The Enemy of Average! Wild Surfwear- USA Made / Stephanie Schechter
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Photo Alex Dafnis
Photos Derek Street
Photos Derek Street
By Stepahnie Schechter
As I mentioned before, we sadly lost our furry friend Sandy a few months ago. But luckily, a new doggie needed a home, and her name is Ruby! She is four months old, and is super soft and fuzzy! She’s a golden retriever, she LOVES to run around and get exercise at the park!
Today we went to the park together, and played on the playground! We also played fetch, one of Ruby’s favorite games. Once she gets bigger, we can play at the beach!
Photos Derek Street
Photos Derek Street
By Stephanie Schechter
Photos Derek Street
This week in Stephanie’s Corner, I am going to actually welcome you into my little corner of the earth: Isla Vista, California! Isla Vista is the beachside college town next to my school, the University of California, Santa Barbara. Over 20,000 people, mostly students, reside in the 1.8 square mile neighborhood, which is officially a part of the city of Goleta. Because we live so close to our school, everybody rides bikes around town and to campus, which is super fun!
Most people know of the area for parties and crowds, but there is much more to I.V. than just that! For starters, the beach is RIGHT HERE! There are a bunch of awesome places to eat, like the infamous Freebird’s burritos! Someone once made a map of all the fruit trees in town, so we can gather delicious fruit year-round!
Also, the channel islands block the waves, so the surf is small most of the time, but sometimes, it can get REALLY good. We have two point breaks and a few reef and beach breaks, so there are plenty of waves to go around. If you’re ever near UCSB, come catch some waves and say hi to me!
By Stephanie Schechter
This week in Stephanie’s corner, we’re going to talk about some of my favorite flair items! I have collected pins and buttons for several years, and love to display them proudly. I usually wear them on my lucky denim jacket or my favorite vintage overalls, but sometimes they migrate to other clothing items like shorts, jeans, and backpacks!
When I found out Mowgli was collaborating on some radical pins, I knew I had to get my paws on them! I am so stoked on these bad boys, because they are totally different from any of my other pins.
I usually find my pins at thrift stores, but I also like to get some during my travels or will buy new ones that are meaningful to me. Two of my most special pins are one celebrating my surf club, Swami’s Surfing Association’s 50th anniversary, and one that I got while learning about my heritage in Israel this past summer. I hope to expand my pin collection throughout my life, because every pin and button tells a story!
In Loving Memory of Sandy the Golden Retriever
Last weekend, I went to visit some furry friends at Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego! Helen Woodward is a no-kill animal rescue where people can adopt all sorts of pets that need to find loving homes. I got to play with some puppies, kitties, sheep, llamas, horses, mini-ponies, and more! I didn’t take home any new friends, but I definitely got excited about getting a dog soon, as I recently lost my beloved Sandy. I was feeling down and was really missing her, and it really cheered me up to see that there were SO many amazing animals that are ready to find a new home.
If you live in the San Diego area and have love to give or want to help check them out! LINK Helen Woodward Animal Center
By Stephanie Schechter
As a lifelong beach-goer, I have grown to love everything about the ocean… including the beautiful seashells that sea creatures called mollusks leave behind. I have collected shells since I was a wee lass, as memories of fun days in the water, or special family trips to tropical countries. I grew up in San Diego, where seashells are abundant, but not particularly fascinating. Regardless, as a kid, I would spend hours digging in the sand for buried natural treasures. 
Now that I live further north in Santa Barbara, my seashell collection has grown immensely, because we have a very beautiful and diverse array of shells to find on the shore! I live right on the ocean here, and I love going on beach walks, because they are a great way to clear my head and de-stress. Whether I am on a walk or just heading back from surfing, I always keep my eyes toward the sand, hoping to find some interesting shells. I have them in bowls and jars as decoration all around my house, as great reminders of fun times and the amazing ocean-dwellers that live in this world.
By Stephanie Schechter
Today, we are going to discuss a topic near and dear to my heart… Watermelons!!! As many of you may know, the surfboard I usually ride is resin-tinted to look like a giant slice of watermelon. Many people ask me if I got the watermelon board because I just LOVE all things watermelon, but to be honest, the surfboard is what started it all, and my watermelon themed everything followed suit.
While watermelon is a delicious and refreshing fruit, it probably isn’t my favorite fruit ever. It is tasty, but so many other fruits are, that I couldn’t pick a favorite! I just love what watermelon represents – summertime, warm weather, and picnics. The fun color combination of pinkish-red and shades of green also makes for a great surfboard…
Now that I have had my original watermelon board for two and a half years, I have managed to accumulate a pretty decent supply of watermelon stuff. I think every time there is a watermelon item in a store, my friends and family feel the urge to either get it for me, or send a picture to me! I think its kind of neat to have adopted this watermelon identity. Sometimes I’ll be surfing and I’ll hear some kid shout “Hey!! It’s the watermelon girl!”
So, today, enjoy a slice of watermelon for me, and remember – watermelons are your friend!
Photos Thomas Green
Photos Jimmy Galt
By Stephanie Schechter
Last weekend was the 24th annual Malibu Boardrider’s Club Call to the Wall surf contest! It was a wild weekend of crazy weather, funky waves, and groovy humans. I was surfing in the Women’s 18-27 Longboard Division, and got to spend time with some great friends that I haven’t seen in a while!
The weirdest part of the whole event was an insane lightning storm that lasted almost all day Saturday. We had to put the contest on hold for a few hours, and then when we finally started up again, it was with a “surf at your own risk” warning! Fortunately, no one got struck by any lightning. 
The waves were pretty amazing on Sunday after the storm cleared, with some sets reaching shoulder high. In my final, one great set came through, but unfortunately, I goofed up and didn’t do so hot. I got 6th, but I’m glad to just have made the final surfing against some fantastic lady sliders!! 
Last week, I returned home to California after a two week journey through the amazing nation of Israel. I went through my school, UC Santa Barbara, on a group trip with 35 other students, FOR FREE! Because I’m Jewish! Totally radical!
In Israel, you must join the army when you are 18, and serve for 2-3 years, before going to college, so most Israeli soldiers are the same age as American college students! For 5 days of the trip, seven Israeli soldiers joined us, and it was amazing to see how similar they are to me. They are my new best friends!
We went around the entire country (its not a very big place) in a bus, and did everything from riding camels in the Negev and covering ourselves with mud at the Dead Sea, to hitting the beach in Tel Aviv, and checking out the ancient city of Jerusalem.
Also, the food there is AMAZING. Israeli salad is simple and delicious, made with just cucumbers, red onion, tomato, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, and a dash of salt and pepper. It is common to enjoy a salad like that for lunch, along with a blended coffee drink.
Halva is a hybrid of cake and candy, made mostly with sesame seeds! It is often combined with other flavors to create a delicious treat.
I do have to say, I’m pretty sure my favorite snack in Israel was the ice cream. BEST. ICE CREAM. EVER. I may never eat American ice cream again… Okay, well, who am I kidding, we all know I’ll eat any ice cream, any time.
Overall, I had an amazing time exploring a beautiful country. I can’t wait to go back!
