). The lucky lady with the top judged video gets to skate with the pros in the official women’s street practice the week leading up to X Games!

X Games is synonymous with GOING BIG! With the largest prize purse in women’s skating history, this is the premiere skate contest for the ladies of street. The winners will be carefully chosen by official X Games street selection committee.

As part of its 60th anniversary year celebrations, O’Neill is giving one girl the opportunity to realise her dreams and launch her modelling career in Miami. The grand prize is a year’s contract with NEXT Model Management, the chance to appear in the O’Neill Girls Spring Summer 2014 Campaign and take home an amazing selection of O’Neill products including a coveted Superkini.

From 19 April – 30 May 2012, aspiring models can enter by uploading their photo on HERE and create their own unique publicity pack with a poster and Facebook profile/timeline cover shots.

The girl with the most votes will secure one of three places to the final in Miami – all they need to do is encourage all their friends, neighbours and family to vote for them. Joining her will be a further two lucky girls, chosen by representatives from O’Neill and Next Model Management.

The three finalists will get a taste of what it’s like to be an international model – they will be flown to Miami from 21-24 July, stay in a real model house, meet casting agents and stylists and take place in two photoshoots. At the end of the three days, NEXT Model Management and O’Neill will choose the winning girl based on a combination of natural beauty and personality.

Not sure you want to become a model? Everyday for the duration of the competition O’Neill will be giving away a Superkini to a new voter.

The Superkini is O’Neill’s latest innovation in swimwear, made from a special NANOFRONTTM material it has 200% more grip than traditional lyrca, giving girls the confidence to surf and jump in the water with in total confidence.

Last year, O’Neill & NEXT Model Management launched Tatjana Maul’s modeling career on the One Way Runway in Ibiza, the world’s most unique catwalk.

Her life has totally changed since winning; “I’ve been on an amazing rollercoaster since I won the competition – flying around the world to different countries doing lots of awesome things like photoshoots, videoshoots and runway shows. I have met so many great new people, made loads of new friends and gained so much experience modeling.”

If you would like to follow in Tatjana’s footsteps click HERE to enter.

You must be over 18, hold a valid passport and be free to travel to Miami from 21-24 July 2012.

First you ride it, then you style it with VUERICH B

Barcelona is known as one of the worlds sickest skate spots and with its smooth streets, skateable terrain, relaxed culture and laid back friendly locals it’s easy to see why.

So it makes sense that two Belgium skaters in Barcelona began the company VUERICH B, making hand made wooden sunglasses recycled from skateboards which were given to them by the local pros.

VUERICH B, TRANSITION FRAME

One of a kind original frame number 112

Not only is each frame is completely unique, as the layers composing a skateboard create endless variation of colours and character, but they are hard to break due to the strength and flexibility of the maple wood in the skateboard.

Don’t believe us? Then watch this little video, which shows how it’s all done…

Check out the VUERICH B. website here for more completely originally frames.

Go faster. Travel more. Have more fun. Meet more new faces. Make more rad stuff to  skate on. Provide a reason, place and space to bring people together for a shared love.

Above is the mission statement of Lush Longboards, they had us convinced at ‘more fun’ but all the rest sound like some pretty good reasons to take up Longboarding and now with the soggy shivers of winter behind us and the summer sunshine on its way, what better time to start.

Not sure what board is for you? Well we sought the advice of the guys at Lush Longboards who have been in the business over 12 years, based in Bristol UK, not only have they seen it all, but they help support the Longboard scene, sponsoring riders, organize events and supporting local skate shops.

Lush Symbian – For a slidey ride with loads of control.

Are you a beginner with no idea what you are doing? Just want something that you can roll around on to find your skate legs? Then get the Symbian.

The Symbian is the perfect combination of Rocker and Concave to lock you in, the kick nose and tail add extra functionality and the drop through option gives a slidey ride with loads of control.

Lush Duder – Sometimes simple is best.

So you just want to cruise? Then treat yourself to a Duder. It’s super clean shape combined with a slight rocker to produce the comfiest cruiser Lush have ever done, or if you fancy getting something a touch longer, try the  Lopez.

Lush Zappa – Shaka Brah

The Zappa, a mini cruiser with a nod to skateboarding roots, its sidecuts are a classic old skool surf design. This board will rip around any bowl, down hills or just a mellow cruise around the park.

Check their website for loads more, plus Lush don’t just make Longboards, they do it all; trucks, wheels and accessories – and on top of this they are a super friendly bunch who are always happy to help and offer advice or a good old chat; lushlongboards

Never been to Snowbombing? Or missed out this year, then take a look through the eyes of a Snowbombing virgin, dance with the Eristoff Wolves, get on stage with Labrinth in the Eristoff Forest and snowboard with the Pro’s.

Check out the full Girlylegs Snowbombing 2012 review here