Calavera Glam Line Tested on the Lovely Long Waves of Matapalo

Previously, I told you that my neighbour (Benny) has fallen in love with her new Calavera Glam Line bikini - for more details on these take a look at the Surf Bikini Forum - Calavera post.

To prove her point (that these bikinis both look good and stay on), Benny sent me this link of her video on You Tube - see below.  During the last big south swell Benny took off down south in search of some long rides, and came up trumps in Matapalo on the Osa Pensinula, Costa Rica.

Captured on her Go Pro - see Benny enjoying the long point-break rides of Matapalo sporting her favorite new bikini!

You can see more videos from Benny and from Costa Rica Surf and SUP (the surf tours and surf camp business that she runs) at http://www.youtube.com/user/costaricasurfandsup?feature=watch

Check out the Costa Rica Surf and SUP website for more information on the tours and camps that they offer. 

I would love to hear from other girls out there who have a favorite, never-fails surf bikini - send in details and photos!

Surf Bikini Forum - Calavera

Evie surfing in purple Glam Line Calavera Bikini

 

This is the second installment of the Surf Bikini Forum, and this time we are talking about Calavera.  A lot of my friends have gone crazy for Calavera, but in particular the brand's Glam Line bikinis.

Just like the Tica Surf Bikinis (featured last week), these bikinis have been designed specifically with the surfer in mind.  As Anna Jerstrom, the founder of the Calavera brand tells us - the bikinis have been created to allow girls to focus on waves and not on wardrobe malfunctions. 

 
The Calavera brand actually came into being in Jaco, Costa Rica and all the initial prototypes were tried and tested in the heavy waves of Hermosa.  Now the brand is 100% developed and manufactured in the USA.

The designs are slick and stylish, using unique and edgy fabrics, and design elements to help the surfer girl keep her bikini on - some designs use velcro, there are various designs of tie tops which reduce stress on the neck and pull ties on the bottoms to ensure they stay in place.  You can mix and match top and bottoms to create your own style combination. 

Glam Line Bikini Top

 The Glam Line, as you would expect, is the most elegant and sophisticated design to date.  It comes in red, purple and black - all of which look great.  For the bottoms - you can choose between a fuller coverage hipsters, skimpy or string tie design. 

For me, the Calavera designs have just got better and better - so I am really looking forward to the new designs coming out in 2013.  For the moment though, the Glam Line is my favorite of the Calavera selection. 

Margriet surfing in black Glam Line Calavera Bikini

The Glam Line bikini is $90 if you buy at www.calaveraswimwear.com.  Or you can buy the top on its own for $48 and the bottoms for $42.  The string tie bottoms are $49. 

My neighbour, Benny, told me that she is completely in love with her Glam Line bikini.  She initially bought the red bikini and then very quickly decided she needed the purple one too. 

Benny in the red Glam Line Bikini - photo by Scott Rinckenberger (scottrinck.com)

Evie and Margriet wearing Calavera

Surf Bikini Forum - Tica Surf Bikinis

Veronica surfing in a Tica Surf Bikini

This post, the first of the Surf Bikini Forum, is dedicated to Tica Surf Bikinis - one of the most popular and ubiquitous bikini brands in Costa Rica.

Every girl surfer here in Santa Teresa seems to have at least one 'Veronica' bikini.  Veronica is the owner and designer of this 100% Costa Rican brand.  They are all made in the country, so if you are here visiting and you purchase one of these bikinis you can be happy that your dollars are supporting both the local design talent and the local economy.

Ask any of the local girls and they will tell you that these bikinis stay on... through thick and thin... and what's more they look pretty darn cute as well.  They come in a huge variety of colors and patterns, but in the same basic style.  You can choose halter neck or cross back (my favorite), revealing bum or a fuller coverage (depending on your tan line/modesty preference).  All the bottoms are designed with a band across the waist, with a clip tie on either side - I pull these as tight as possible to ensure there is no budging during duck diving.  And the bikinis are all reversible, which really gives you two bikinis in one!

The price for a bikini is $60.  Check out Veronica's page on Facebook - Tica Surf Bikinis  They are also on sale in the US via MGSurfline.com

Tica Surf Bikini - halter neck

Tica Surf Bikini - Bottom

Local girl, Taylor, shredding in a Tica Surf Bikini

Tica Surf Bikini

Next up on the surf bikini forum is the brand Calavera.  My next door neighbor just purchased one of the Glam Line Calavera bikinis (the latest model) and tells me that she is in love with it.  More on that soon!

Veronica of Tica Surf Bikinis

Seeking Sleek but Sturdy Surf Bikini

Being a beach bum you would have thought that I would own a whole ton of bikinis - at least one for every day of the week.  Well, I don't.  I need more!

OK, that's not strictly true.  I do have a ton of bikinis, but for some reason my selection of surfing bikinis has precipitously dwindled to almost only 3... and since I'm surfing at least once a day, that's not enough!

So, I am on the hunt for the best surf bikinis out there.  And when I say the best surf bikinis I mean bikinis that look good, feel comfortable and won't leave me cursing and pulling up my bottoms after the first duck dive or pulling my top back into position after my first wipe out.

I have been asking friends for help in my hunt.  They have been sharing their favorite brands with me, which I will in turn share with you on our new Surf Bikini Forum.  I would love to hear from readers about their favorite surf bikinis - send in details of your favorite, with pics if you like!

Starting off the forum tomorrow - Tica Surf Bikinis.  If you have been to the beach in Costa Rica you are bound to have seen these bikinis.  In Santa Teresa it seems that every surfer girl has at least one.
 Tica Surf Bikinis is a 100% Costa Rican brand.  The designer and owner, Veronica Quiros, lives and surfs here in Santa Teresa.  They are cute, bright, comfortable and stay on!  More on this tomorrow.