Now Beach Boys are giving way to Board Babes... Keep abreast of the action in Portugal, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

rom the shores of L.A. to the beaches of Biarritz, a revolution is beginning to take hold as a new generation of wave-riders emerges. Coast to coast, more and more women are taking up surfing (and we’re not talking about the Internet) as the ultimate antidote to modern living!

Hollywood is hot to spot a trend or even set one off – the 1960’s release of cult movie Gidget spawned a whole generation of surfer girls. It’s no surprise then that this tidal wave of growth coincides with the timely release of the latest big budget surf flick, Blue Crush – about three girlfriends living on the North Shore of Hawaii with only one thing on their minds: their next surf. This summer will also see style icon Cameron Diaz take to the waves as one of ‘Charlie’s (surf) Angels’.

THE WORLD OF FASHION HAS GONE SURF MAD... IT SEEMS CERTAIN THIS SUMMER THAT NEOPRENE IS THE NEW BLACK.

This comes at a time when even the world of fashion has gone surf mad and everyone from Brazilian supermodel Giselle to British accessory designer Emma Hope is rekindling their love of surfing. While Helmut Lang incorporated wetsuit detailing into this summer’s ‘The Next Wave’ collection, Chanel took a more direct approach, sending models down the runway clasping logoed surfboards, not handbags, under their arms. From Luella Bartley’s bikini-clad models and wet look styling to Miu Miu and DKNY’s liberal dose of Hawaiian prints to FCUK’s appropriation of boarding iconography, it seems certain that this summer neoprene is the new black!

This year, women’s surfing will be one of the fastest growing sports on the planet. Reflecting this trend, major surf companies no longer simply produce ranges for women, they have created dedicated brands for them. Roxy, Board Babes, Mambo Goddess and Voo Doo Dolls cater for every surf girl’s needs from sunglasses and fashion to watches and wetsuits. Time Magazine has estimated that over half a million women in the U.S. have already taken up board-riding and the phenomenon is fast spreading to Europe. Four British riders at the vanguard of the women’s surf explosion are sponsored Roxy surfer Gemma Pasierb, former pro snowboarder Mairi Gordon, 2001 New Zealand longboard champion Dominique Munroe and reigning Cornish Champion and Roxy rider Sarah Bentley. Although based in wave-rich Cornwall, the girls’ love of travel and surf exploration means that their next trip is always just around the corner. And what better destination than Europe’s best kept surfing secret, the Algarve.

With an enviable climate and year-round waves, the Algarve is fast becoming one of the continent’s most popular surfing destinations. It is also home to one of Europe’s most established surf camps, ‘The Surf Experience’, based in Lagos. “With two coastlines on offer there are waves to suit all abilities and tastes – great beaches for learning on and reefs for more experienced surfers,” explained Toby, the guy with the enviable job of being the girls’ guide for a week of sun, sand and surf.

AND IN LAGOS, WITH ITS HEADY MIX OF BARS AND RESTAURANTS, THE FUN DOESN’T NEED TO STOP WHEN THE SUN SETS.

“A lot of the breaks in the Algarve would be inaccessible without a 4WD and local knowledge of the area,” explained Toby as they bumped along one of the many coast roads that lead to miles of deserted beaches and hidden coves. The first day the surf was only small but with warm water and blue skies, the girls were in a true surfer’s paradise. “We were in the water with just a few locals and we all had big grins on our faces. The sun was shining and I thought, ‘Yeah, this is what surfing’s all about,’” remembers Gemma.

“We’re here to make your stay as wave-rich and hassle- free as possible”, says Toby. The package includes half- board, transportation, equipment hire and tuition. And in Lagos, with its heady mix of bars and restaurants, the fun doesn’t need to stop when the sun goes down.

After five days exploration the girls finally decided to have an afternoon away from the breakers and sample some off-roading with a difference. “One day the surf was small so the guys packed us all up on horses and we headed for the hills”, says Sarah. “It was so quiet and so beautiful.” “The guys are always keen to get you in the water and get you pumped about your next surf,” enthuses Gemma. “At the end of each session Dave gave us feedback, which is great because with surfing you never stop learning. It’s like having your own personal coach.” From this summer onwards, The Surf Experience will be running ‘Girls Only’ surf weeks to allow female surfers of all levels the chance to get together and enjoy the excitement of a true European ‘surfari’ experience. www.surf-experience.com.

If you’d rather soak up the atmosphere than hit the water then the Rip Curl Newquay Boardmasters is the place to be. The largest surf festival in the UK takes place from 26th July to 3rd August and is set against the backdrop of beach parties, DJs and skate demos. Some of the hottest male and female surfers from across the globe battle it out on the UK’s most famous waves for over $100,000 in prize money.

By contrast, the North East is one of the least public surf communities in the UK. Newcastle has produced two national champions, Gabe Davies and Sam Lamiroy, and with water temperatures that can dip below 4 degrees in the winter, it’s not a place for the faint hearted. But if you fancy trading Newcastle brown for a spot of the black stuff, then a trip across the Irish sea will open a whole new realm of wave-riding possibilities. With a dramatic and rocky shoreline pounded by Atlantic swells, Ireland is an ideal fly/drive destination. Touching down in Belfast, it’s an easy hop over the border to the coastal surf Mecca of Bundoran, site of the 2001 World Masters Surfing Championships. To the north lie miles of unexplored coastline with serious wave potential, while to the south are the world-famous spots of Easky and Spanish Point. Irish surf is among the best in Europe, and with legendary hospitality it’s easy to see why Ireland’s tops for many surfers.

When it comes to rugged beauty and real Celtic hardiness, nothing can beat Britain’s very own Scottish ‘North Shore’ and Inverness provides perfect access to epic waves and countless empty, sandy beaches. Thurso is the traditional staging post for trips to the historic Orkneys and home to a world-class surf break, ridden by a few hardy locals and intrepid travellers. With its non-stop daylight around the longest day, it seems that the surfer’s dream of the ‘Endless Summer’ is actually closer than we thought. So now there’s no excuse. With a whole continent of wave rich destinations to chose from, whatever your ability, make sure you take part in this year’s Summer of Surf.

If glamour is more your style, head for the city of all night parties, Spanish passion and cutting-edge art. The gateway to two coastlines, two countries and two very different experiences, Bilbao is the perfect base to combine surfing with culture. The architectural curves of the Guggenheim Museum contrast starkly with the natural beauty of the surrounding Basque Country. To the north, leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind, lies Europe’s premier left-hand wave, Mundaka, whose sleepy village is brought to life each October by the world’s surfers who gather to compete in one of the continent’s most auspicious competitions.

Just across the border in France lies the historic grandeur and glamour of Biarritz, home to some of the finest boutiques and best breaks in Europe. Here the beaches are as well-groomed as the people, and surf spots with names like ‘Chambre D’Amour’ and ‘Cavaliers’ evoke images of passion and adventure. “There is something really special about sitting outside the Milk Bar on the seafront next to the casino, sipping a cappuccino and watching the world’s best surfers do battle,” says Cornish Champion Sarah Bentley. “It’s not what people expect when they think of surfing.

Today’s top surfers are professional athletes with jet-set lifestyles.” In July, the world’s best surfers descend for the Biarritz Surf Festival. Although England is blessed with miles and miles of wave- rich coastline, Newquay is still considered the surf capital of the UK. Easily accessible from both London and Bristol, not only does it boast a lively social surf scene, it also has the highest number of surf shops per square mile in Europe. Home to the British Surfing Association’s (BSA) National Surfing Centre and with some of the warmest water in the country, it is also the ideal place for lessons. On August 9th and 10th the ‘Roxy Surf Now European Tour’ will hit Fistral beach in a wave of flowered bikinis, bleached hair and toned limbs. With a legion of international female surfers, including Sarah and Gemma, the tour aims to encourage girls of all ages to take to the water. There are lessons and demos and a chance to hang out with some of the sport’s legends.

WHEN IT COMES TO RUGGED BEAUTY AND REAL CELTIC HARDINESS, NOTHING CAN BEAT BRITAIN’S VERY OWN SCOTTISH ‘NORTH SHORE’ AND INVERNESS PROVIDES PERFECT ACCESS TO EPIC WAVES AND COUNTLESS EMPTY, SANDY BEACHES.

KEY UK DATES FOR YOUR SURF DIARY

• July 26th-Aug 3rd Rip Curl Newquay Board Masters
• Newquay, Cornwall Aug 8th-10th Surfers Against Sewage Cornish & Open
• Porthtowan, Cornwall Aug 30th-31st British Cup
• Croyde, Devon Sept 27th-28th Headworx/Voo Doo Dolls Scottish Open
• Thurso, Scotland Oct 11th-12th Headworx/Voo Doo Dolls Welsh Open
• Langland Bay, Wales Oct 17th-19th British National Championships
• Newquay, Cornwall Nov 1st-2nd Headworx/Voo Doo Dolls N.East Open
• Cayton Bay, Yorkshire Nov 8th-9th Headworx/Voo Doo Dolls N.Devon Open Croyde, Devon

To find out more about surfing in the UK, including events and courses check out the BSA’s website: www.britsurf.co.uk

KEY EUROPEAN DATES FOR YOUR SURF DIARY

• Spain Aug 4th-10th O’Neill Surf Challenge
• Cavaliers, France Aug 10th-17th Orange Lacanau Pro
• Lacanau, France Aug 16th-24th Rip Curl Pro
• Hossegor, France Aug 26th-31st Ericeira Surf Classic
• Ericeira, Portugal Sept 4th-7th Ferrol Terra Pantin Classic
• Pantin, Spain Sept 17th-28th Figueira Pro
• Figueira de Foz, Portugal Sept 30th-Oct 11th Quiksilver/Roxy Pro South West Coast,
• France Oct 12th-24th Billabong Pro Mundaka,

To keep up to date with surfing in Europe and the rest of the world check out the website: www.surfersvillage.com

Demi Taylor’s new book ‘How to be a Surfer’ is out now, published by Puffin. Apart from writing this feature, Demi has contributed to Adrenalin, Time Out, The Surfer’s Path and Reload (NL).