Sport & Fitness

Girls only
Surfing has never been so popular and women are really powering the trend. According to Frances Carter, instructor at Hibiscus Surf School in Newquay, girl riders make up 40 per cent of new converts. Whether you’re a complete novice or out to improve your cutbacks, there are surf holidays around the world geared up for girls.

Girlie Camps is the brainchild of Marika Borg, who was fed up with the snowboarding slopes of Europe being awash with testosterone. She decided it was time to make way for some feminine moves and, from women-only snowboarding camps, the repertoire has expanded to include free-skiing, skateboarding and surfing. There are ten surf camps held on the continent throughout the summer and each one gets booked up faster than you can zip up your board bag. I was seduced by the Ireland camp. Feature continues

Lahinch may not have the glamour of Biarritz or Viareggio, nor the African sunshine of Oualidia. But it does have the waves – and the craic. The mile-long beach, which can bring in double overhead swells from the Atlantic, has breaks suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced surfers. And once you’re sucked in tight to your wetsuit, you don’t even notice the chill. Besides, you’ve more important things to focus on, such as the relentless march of the waves that come crashing into the shore, churning you up with them. The key is to be calm and focused.

On my trip in early autumn we got in the sea up to three times a day. My surfing probably should have improved, but though I was consistently making it out to the line-up and catching the green water, I was also burning the candle at both ends. If you’re considering Girlie Camp, expect to party. Surfing may be the best cure for a hangover, but there’s a limit to how many times you can put it to the test.

Needless to say, there were tears. I was not the only one. Fatigue, red wine and 30 new best friends saw to that. Looking back, London entrepreneur Rosyln Cassidy, the elder of the camp at 48, said: ‘A lot of special bonds were made during the week… When I got home I cried at the thought of all those women coming together to share the experience of being bashed about by the elements.’

Girlie Camps (0033 558 41 73 79/ www.girliecamps.com) cost from around £400 per week including tuition and accommodation. Flights not included.