Seea - Seeababes

Australia in Transition: Pastel Moments Between Winter and Spring Swells

2016-09-16T15:23:00-07:00

Australia's chilly winter winds are on their way to the next continent, but the Spring flowers have yet to bloom. Seeababe Kirra Innes shares her favorite in-between moments to savor during this transitional season in Eastern Australia.

By Kirra Innes

I love the pastel winter sunsets and the offshore winds. Normally in winter we have days where you can surf offshore perfection all day long. Winter brings swell so you should find a wave without trouble, the only difficulty is finding logging waves.
Winter swells have more power to them so I find myself riding different crafts. I've recently got a new Keyo single fin for the more powerful swells. Sometimes logging isn't an option here.

It doesn't get too cold. The coldest so far was 10 degrees Celsius, or 50 Fahrenheit, but it's not always like that. We get a lot of south and west wind here in winter, but mostly westerlies, which is offshore for us. Because of the southerlies, it makes the water clearer in winter, which I really like. Summertime, we get north winds which blow dirty water from the rivermouth south, along with cold water off of the continental shelf.

Summer time is crazy at the ice creamery [where I work] as you could expect in a hot Australian summer, but it slows down throughout winter. This fits perfectly as the surf is normally amazing in winter, so I get lots of surfs in. The lack of crowd and an increase in swell and south winds are the perfect combination. I've just transferred over to a photography course, which I'm really excited to start. I've always enjoyed taking photos so now I can learn all the technical parts to excel in what I love to do.

SeeainOz: Only in Noosa

2016-03-18T11:54:00-07:00

Hangin' out in Oz. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Gather together three generations of the best surfers from around the world on one beach, and you’re guaranteed to have rare memories that stay with you forever. Only during the Noosa Festival of Surfing can you exit the bus from the airport, totally jet lagged and lost, and then find your friends by following the sounds of waves.

Only in Noosa can you surf under the night sky, and not be alone. “I would never do it at home but always seem to do it at Noosa. It just feels safe,” says Australian Seeababe Kirra Innes who lives in Yamba.

On her first trip to Australia, Seea’s resident photographer Luki O’Keefe shared how the locals made her feel welcome during her first days in Noosa.

Congrats to Seeababes Karina Rozunko for placing first in the Women’s Open and Makala Smith for placing second at the Noosa Festival of Surfing!

Karina connects to nature. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Karina in the Martinique in Blush. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Beautiful scenery on the path to the beach. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Karina in the Martinique in Blush. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Makala in the Tabatinga Bikini in Cocodot. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

“The waves are the #1 best thing about Noosa the 2nd best is the community that the waves bring together.

I hopped off the plane and on to a bus that dropped me off somewhere in the middle of Noosa. I hadn't been able to connect with anyone so I just asked someone where the beach was, like the totally lost tourist I was. I walked for quite a while in clothes that were not made for the overwhelmingly hot weather, carrying a suitcase and two backpacks across town until I heard the waves crash.

I followed the sound down a trail in the woods and found Karina who led me to the van that I now call home. Over the next few days I connected with friends I hadn't seen since their visit last summer and I met heaps of new friends that offered me a home, a board, and some waves. I'm on the other side of the world but the community feels identical to the SanO surf tribe I grew up with.” -- Luki O'Keefe.

Our resident photographer, Luki O'Keefe.

Makala in the Tabatinga Bikini in Cocodot. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Cluster at the point. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Kirra in the Lido One-Piece in Gold Leaf. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Our Aussie friend's got a wicked soul arch. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Kirra in the Lido One-Piece in Gold Leaf. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

Karina in the Tofino in Black Lace. Photo by Luki O'Keefe.

MORE FROM AUSTRALIA

Video: Kirra Innes surfs point breaks in Australia

2016-02-23T11:31:00-08:00

Kirra Innes wears the Lido One-Piece in Gold Leaf.

When your dad names you after his favorite beach, we think it means you're destined to glide on the waves. Watch this video, "Salt of the Earth" by Peter Baker to hear the lovely voice of Aussie Seeababe Kirra Innes speak about her love for the ocean and watch her effortlessly walk on water.

Salt of the Earth from Peter Baker on Vimeo.
Kirra rides the Leucadia Bikini; the Hermosa Surf Suit; the Chicama Bikini and Capitola Bikini.

MORE VIDEOS

Salt of the Earth: Meet Australian Seeababe Kirra Innes

2015-12-10T15:46:00-08:00

Meet Kirra! Photo by Nathan Oldfield.

One of the first things we noticed about new Australian Seeababe Kirra Innes (aside from her lovely cross-step) was her inherant respect and appreciation for nature. Kirra grew up in the village of Wooloweyah on the eastern coast of Australia, where she spent her childhood playing in the dirt at her grandmother’s plant nursery, looking up at the treetops and birds in the rainforest nearby, collecting shells on the beach and diving for lobsters.

In Australia, it’s not uncommon to look out into the horizon and see more open land and nature than humanity inhabiting it. Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, but its population is just under 23 million, concentrated in a few city centers, and peppered between the beaches and forests. A comparison: California alone has 15 million more people than the entire country of Australia. Being surrounded and humbled by nature's beauty, its no wonder that many Australians have a cultivated respect for the environment and each other's place in it.

“I grew up outside and I think that it has made me the person I am now,” Kirra says. “I always had nature around me and preserving it means a lot. I see kids these days stuck in the social world and not looking out and just enjoying the simple things.”

Kirra spends most of her free time enjoying the outdoors — in the forests and the waves — and we caught up with her to find out her favorite places to enjoy the salty air in Australia and what’s she’s growing in her garden.

Kirra Innes in Broken Head, Australia. Photo by Nathan Oldfield.

Kirra Innes in the Zuma Surf Suit. Photo by Nathan Oldfield.

What were your first memories of surfing?

I was given an old beaten up short board to learn on. Dad said when I can stand up I can get a new one. I think I was about 7-years-old but we lived away from the beach and it was just a holiday thing. I really caught the bug about five years ago when my boyfriend’s mum put me on a Mal. There was no looking back, I was hooked.

My parents didn't surf so that was a little hard as well but as soon as I got my license I was never home. You could find me at the beach surfing.

The first wave I remember was on a friend’s longboard. He pushed me on a wave and away I went. I can't really describe the feeling but I couldn't wipe the grin off my face so it must have been pretty good.

Why do you love longboard surfing?

I love the feel of riding my log. It's so relaxing and I find most of the time, humbling. Sometimes I'll just trim along a wave stand there and take it all in. I find you’re playing with the wave, riding it, feeling and the energy.

Longboarding is a big part of my lifestyle. It makes me happy and keeps me healthy. The friends you make through the surfing community are for a lifetime.

Who do you normally surf with?

I normally surf with older crews, nearly all old enough to be my parents but good vibes happy faces and sharing waves. It's always good to get out there. Take turns, hoot and carry on like stoked grommets. It’s all part of the culture of surfing — encouraging everyone to smile, have fun and don't take it to serious.

I think that in the surfing culture you’re in with everyone — young or old. Personally I find it easier to get along with older people. I have ever since I was little. I think that might be a main part of why most of my friends are older. That being said I do have young friends as well, haha!

Kirra Innes in the Palomar Crop Top and Capitola Bottoms. Photo by Nathan Oldfield.

Kirra Innes. Photo by Nathan Oldfield.

Kirra Innes in the Palomar Crop Top and Capitola Bottom. Photo by Nathan Oldfield.

Kirra Innes in the Zuma Surf Suit. Photo by Nathan Oldfield.

Tell us about the area where you grew up.

I grew up with 100 acres of rainforest two hours south of where I am now. It was amazing. I had the best time of my life there with so much to explore. On weekends or school holidays we went to a place called Station Creek. That was my second home — a beautiful bay filled with a pebbly beach and a creek on the other side. I'd play in the shories, go diving to get lobsters with dad and collect shells with mum.

You said that you live by a national park. What’s special about the one near your house?

I'm surrounded by national parks. It's amazing that they can never be developed so will have the feeling of being in the bush all the time. It's mostly low-lying shrubs at the moment because of a recent fire, but it is truly beautiful. There is a feeling that comes over you, maybe numbing, I can't really describe it. Maybe it's the negative irons of nature.

There are these beautiful little birds. They burrow in the ground and have amazing colors if you look carefully you will see one. They are shy so if you sit quiet enough you might get a close look.

What’s your normal surfing ritual during the changing season? Do you travel one season more than the other?

I mostly travel in winter. It's not as busy at work and in the surf as well. It doesn't get to cold compared to most places so winter is almost like autumn. The swells are good too. Most of the points work during winter so that's a plus.

My favorite places to travel to in Australia would possibly be Crescent Head or Noosa. I like Byron but it gets a little overwhelming with crowds at times. But it's such a beautiful place.

You said that you grew up in your grandmother's gardens and love to have your own too. What are you growing in your garden now?

I have all sorts of cute little plants. Bromeliads, little pig face flowers and some cute succulents. I don't have a veggie garden at the moment but I'm working on it. Home grown food is always better.

I love planting flowers they are probably my favorite. I love adding color to the garden, I feel it makes it happy.

How do you think gardening and surfing are related?

I feel connected to the earth when I'm gardening just like I do when I'm surfing — enjoying nature’s elements. It's all about patience and a little practice. I try to plant all year so my garden always looks lush, but I do forget about my flowers so when spring comes around I get a flowery surprise.

Thank you Kirra, we are so happy to have you join the Seeababes family!

Kirra Innes in the Zuma Surf Suit. Photo by Macauley Rae.

Kirra Innes in the Leucadia Bikini in Luna. Photo by Macauley Rae.

Kirra Innes in a quiet moment between the sets. Photo by Macauley Rae.

Kirra Innes in the Leucadia Bikini in Luna. Photo by Macauley Rae.