World champ and Surfrider Foundation ambassador Stephanie Gilmore hops planes between the best surf breaks on the planet for a living. Alex Pasquariello snagged some tips for Jetsetter.com

What advice do you have for novice surfers?
Start on a thicker longboard so it’s easier to stand up and feel the motion of the wave. Surf a beach with small, rolling waves at first and don’t be scared to go across a wave instead of straight down it - the face of the wave is a lot easier to ride than the white wash. And above all, have fun! 

Do you have favorite waves?
So many. My home break of Snapper Rocks off of Rainbow Bay on the southern end of Queensland, on Australia’s Gold Coast. Farther south, the beaches of northern New South Wales are also insanely beautiful. And Honolua Bay, Maui, and P Pass, Micronesia. The rest are secret!

Where have you eaten well on the road?
I went fishing with chef Ludo Lefebvre off Hawaii’s Big Island recently, and he took me to his pop-up restaurant, LudoBites Nine-O at Four Seasons Hualalani to cook up the catch. I have never tasted anything like it. I still can’t decide which was best - the just-caught lobster with caramelized pineapple or the vanilla bean panna cotta with black caviar and caramel sauce.

Tell us about your work with Surfrider Foundation
We’re mistreating our oceans, and Surfrider Foundation is at the forefront of the effort to educate people about it, and I’m honored to be part of it. We have 120 events taking place in more than 20 countries for International Surfing Day on June 20; check out the Surfrider Foundation website to see if there are any events at your beach.

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I’ve got a goal this year… to be a badass on a board. And before I go get suited up on the slopes, I’ll attempt to master the high seas with SurfSET Fitness. SurfSET classes train muscular strength, endurance and explosive power, while increasing balance, agility and aerobic conditioning - on a board. The paddling component of SurfSET builds in both cardio and resistance exercise that mimics the motions of surfing so you can train and tone at the same time. Yes I know, there are no photos of me mid-workout… it was not a pretty site. But you know what was a pretty site? The babes behind the boards (No I’m serious the dudes are hot). Duck-dive and pop-up with SurfSET fitness - you might score a rocking bod, and a boy to boot too… 

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oundup of my favorite things this week….
The hottest hot spots, Kelly Slater’s surfin’ style and still treasures
Follow it, don’t judge it….

Hotels. 1st Annual Jetsetter Hot Spots.
Starting this week, we’ll unveil one Jetsetter-verified new Hot Spot every day, right here, for the next three weeks. What are Hot Spots? They’re the places everyone’s talking about, or soon will be — the new and newly buzz-worthy. The fact is, hardly a day goes by at Jetsetter that someone doesn’t turn us on to something worthy of this list. A correspondent returns from abroad with news of an emerging foodie scene. A longtime favorite hotelier breaks open a new location. New spa trends, wild designs, uncharted adventures. Hot Spots all. Bookmark them — and clear your calendar for travel.

Keepsake. Still Treasures.
I travel… a lot. And with every new country is a new city, and with every new city is a new memory, and with every new memory, is a keepsake. From masks in Africa to tea in Tokyo, it’s hard to pass up a piece of my experience, especially one I can hold in my hand. Hence, the idea behind Still Treasures. Created by Brian Marcus, photographer extraordinare (and a member of the Marcus clan who most likely photographed your parents wedding), Still Treasures captures still objects, with stories to tell. So while you might outgrow that Elmo, you will never outgrow that killer piece of art.

Surf. Kelly Slater’s Top Picks.
“He’s in surf-brotastic time,” explained Kelly Slater’s publicist the other day. “Surfing his brains out.” This was about two weeks ago, right around the time we were hoping to talk to him about his favorite surf destinations. Slater had apparently heard that the waves in Fiji were going off, and had dropped everything to get there, not to surface for days. Such is life when you’re the ten-time World Surfing Champion. When he’s not surfing, the Quiksilver-sponsored athlete and obsessive traveler also runs the Kelly Slater Foundation, which supports social and environmentally minded charities, and plays golf all around the world. We did finally get in touch with Slater, and he shared his picks for great surf trips… starting with, of course, Fiji. Seethe full list here and gear up with Gilt and Quiksilver.

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oundup of my favorite things this week… follow it, don’t judge it

Safari. Shamwari Game Reserve.

The guestbook at the 49,000-acre Shamwari Game Reserve boasts a review from Brad Pitt: “The people are as fantastic as the animals majestic. Enjoyed the food chain. Many thanks.” Celebrity clients aside, Shamwari is famous for being one of South Africa’s most successful private conservation initiatives, a shining example of how responsible tourism can make a difference. This combination of romantic eco-tourism and conservation is what makes a Shamwari stay so special. Booking into one of the five-star lodges feels positively philanthropic. After all, if you’re going to invest in a safari, why not help out a feline friend or pachyderm family in the process?

Do yourself (and someone else) a favor and head to Shamwari with Jetsetter.com

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oundup of my favorite things this week…. follow it, don’t judge it.

Experience. Safari Surf School.
Channel your inner surfer with this escape at a remote coastal retreat along the Pacific in Nosara, Costa Rica (about 155 miles west of San Jose). Stay at the Balinese-inspired luxury hotel L’acqua Viva Resort & Spa and get twice-daily surfing lessons from a local shredder, yoga classes, an ATV rental, massages and more. Known for its wellness vibe and jungle surroundings, Nosara is a true surfers haven, too. The beach here is perfect for learning with shallow water and consistently curling swells. It’s Costa Rica’s pura vida — the pure life — defined.

Shoot the curl at Safari Surf School on Jetsetter.com!

Concept. Swoosh Experiences.
When you are Nike, you just do it. There’s absolutely no point being timid or ordinary. You blaze trails, create trends and draw attention – which is exactly what they’re thinking at The Cool Hunter: Access. This global agency is creating some seriously killer concepts to help spread the swoosh (as if they need help…): a swoosh-shaped Nike Extreme Toboggan Ride – a toboggan slide shaped like the swoosh, and of course, the toboggans themselves are shaped like swooshes too,  a Swoosh Slide and Hot Air Balloon… just to name a few low-key thoughts.

Event. Hester Street Fair.
Hester Street Fair, located in a beautiful park setting, was once home to New York City’s largest and oldest pushcart markets. At the turn of the century, Hester Street was the site of the busiest outdoor market in New York City: 

“There is hardly a square foot of ground in Hester Street that is not covered with people during the day. The whole place seems to be in a state of perpetual motion, and the occasional visitor is apt to have a feeling of giddiness.” NY Times, July 27, 1895.

Today, the Hester Street Fair focuses on curated local goods, vintage garb and food. Suchin Pak (um, love her) and brother Suyhun, Adam Zeller, and architect Ron Castellano are behind the event… and to top it all off, NYMag. and Grub Street will be there to make sure their guests are well fed. 

Be there or be square - Hester Street Fair opens this Saturday from 10 - 6pm!  

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Hurricane Earl, North Carolina via @NYTimes
September 2, 2010
#surf #hurricane #earl #weather #thrillseekers