In Between Waves

Almost anywhere along California's coast people can find decent waves to ride. For the surfers at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay is the place to be, right off of Highway One. Only a twenty minute drive from campus and guaranteed waves, sometimes small, sometimes big, sometimes good and sometimes only okay.

In Between Waves offers a glimpse into the feelings and adrenaline that comes from surfing as a female. All of the featured surfers are from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo. Photos and videos are shot in Morro Bay; near the rock, from the sand and at the iconic surf spot, "The Pit".

An average day of surf for Sophie Northcott, a junior grpahic design major at Cal Poly SLO. Northcott is one of the competitors for the Cal Poly SLO Surf Team and can often be found in between waves in Morro Bay.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> Graphic design junior Sophie Northcott finds herself along Highway 1 often, headed towards the waves of Morro Bay. Northcott has been surfing since the age of ten, inspired by her competitive instincts with her older brother. She now competes for the Cal Poly SLO Surf Team in San Luis Obispo, California.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> With the balance of work, school and life in general, Northcott finds it more difficult than in her past two years to find time for the ocean. She tries to go out in the waves a few times a week and if '[she] can’t go at least once [she] goes crazy' she says.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br><br> Friends and teammates of Northcott, kinesiology sophomore Sidney Johnson, left, and environmental management and protection Marissa Miller, right, try to go surfing at Morro Bay often and in between classes. Johnson says that the 'perfect wave has both speed and power;' though Morro Bay doesn’t always meet that criteria, they go because it’s the closest to campus and is always 'surfable'. As female surfers, they agree that they both feel the need to prove themselves in the water because of the male dominance but they enjoy being the minority because of the greater reward when they do something exceptionally well on a wave. 'Surfing is an art' Miller says, 'the best guys are artistic when they surf,' and 'there is a mix of male strength and girl expression'.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> Northcott states too, that females 'definitely have a different experience than men, just because there’s so few of [them] out in the water'. As a girl surfer she says that she can go out just about anywhere she wants, 'even the most localized spots and for the most part [she will] be welcomed, but on the other side of the card most male surfers don’t think that girls can surf and will take [the] waves or ruin [them] because they expect [her] to just fall off'. Girls who can prove themselves out in the water, both Northcott and the other two female surfers say, gives them a lot more credibility and impresses more people.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> Although Northcott surfs alone every so often, she says she prefers surfing with other people because it serves as a nice motivation having someone else around. Most of the time she and her friends will do their own thing once they’re in the water but if the conditions are bad it’s more of a comfort to know that is something bad were to happen, someone would be looking out for her.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> With a busy school workload Northcott can’t always surf when she wants to. She has to fit it into her weekends or weekdays at times that are most convenient. If it were her choice, she’d go during golden hour, just before sunset. 'The color of the sun setting through waves as they break is actually the best thing you will ever see' she claims.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br><br> Several of the surfers on the surf team prefer Morro Bay because of it’s quick route from San Luis Obispo. With a short drive up Santa Rosa street and onto Highway 1 it takes close to just twenty minutes from Cal Poly’s campus to get there, although Northcotts’ vintage red BMW takes longer. The sky and weather are unpredictable as is the quality of the waves, but for those whose hobby is to “shred” in the water, Morro bay always serves some reward.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br><br> Northcott began surfing at the age of ten but it wasn’t until the age of fourteen that she really got into the sport. Since then, she has been competing all around California and receiving top placements in the women’s shortboard division for competitions through organizations like NSSA, National Scholastic Surfing Association.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> Short boarding is Northcott’s surfing style of choice because it’s more entertaining and exciting for doing tricks on the waves. Longboarding, she says, is a bit more boring and feels as if she just stands there, not as productive as on her shortboard.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> While some people refer to land sports, swimming in a pool or running up mountains for stress relief, Northcott uses surfing mostly. She says that “it helps get out all kinds of pent up energy, it’s relaxing and at the same time is physical and challenging.” As far as an appreciation for the surfing environment and taking care of her mental health, 'nothing is more humbling then the sea'.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> Northcott’s surfing sessions can last anywhere between a half hour to a whole day depending on the conditions of the surf and her mental capacity or schedule. When the weather is right, the waves are rolling and her body is in need of fresh salt water, the ocean is the place to be.

The Pit in Morro Bay, CA- Oct 13, 2018 <br> <br> To the start or the end the day, Sophie Northcott can be found in the ocean when she has the time. If she isn’t busy with her graphic design, drawing molecular biology or climbing boulders, she is most likely on a surfboard at Morro Bay relieving stress or out for just the fun of it.

Choose any one of the images to hear how it feels to be out in the water as a female surfer. From left to right is competitor surfer for the Cal Poly SLO Surf Team, Kainani Gruspe, Lilija Jenks, a beginner surfer in the middle and to the right, competitor Emma Waldinger, also a part of the Cal Poly SLO Surf Team. (Click to play audio, double click to stop).

Footage of beginner surfer, Eleni Korogianos, Cal Poly junior civil engineer, catching waves in Morro Bay at sunrise. Korogianos talks about the intimidation and adrenaline that comes from being in the water as a self-learner.

Welcome

Sophie's Day of Surf

Female Voices

Learning to Surf

The Surf Industry for Females