Author Archives: hollybeck27

Australia 2008 – Contest Craziness

Posted on March 7, 2008 by hollybeck27

I showed up in Coolangatta, Australia on Febuary 22nd. After a rocky two months at home, intermittently happily soaking in the feel of familiar sand through 2mm thick rubber booties, and wishing I was anywhere else, I finally found myself … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Bearback Challenge

Posted on February 9, 2008 by hollybeck27

I remember thinking, “so this is what it would feel like to die of hypothermia.” I was surprised that I didn’t actually feel cold. I expected something along the lines of a full-body ice cream headache, a sudden crippling all-over … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Home

Posted on January 5, 2008 by hollybeck27

Everywhere I go I try to soak in the feeling of the place. I want to talk to the people, feel the sand, notice the difference in smell between an offshore wind and an onshore breeze, taste the food, drink … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Diving with a Whale Shark!

Posted on October 8, 2007 by hollybeck27

Pro surfer, Alex Gray, pro wakeboarder Jeff McKee, and myself, hanging out on the boat in La Paz, Mexico. photo: Justin Lewis We were told it would look like a bus, an underwater bus steaming ahead at an average speed … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

Mutual Understanding In the Indian Ocean

Posted on September 18, 2007 by hollybeck27

My boyfriend Ryan is not a pro surfer. He’s a mechanical engineer, designing helicopters for Robinson Helicopter Company in Torrance, CA. He does surf of course, but since he spends 40+ hours a week locked down behind a computer screen, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Surf or Dive

Posted on June 15, 2007 by hollybeck27

photo: Ty Sawyer photo: Ty Sawyer Looking out the window on the descent from 30,000ft at the view of a smooth ocean without the usual thick reef cover of white wash, indicating wave action, I was overcome by a mixture … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Surfing Exchange Program in West Africa

Posted on May 29, 2007 by hollybeck27

One time in Sao Tome, I offered to paddle a village boy into a wave. He was probably only ten years old, and when I waved him over he left his cheering buddies in the shore break and eagerly dog … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | 11 Comments

Passing the Torch in Panama

Posted on May 18, 2007 by hollybeck27

Photo: Jon Steele The best part of traveling is experiencing interesting situations with the people around you. There is no better way to get to know someone than to embark upon a journey together. Usually within the first couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | 1 Comment

Surf ADVENTURE in Nicaragua

Posted on April 13, 2007 by hollybeck27

Surf adventures aren’t supposed to be easy. You really shouldn’t show up with everything planned, get through customs, find the smiling uniformed hotel employee with a sign bearing your name, and then hop in a shuttle to the 4 star … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Surf Life Nicaragua | 4 Comments

One Girl, Eight Boys, and “I could live here” Times Three

Posted on February 9, 2007 by hollybeck27

&nbsp Standing in line at the Air New Zealand check-in area at Los Angeles International Airport, I looked down at the huge rolling duffel bag resting at my feet and the massive board-bag completely blocking the aisle behind me, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories | 5 Comments