BILLABONG GIRLS SURF CAPSULE COLLECTION

The Billabong Girls Surf Capsule is a true testament to how far women's surfing and surf fashion has come in the last few decades. Long gone are the days when broaching the water's edge required donning a boring black suit made of unflattering neoprene, which took 30 mins of tugging and hopping around in a public car park to put on.  

While professional female surfers still have to deal with poorer contest waves and smaller prize packets than the men, the women's surfing industry has still moved on leaps and bounds. In 2011 Carissa Moore became the first woman to receive a wildcard entry into the Men's Triple Crown of Surfing. Alana Blanchard has one of the biggest social followings of any professional surfer (perhaps influenced by the size of her bikini bottoms)- whether this is for the right reasons it has undoubtedly raised the profile of the women's WCT and the surf brands she associates with. In 2012 Steph Gilmore took her fifth world title, proving to surf groms worldwide that you can be the best surfer in the world as well as being fun, feminine and fashionable. 

Laura Enever showcases her Billabong Girls Capsule Collection wetsuits on instagram

With instagram bolstering the profile of many female surfers, fashion is starting to take centre stage. It is not just about performance in the water, this tide of fashionable, beautiful girls want to exercise their right to look and feel good while their doing it. As such we've seen the neoprene seal suits ditched it favour of more feminine cuts and a kaleidoscope of colours. And with high fashion houses such as Chanel, Diane Von Furstenburg and Cythia Rowley jumping on board too, women's surf fashion is making real waves. 

While surf brands, designers and high street chains jumpon board the neoprene inspired sports-fashion trend,the Billabong Girls Surf Capsule collection leads the way this year with its flattering, retro cuts, comfortable stretchy neoprene and 80s-inspired neon-pops. Their campaign features all our favourite Billabong Girls, such as Courtney Conlogue (check out my interview with Courtney Conlogue), Justine Dupont and new signing Laura Enever. 

Courtney Conlogue

Justine Dupont

Laura Enever

Having seen the girls test pilot the suits at last summer's Roxy Pro event, I was really stoked with all the careful time and effort that's gone into creating this fashionable surf collection. Proving fashion and functionality can work together, I won't be surprised to see them pop up across the fashion glossies this season.

Justine Dupont was wearing the Billabong Skinny Jane Wetsuit when I interviewed her in Biarritz last summer

Sunshine, Surf... money in the bank??

 The Great British Summer is such as tease! You spend the majority of the year wrapped up in woolies dreaming of hazy summer days, only to be presented with a fair share gale force winds, showers, chilly beach days and flat surf when the time comes. 

I've been back from a season in the Alps for a couple months now and although I was bombarded with updates of the heatwave back home while I was away (why do people always tell you how good home is when you go abroad??), my return has, predictably, gone hand-in-hand with the disappearance of said premature summer. And with last weeks predicted heatwave no-show, I'm expecting to have to wait more than a little longer for it's return...

Not your average day in Blighty

  For most the idea of actually living out that dream summer, whether in Cornwall or Costa Rica, is a wistful but financially costly one. Fortunatley I've had the chance to get my research on with several different companies from around the world and come up with some pretty cool temp jobs, at home and abroad, that will get your wallet by while you have the summer of your life. From teaching english, oudoor activities or lifeguarding, to working at surf camps and hostels, hopefully you can decide where you want to go and how to make it work. For my full article check out this months SurfGirl magazine section on how to work a surf season, combining good times, good waves and a pay cheque too! Hope you like it.