The Double-Up

For the first episode in our new Critical Conversation series Shan & Rach catch up with Isabella Nichols.

As the only rookie in the women's field of the WSL Championship Tour during the most turbulent era of modern surfing, the former World Junior Champion had to learn the intense dynamics of tour life with constantly shifting expectations. Rising to the challenge, she managed a runner-up finish in the second event of the season, requalified in the top 9 of the CT at year's end, and locked in her position for 2022.

Bella shares with us some of the perspectives she's gained through her competitive career so far, her goals for the 2022 season, preparation on the North Shore and thoughts on the new CT lineup.

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

We may have taken a break over the holidays, but the North Shore surf season kicked on strong. While there has been plenty of incredible moments from women on the North Shore over the past decade, 2022 has brought a tidal wave of action, unseen in over a decade, that is continuing to gain momentum heading into the first events of the WSL Championship Tour later in the month.

We look into the highlights of all that action before taking a hypothetical look at the options for the WSL should Caity Simmers choose to forego her position on the Championship Tour and check out some forthcoming surf camp action from many parts of the globe.

Chapters
00:00 - Happy New Year!
09:41 - Women reclaim the North Shore
35:13 - What happens if Caity Simmers gives up her spot?
47:08 - Surf camps kick off

Go Deeper
Sign-Up: Keely Andrew, Women + Waves, Moore Aloha
Follow: Moana Wong

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

This week Shan and Rach are all about wrapping things up for the year. The Haleiwa Challenger, the Championship Tour class of 2022, the Nazare Challenge and the ISA World Para Surfing Championship are all tied in a neat little bow, before checking in for Post Heats with not one, not two, but three different surfers. Shan catches up with Liv Stone and Marta Paço after their gold medal wins in Pismo Beach and our Latin American correspondent Ixa Marieta sits down with Peruvian Sol Aguirre in El Salvador after she claimed the 2021 ALAS Pro Tour trophy.

It will be the final episode for 2021, which is fitting, considering it's our 21st episode, but we will be back in 2022 with a whole lot more from the wonderful world of women's surfing!

Chapters
00:00 - Intro: Reading books with your ears
10:16 - Hot Topics: Haleiwa Wrap/CT Class of '22, Nazare Challenge, Para Surf World Champs
43:23 - Post-Heat: Sol Aguirre, Marta Poça, Liv Stone

Go Deeper
Watch: Jet-ski floater
Follow: Marta Paço

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

We’re in the thick of it this week as Shan is mid-event on the North Shore and Rach has finally reached the end of her jump-roping. The intro gets extended for some hilarious stories while Hot Topics shrinks to cover only the good stuff. We talk free-surfing greatness through Jaleesa Vincent’s new edit, the opening of the Northern Hemisphere’s big wave season (with slightly increased women’s participation) and go deep into the first day of women’s competition at Haleiwa, the final event of the Challenger Series, including standout performances from Sarah Baum and Bettylou Sakura Johnson, and also breakdown the qualification scenarios for the 2022 Championship Tour.
 
Chapters
00:00 - Intro: Ranch beans for all
17:29 - Hot Topics: Haleiwa Update, Jaleesa Vincent gets Eerie and the Big Wave Season is upon us

Go Deeper
Watch: Jaleesa Vincent in Eerie, Sarah Baum goes upside down, Bettylou Sakura Johnson dominates

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

Maybe one day we’ll be able to spend less time discussing equality in surfing, however we are not there yet. Front and center this week is a conversation around an air show that was announced for the NSSA Nationals in California. We also check out an epic new edit from Erin Brooks, chat with Laura Day, the host of fellow women’s surfing podcast Confessions of a Surf Lady, about a new venture she is launching, before previewing the upcoming Haleiwa Challenger event including Shan and Rach’s picks for who will win and who will qualify. Finally Jess Grimwood takes us to the Saquarema Surf Festival.
 
 Chapters
00:00 - Intro: Stingrays only strike once per decade
09:23 - Hot Topics: NSSA Nationals, Erin Brooks, The Surf Société, Haleiwa Challenger preview and picks
51:40 - The Grind: Jess Grimwood checks in with the Saquarema Surf Festival

Go Deeper
Watch: No Hesitation
Join: The Surf Société

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

The topics are diverse this week as we cover the latest edit from Vans - an all-woman affair affectionately curated by Lee-Ann Curren, take a deeper look into some comments from Steph Gilmore in a Joyce Magazine article, check in on the Saquarema Surf Festival and the Rip Curl GromSearch US national final, catch up with Selena Morgan, director of the Women's Surf Festival happening this weekend on Australia's Gold Coast, and finally hop on the Grind with Jess Grimwood for an update all things Qualifying Series.

Chapters
00:00 - Intro: Jump-roping 50 States
10:45 - Hot Topics: Cadavre Exquis, Saquarema Surf Festival, Rip Curl GromSearch, Airs vs Barrels & Rail, Women's Surf Festival
44:01 - The Grind: Jess Grimwood gives us a full Regional QS update

Go Deeper
Watch: Cadavre Exquis
Read: Steph Gilmore in Joyce
Attend: Women's Surf Festival

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

Gabriela Bryan and India Robinson have had extremely similar surfing trajectories so far, so it's no surprise that they ended up becoming great friends despite living in very different parts of the world.

On this week's episode Shan & Rach catch up with the the two powerhouse surfers as they begin their North Shore training to discuss their competitive careers so far, current Challenger Series campaigns and the future of women's surfing.

They also delve into this week's Hot Topics, including Chesney Guinotte, Mafalda Lopes, Courtney Conlogue and a brief conclusion to the epic saga of the no double qualifier rule.

Chapters
00:00 - Intro: The Queen of India
06:20 - Hot Topics:  Chesney Guinotte, Mafalda Lopes, Courtney Conlogue, double qualifier conclusion
34:36 - Main Discussion: Gabriela Bryan & India Robinson Interview 

Go Deeper
Watch: Chesney Guinotte Waimea, Mafalda Lopes 10-point Ride
Read: WSL Retracts Its New Double Qualifier Rule

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

A full range of topics are on the cards this week as we take on the Red Bull Big Wave Awards, the Yeti Australian Online Junior Championships, an array of new French National Champs and celebrate one new mother as well as a mother-to-be.

We also chat with Jemima Robinson, founder of the She Surfs Film Tour which will hit the road in Australia next week, and catch up with Jess Grimwood on The Grind for an update from the Azores.

Chapters
00:00 - Intro: The Halloween Grinch
10:44 - Hot Topics: Big Wave Awards, Australian Juniors, New Moms, French Champs and the She Surfs Film Tour
42:50 - The Grind: Jess Grimwood gives us an update from the Azores

Go Deeper
Learn More: She Surfs Film Tour

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

We’re keeping it simple this week, with many different conversations lined up for the coming weeks, Shan & Rach exclusively cover the top news from the world of women’s surfing before receiving a wrap of the Roxy Pro France from Jess Grimwood on The Grind.

Starting with Morgan Maassen’s rumination on the Fierro sisters and their Tahitian island paradise in ‘Goddesses’, the two quickly switch gears into Bela Nalu’s latest edit, dissect Nanaho Tsuzski’s backside air antics and once again dive deep into Challenger Series news, rankings and results. Last but not least they check back in on the latest in the ongoing double qualifier saga.

Chapters
00:00 - Intro: South Dakota and Matthew McConaughey
4:57 - Hot Topics: Fierro Family, Bela Nalu, Nanaho Tsuzuki, Challenger Series update and the continuing double qualifier saga
36:56 - The Grind: Jess Grimwood updates us on the Roxy Pro France and the Challenger Series so far

Go Deeper
Watch: Godesses, This Girl Will Go, Nanaho Tsuzuki

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net

The Jeep Malibu Classic ran its course last week in mostly amazing conditions, crowning two world champs, along with a first time Longboard Tour event winner in Alice Lemoigne

Rach and Shan were once again on opposite sides of the world and the screen. In this week’s episode they break down the event from their differing perspectives, giving their insights, critiques and feedback.

For Hot Topics they follow on from last week's Challenger Series discussion, further delve into the double qualifier issue and the related 2022 WSL seasonal wildcards announcement, before hearing an update from Anat Lelior.

Jess Grimwood also joins for The Grind to update us on last week's action from Portugal and preview the current event in France.

Chapters
00:00 - Intro: Beach vs broadcast
5:08 - Hot Topics: Challenger Series, double qualifiers, WSL wildcards, Anat Lelior and longboard world champs crowned
40:49 - The Grind: Jess Grimwood recaps Ericeira and previews Hossegor
46:52 - Main Discussion: Jeep Malibu Classic

Info
Music: Dry Grass, courtesy of Body Type
Contact: [email protected]
Instagram: @the.double.up
Web: www.womensurf.net