We just received our first copy of Daughters of the sea magazine and we love it!
The magazine is filled with beautiful imagery, illustrations and contributions from cold water women in the UK, Wales and from across the pond. Its the perfect pick me up and makes you realise that there's so much more to it than just surfing, that you are part of a growing cold water community.
We wanted to ask founder Laura a few questions about how the magazine came to be:
---------------------------------------
Name: Laura Truelove Local break: Llangennith, Gower (Wales) Age: 27 Craft: Surfboard - 7ft Arno Egg
Founder Laura Truelove - photo Christina Baldwin
Whereabouts in Wales did you grow up?
I grew up in the Rhondda Valleys, so not close to the coast at all! As soon as I could drive, I spent all of my evenings and weekends at Rest Bay, Porthcawl, which was my closest spot.
When did you first fall in love with surfing?
My love for surfing began in Aberystwyth. I joined the Uni Surf Club here and loved surfing Borth and Ynyslas. I met my best friend and my first boyfriend through surfing here, and that’s when I became an Ocean Advocate and started volunteering for Surfers Against Sewage.
Are there any welsh surfers that inspire you?
Linda Sharp (The Only Girl in the Curl!) is a massive inspiration. But when I first started surfing, I always looked up to my friend Ally. She was fearless and absolutely ripped on a longboard. She pushed me to progress my surfing.
Laura surfing at home in Wales
You have recently published your first issue (Congratulations!) of Daughters of the sea, what inspired you to create a new magazine for women?
My friends and I who surf really felt like the surf media only likes to focus on the “bikini babe”. Freezing in the car park squeezing into on our 5mm, we just couldn’t relate. To me this is true dedication - so why does nobody want to write about it? Us cold water women are made of stern stuff and it’s about what we do and how we do it, not what we look like when we’re doing it. Daughters of the Sea is dedicated to all cold water wetsuit wearing women and I’m really proud we finally got the mag together and launched it.
In a growing digital world, were you nervous about launching a paper copy of the magazine?
In all honesty - no. It is a risk launching anything like this, but as a cold water surfer myself who loves to read things in hard copy, I knew others would feel the same way. This mag is something I really feel you can keep on your coffee table or in the back of the van and pick up time and time again, because the stories really are timeless.
What has been the response to the magazine so far?
The feedback from others about the contents, and the look and feel of the magazine, has been phenomenal. I was taking it all in my stride until someone told me their daughter (who features in the mag) was taking it to show and tell in school. I just burst into tears. That was the best thing I could have hoped for.
Issue #1 - Designed by Aline Arnold
Who is Daughters of the sea aimed at?
Daughters of the Sea is for, about and by cold water women and our allies. It’s mostly aimed at women who surf in the coldest parts of the world, but it’s also for anyone who wants to listen to our stories or appreciate our passion and dedication to the ocean. Men play a big part in changing the narrative around women’s surfing too, so I’m really pleased to feature male allies in the magazine and to also see men buying copies to show their support.
What's your favourite spot to surf in Wales?
I think my local, Llangennith, is my favourite. When I went to Bali, I remember surfing Bingin Beach, surrounded by monkey-ridden clifftops above and thinking “wow, this is so beautiful”. But when I returned to Wales and paddled out at Rhossilli, I knew the monkeys could never replace the sheep, and the Worm’s Head is by far the best backdrop to share a wave with.
Wales is known for being cold and sometimes wild through winter, what is your top winter survival tip?
A friend taught me this one - make a hot water bottle and wrap your changing robe/towel around it. When you come out, jump into your wetsuit bucket and empty the contents of your water bottle into it. It’ll help clean the sand off your boots and warm up your toes!
Laura also loves wild swimming
Describe how the ocean makes you feel in 3 words:
Peaceful, alive and small. Any other hobbies?
Aside from surfing and magazine making, I like to go cold water swimming too!
When can we expect issue #2?
The plan is to release an issue every winter - it kind of makes sense to do it annually since it is a winter focused mag. Who knows what’s next though. We’ll keep you in the loop!
We cant wait for issue #2!
A few words from Laura:
'I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who featured in Issue #001 of DOTS, including yourselves. It’s such an honour to be part of this worldwide community of cold water surfers and to be able to tell everyone’s stories through the magazine.'
Thank you so much, we hope you get some lovely waves this winter and congratulations, your magazine is going to inspire so many women and men to get out there and to enjoy the ocean!
Follow Daughters of the sea on Instagram or order your copy now!
Comments