DEUS WOMENS x YR SURF SESSION

Deus’ Sierra Lerback was coming to Japan for the Greenroom Festival, and during her visit we organized a Ladies Surf Session down at Taito beach, Chiba a few days following the festival. A gathering featuring Sierra and Taito local, Ryoko ‘Ryobay’ Sezutsu for a fun filled day of instructional surf, Q&A with the top female riders and a hang-out BBQ party to top it off.

The wave conditions were mediocre at best and the weather cold and rainy. Regardless, a squad of enthusiastic girls assembled bright and early at the Taito surf shop, YR for orientation. With big smiles, excited for the paddle out, the 8 partakers along with Ryobay & Sierra got their surf on for 2 straight hours enjoying waves together with their surf idols.

The Q&A session commenced in the afternoon at Sierra’s cozy temporary Residence, where the gals flocked to the Kotatsu (covered heater table) to warm their cold bodies while listening to what insight Sierra and Ryobay had to share. From Sierra’s self-introduction to stretching routines, intense paddling training, Sierra points out that she’s been surfing for over 20 years and to improve at anything, it takes time. The stories of the women’s love for surfing were endless and Sierra reflecting on her surfing to victory at this year’s Noosa Festival of Surfing’s famed Old Mal competition were some of the highlights. There’s no need to rush, take your time and just keep on practicing was the main message. As the sun went down, the smell of BBQ spreading throughout the back porch was the signal the dinner party was starting. On the large iron skillet, GMC Grill Chef Uchida, cooked up select lamb and Kurobuta (black hog) . Good food, good drinks, good vibes. A great finish to the fun day’s event!

As women surfers traveling and competing around the world, Ryobay and Sierra signed off with wonderful words of wisdom. It’s not really about changing boards or finding the right wave or the weather, it should be about just enjoying the waves. Good or bad, strong or weak, men or women, it does not matter, enjoy do not fear. Nowadays, there are more and more great female riders all over the world, the reason for starting surfing can be anything, it's okay to get into the fashion of it as well, but most importantly just enjoy the waves and the time!

Big thanks to all the beautiful surfer girls who participated in the session, Ryobay & Sierra for providing this memorable experience, Tetsuya Ogawa for producing the event, and the support from Yuta Sezutsu, Yuki Nakayama, and other Deus family members in Chiba. Thank you everyone.

All Photos by Atsuo Itakura