Tag Archives: surf

Tips for Watch and Jewellery Care for Surf and Sea Holidays

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anouska jewelleryWhether you’re planning to hit the beaches in the UK or abroad this year for some sun and sea, be sure to take care of your watches and jewellery.

WatchShop.com, provides tips on buying a watch for sea holidays as well as taking care of it and precious jewellery you may take as well.

“As you leave for holiday, be sure your hotel has a safe or in-room safe for any jewellery you may want to leave behind before heading to the beach” suggests Terry Markham of WatchShop.com. “This is especially important for high value items or even those that hold sentimental value.”

1. When choosing a watch to take to the beach, be prepared for it to be used, and used well. Make sure it is durable and tough enough to handle what you plan to do with it.

2. Sun and salt is a bad combo for anything except a tan, so choose a watch that might not fade, coloured watches can fade or can change colour slightly. This adds character in some minds, but not all, so be mindful when you buy it.

3. When buying or taking a watch you already own to water-related destination, be sure they are either water proof when submerged or at least water resistant.

4. If you’re planning to swim a lot or dive, be sure you choose a watch that is water proof to at least 5 bar (marked 50m) or higher.

Terry Markham of WatchShop.com says, “A watch can look good, but if it is full of water and doesn’t work, it is just a fancy bracelet”.

Caring for your watch and jewellery at the beach

· If you do swim with your watch, ensure the crown is pushed in fully, screwed down if the watch has this function. Don’t try to use the chronograph while the watch is wet as water can get into the pusher mechanism and enter the watch.

· If your watch does get soaked in the sea, wash it off with clean water, as prolonged exposure to sea water can damage cases and bracelets, and can affect gaskets and seals making the watch lose its water resistance.

· Try to keep all watches and jewellery out of direct sun, especially leaving on a hot surface such as a table for hours on end. Watch dials end up being faded and warp from the heat, and oils within the watch may dry up and stop lubricating delicate components.

· Try to keep leather straps dry, and keep out of water. Leather straps can cause sweat to permeate the strap leaving it salty and horrid, and water will eventually weaken the leather.

· Make sure your watch and bracelets are loose when worn in hot countries to allow the skin to breathe. This will help reduce skin rashes caused by heat.

· Don’t wear your watch or jewellery while applying sunscreen. On watches it can penetrate any leather straps and make them feel very uncomfortable, as well as discolouring stones on the case. Chemicals can also impact on the water resistance.

· If you have had the battery changed in your watch changed recently, make sure the watch is resealed to the correct pressure rating, so it performs best when you need it to.

· Make sure you don’t damage the watch when diving or doing any other high impact sports. This can lead to the watch performing terribly.

 

 

Five Times ASP World Champion Stephanie Gilmore Joins Roxy Surf Team

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Roxy announces five-time Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Champion surfer, Stephanie Gilmore, is joining the ROXY Surf Team. ROXY, the world’s first and leading active board lifestyle brand for women and girls, has a long history of being a pioneering force within female action sports. Stephanie is a natural fit for the ROXY brand – a world-class, trailblazing athlete, who is the only surfer to ever have won a world title in her rookie year.

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Stephanie Gilmore, 25, was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia. She was awarded ASP World Champion Titles in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Additional victories include three Hawaiian Triple Crown wins in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2011, she also won the prestigious ESPY Award, Female Action Sports Person of the Year, and was awarded the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year in 2010.

Stephanie’s move to the ROXY team is a natural transition for her. She has long admired ROXY’s position as both a leader and pioneer within women’s surfing. Of the announcement, Stephanie stated, “ROXY epitomizes the image and lifestyle I live, both in and out of competition. I’m excited to join forces with such an iconic brand during this powerful time in female surfing.”

 

Win £500 Surfdome.com Voucher.

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Europe’s fastest growing lifestyle department store, Surfdome.com, celebrates the launch of its 700th brand with a massive voucher giveaway.

Born out of a passion for surf, skate, wake and snowboarding, Surfdome.com was launched six years ago, and has grown into an international online department store stocking 700 of the world’s best Lifestyle, Fashion, Outdoor and Sports brands. Surfdome.com currently has 36 departments and over 20,000 product lines, catering for everyone from trend-hunting teens to tiny tots and active adults.

Setting Surfdome apart from other lifestyle retailers is their level of experience within the industry, their award winning customer service, and the fact that they can offer expert advice on hardware and equipment, ensuring customers are buying the best for their active lifestyle pursuits. With an iPhone shopping app, free shipping and next day delivery available, Surfdome is a one-stop-shop for everything from snowboards to sandals.

To celebrate reaching 700 brands, Surfdome.com are giving away a total of £2,000 worth of vouchers, with one winner being gifted a £500 voucher every week throughout July. To be in with a chance of winning, upload a video of yourself talking about your favourite brand at Surfdome.com. With 700 street, sport and fashion brands, including the likes of Cheap Monday, Gravis, Boxfresh, Hurley, Volcom, Roxy, Animal, Converse, Eastpak, Diesel, and French Connection, you’re spoilt for choice!

Check out Surfdome.com’s full brand list here: http://www.surfdome.com/brandpage, choose your favourite brand, and create a video about it that is no more than 2 minutes long, and upload it here: http://www.surfdome.com/pages/comp_700brands – fashion, surf, skate or snow – Surfdome want to know about the brands you love.

For more information visit: www.surfdome.com, become a fan on Facebook for all the latest product and sales offers: http://www.facebook.com/surfdome or follow on Twitter @Surfdome.

Odonis Odonis: “Are We Friends?” | Music News

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Toronto “surf-gazers” Odonis Odonis have announced their new single is to be ‘Are We Friends?’ and will be released on 23rd July. Things are currently going swimmingly for the band, with current single ‘Busted Lip’ John Kennedy’s Record Of The Week on XFM. The band are also in the UK over the next couple of weeks to play the Camden Crawl and the Great Escape festival. The band are also giving away a free copy of their track “Mr Smith” which you can download here.

Top five active ways to enjoy winter sun in the western Algarve

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UK holidaymakers planning for a warm long weekend should look no further than the western Algarve this winter. With average temperatures of 19-22 degrees Celsius (66-72 Fahrenheit), quieter beaches and coastal walks, visitors can get to grips with the real Algarve away from the summer’s tourist season.

Cycle

Rugged landscape and crystal clear waters define the Algarve away from the golf courses. The head winds often mean challenging cycling but it will reap rewards. Many hotels have on-site bikes for use by guests, although you can also visit Algarve Bike Hire, which rents bikes out for up to 15 days, with the lowest-spec bike available for 10 euro per day, or 90 euro for the full 15. Child seats are available, all equipment, including helmets, can be delivered to your hotel for free if based between Albufeira and Carvoeiro. Cycle the rewarding 10km route west along the coastal road from Carvoeiro to the village of Ferragudo, packed with small restaurants serving fresh fish overlooking its golden beach.

Surf

The Atlantic coast provides consistent waves for surfing, with the best spots found to the west of the Algarve, where plenty of established surfing schools hold expert knowledge of the secluded beaches and perfect waves for beginners. The Algarve Watersport School offers a ‘Surfari’ daytrip which picks up learners from their hotel if in a group of four or more. Prices and dates depend on location, but pickups include Lagos, Carvoeiro and Portimao and prices start at 55 euro.

Ride

The warm Autumnal weather provides good horse riding conditions and spectacular views of the rolling western Algarve terrain. There are a number of riding schools that cater for beginners through to experienced riders. Tiffany’s Riding School, located 7km west of the town of Lagos, provides a three-hour Adventure Tour (140 euro per person) against the backdrop of the Monchique Mountains, well-known for their abundance of pine and eucalyptus trees. Quinta da Bica riding school, located 16km from the medieval town of Silves, provides private, 30 minute riding lessons for 20 euro. The school also has quad biking treks for those more interested in four-wheeled fun.

Kayak

As a low impact but high return exercise, Kayaking is a gentle activity for both children and adults that provides access to little-known inlets and coves teeming with wildlife along the Algarve coast. Algarve Kayak Tours and The Kayak Centre take participants aged seven and upwards on two – three hour kayak tours departing from Lagos beach. Discover the colourful rock formations known as the “Algarves”, the famous grottos and caves of Ponta da Piedade or the Alvor laguna. Places available from 20 euro.

Golf

With access to a myriad of golf courses, visitors to the Algarve can be sure they will never be located too far from somewhere to tee off. Late autumn through to late spring is the peak season for golfers in the Algarve, largely due to the warm weather on offer minus the sweltering sun. Great deals can be found, and often the courses will remain quiet, provided you choose wisely. The western Algarve tends to be quieter, Carvoeiro is home to three golf courses, Vale de Milho is more informal, charging 30 euro green fee and is suited to beginners requiring only knowledge of golfing etiquette. The Gramacho and Pinta, 18 hole courses within 3 kilometres of Carvoeiro, accommodate holidaying golfers for approximately 90 euro per round.

Use Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa as your base

Stay at the luxury 5* Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa, five minutes from Carvoeiro and a 40 minute transfer from Faro airport and use it as your base to enjoy an active outdoor break. The resort offers self-catering apartments alongside its hotel, ensuring it can adapt to all holiday requirements.

Set within 20 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the resort offers all the facilities expected in a 5* environment. Relax in the resort spa with a vast range of beauty and wellbeing treatments and a steam bath, or get active with the two tennis courts, two outdoor swimming pools (one for adults, one for children) and a Health Club featuring a heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and gymnasium.

The resort comprises of 80 spacious one and two-bedroom family suites, 2 suites and 22 elegant hotel rooms, equipped with high standard quality, all at your disposal to make sure your holidays in Carvoeiro will be unforgettable.

Activities at Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa include the Cycling Social Ride, every Saturday at 11:00, groups up to 10, can enjoy a leisurely bike ride to Ferragudo free of charge. Guests can also participate in a Canoeing Expedition at the nearby Adrade river side spot of Fontes de Estombar, every Saturday at high tide, for 20 euros per person.