Ed Picks: Little Luxuries

Photo by Dirtbag Darling

I enjoy the little things in life: the sunscreen that smells like vacation, the bikini bottoms that make my butt look good, the camera that listens when I talk to it. Yep, that's why this month my Editor's Picks aren't dirtbagging necessities, they're just the little luxuries that make me smile. All the info on where you can get them after the jump:

Dirtbagging 101: How to Tie Into A Climbing Harness

So you’re learning how to climb—time to learn the basics. To tie yourself into a climbing harness, you’ll need to know how to create a Figure-8 Follow-Through knot, followed by a Fisherman’s Backup knot. They don’t just look pretty—they’re your lifelines should your grip slip, keeping your harness attached to the belay rope. While nothing beats hands-on practice (it makes perfect, after all), visual learners might benefit from brushing up with this photo tutorial. Just make sure to practice tying these knots with the help of an expert before you try them on your own and in the field.

Step 1: First, make sure you’re holding the correct end of the rope. One end will be hanging from a belay device and one will be coming down from a top rope or the top of a climbing wall. Use this end.

Step 2: Measure out about an arm’s length of rope. Pinch the rope here (you’ll need this excess rope to tie your Figure-8 knot and your backup knot).

More instructions after the jump!

Get Fed: Healthy DIY Energy Bar Recipe

Photo by Rhea Cortado

This is a guest post by Surf and Swim Ambassador Rhea Cortado.

I love the energy bars at the supermarket, but they can add up to be expensive, and I don’t like that the second ingredient is often brown rice syrup, which is used as a binder to get all the dry ingredients to stick together.

I use dates, banana, honey and coconut oil as the glue. Honey and dates are sticky and have a lot of sugar so it satisfies a sugar craving, but it’s the natural kind of sugar that your body will be burning in a jiffy while you get sweaty. This recipe offers volume (whole rolled oats), the right amount of fat and crunch (nuts) and some sweetness (dates)—it tastes like a bowl of cereal in portable snack form.

It's also super-customizable to your preferences. If you don’t have flax seed meal and cacao nibs, no big deal. If coconut’s not your thing (I don’t know how we can be friends), or if you prefer walnuts instead of pecans, just make sure that the volumes are the same proportions when you make a substitution. 

Ingredients after the jump!

Newsworthy: Stephanie Gilmore Proves Surfers Aren't Just Party Animals in CNN Interview

Photo courtesy of ASP.

Leave it to that golden-haired champion of women's surfing Stephanie Gilmore to prove that surfers aren't what Hollywood makes them out to be—in a recent interview with CNN, the 25-year-old Australian and four-time ASP champ explained that, unlike the characters in films like Point Break, not all surfers are washed-up, drugged-up party lovers.

"The biggest misconception about surfers is they all talk the surf lingo," she told CNN's Human to Hero series. "It's probably been 30 years now that it has been a professional sport and it hasn't grown too much. But now it's really turned into this phase where it's about treating the surfers as professional athletes and not just party animals."

Maybe it's just because Steph was the first surfer I ever interviewed, but I think she's a eloquent, poised example of what an athletic role model should be. She's also a dedicated professional, and I think many other female surfers (like Alana Blanchard) are catching onto the idea that surfing is a true sport, and one that takes just as much training and dedication as others. Read the full interview here.

What do you think? Is she right about surfers?

Running Advice from North Face Ultra Runner Rory Bosio

Photo used with permission by The North Face.

Think racking up 26.2 miles in a marathon is impressive? Allow Rory Bosio to knock you off your high horse: as a North Face ultra runner, she consistently finishes 50- to 100-mile races on steep, mountainous terrain—and she kicks most of her competitors’ butts in the process. She placed second at the prestigious Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run last June in California, and she placed fourth at the famed ultra-race North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Europe’s Alps in September.

But take a quick glance at the Tahoe, California-based athlete and you’d never know she’s logged some serious hours on the trails—no laboring gait, no aching knees. She’s quick and light on her feet, with enough energy to work as a pediatric emergency room night nurse after a day of training. And her secret isn’t really a secret at all—it’s yoga.

More inspiring pics after the jump!

Get Pretty: Coola's Organic, Cruelty-Free Suncare

Photo by Johnie Gall.

Quick: What's worse than flat waves and sand in your ice cream? Try skin cancer, which is why I slather on some form of SPF or another pretty much everyday (I'm not a fan of wrinkles either). But picking a go-to sunscreen has been quite a journey, especially with the FDA's recent major overhaul on sunscreen regulations. One bottle's too sticky while the next smells bad—but I think I've finally found my favorite: Coola.

I went off a recommendation from the Tone It Up girls, who swear by this stuff, and had the chance to test a few bottles out for free for a review on GrindTV.com. Bottom line: I'm obsessed. The cult-favored sun care collection of mineral sunscreens, sunscreen sprays and lip balms is made with 97 percent certified organic and locally-made ingredients, is manufactured using solar power, and is supported by PETA for cruelty-free testing.

What really won me over was the unscented mineral sunscreen in Matte Tint. It feels almost like a makeup primer, smoothing out redness with a barely-there tint, and it makes your skin look close to perfect and feel silky smooth. It's a little expensive for me at $36 for 1.7oz, but it's an investment I'm sure to make again because its just so damn perfect for everyday use. I have no qualms with investing in good skin. Coola, one request: Please come out with a sunless tanner!!

Dirtbagging 101: How To Prevent A Car Break In

I speak from experience...sadly. 

Let me preface this piece by saying that I've learned from experience how NOT to get your car broken into while your traveling. It was during a half-mile hike when our rented minivan had its window smashed in. Casualties included two GoPros, a Canon DSLR, a purse with all of its contents, a stuff sack filled with gadgets and a Gap scarf. Not sure why that last item was abducted but whatever.

I was inspired by this article from Surfer Magazine which details—in words direct from a robber's  mouth—how not to get robbed while surfing. It has a lot of practical tips that can be of value to other outdoorsmen because we're so often away from our cars with no way of bringing our valuables with us. I highly suggest reading the article at surfermag.com but here's a quick, adapted takeaway for the rest of us:

1. Don't advertise you're outdoorsy
I can proudly say I'm not a bumper sticker kind of girl, and now I feel validated for that—having a surf, kayak or climbing sticker on your car helps thieves identify you as someone who will be away from their car for longer periods of time.

2. Park in crowded areas
The shade from a tree will keep you car cool, but definitely unprotected. Park in a highly visible spot.

3. Keep gear to a minimum
As I can tell you, that's easier said than done, especially while traveling. But whenever possible, lock up your extra gear in the hotel room (or better yet, leave it at home) instead of in the car.

4. Don't rent a soft top
Convertibles and Jeeps are just so easy to break into (heck anyone with a knife can do it). Make sure all windows and car doors are locked...always.

5. Take the key with you
Don't hide it under your car, tuck it under the wheel or near the engine. If you can reach it, they can, too. If that means tucking it into your bra or bikini top, so be it (but keep in mind the Internet is full of solutions for something like this).

6. Get a better car
That's harsh, but a crappy car is just easier to break into.

What are your tips for keeping your car and valuables safe when you're outdoors?

Girl Gone Wild: Katie Boué's Cross-Country Van Trip

Photo by Katie Boué. The "Craggin Wagon."

In May of 2011, climber Katie Boué and her "big hairy boyfriend," Niko Monteiro, embarked on a five-week cross-country trip in Boué's parents' Pilot—a dream many of us have. After stint doing the whole "normal person" thing back in Miami, the duo decided they wanted to expand on their trip—for an entire year, to be precise.

So they're back on the road again, living in a van with just enough Internet service to stay connected and a stockpile of baby wipes to stay clean. They're calling it Simply Adventure, a year-long jaunt across the country in their van—dubbed the "Craggin' Wagon"—to practice climbing, educate people about the importance of caring for our crags and National Parks, and prove that real adventure is not only possible—it can be practical and inexpensive if you do it right. Two months into their trip, I caught up with Boué, a 24-year-old freelance copywriter, to see how her plans have changed so far and get her tips on making a simple cross-country trip a reality.

Aw so cute! Nike and Katie enjoyed the scenery.

You'd originally set out to visit every state in the country except two. Now that you're on the road, has the plan changed?
During the planning of the trip, Niko and I originally wanted to visit all 48 states on the mainland, but quickly decided to nix Oklahoma and Kansas because we've driven through them so many times. After finding out about some supposedly sweet climbing in the Wichita Mountains, we might be changing our minds again. Nearly two months into the trip and we've visited 10 states, from Florida to California to Utah.

Dirtbagging 101: Intro to Minimalist Running

Jon running, photo by Shiggy Ichinomiya.

Before I go and cause an uproar between believers and skeptics, let me say this: Minimalist running is not for everyone, but those runners who want to give it a try should do their homework, and I'm just touching on the basics here.

Minimalist running is, as the fashion glossies might say, all the rage right now, blossoming into a $1.7 billion industry in the past few years. So what is it? It involves wearing a running shoe that doesn't restrict on the body's natural biomechanics. Traditional, well-cushioned running shoes have built-in ankle support and an elevated heel, while minimalist shoes provide close to no cushioning and just enough material between your foot and the ground to prevent cuts and the spread of disease. The idea is that while you train in minimalist shoes, your feet will get stronger, you'll return to a more natural gait, and you'll be less prone to running injuries. Minimalist runners believe that the human foot will function at its best without synthetic and restrictive shoes.

Get Inspired: Write Down Your Reverse Bucket List

For some reason I thought I'd never see the Grand Canyon. I thought wrong!

It starts when we're kids and haunts us well into adulthood: "What do you want to be when you grow up? "Where do you want to go to college?" "Have you set a wedding date yet?" The endless onslaught of questions about the future has left most of us overvaluing what's next. It's why we tend to rush through our days with this sense of urgency, our weeks blurring into an endless scramble for some unattainable "tomorrow." And it can be exhausting.

So when Rebecca of The Uncaged Life introduced the idea of The Reverse Bucket List, it was like I finally had an excuse to chill out and look away from that light at the end of the tunnel. The idea's pretty simple: Instead of listing your goals for the future, you list the accomplishments you've already had. It's a great exercise in being appreciative in the success and adventures you've experienced instead of stressing yourself out over ones you may or may not ever see come into fruition. After all, we explore and travel to make memories—why not look back and enjoy them once in a while? Here's a taste of what's on mine:

-Did my first lead climb.
-Learned how to surf.
-Moved across the country by myself.
-Tried deep-sea fishing (and baited my own hooks).
-Started a blog.
-Became a magazine editor just a few years out of college.
-Rode dirt bikes with Jolene from Nitro Circus.
-Went to the Billabong Big Wave awards.
-Flew in a two-man plane.
-Hiked in Yosemite and Zion.

My list goes on from there, but just that chunk made me both grateful for the past year and even more stoked for this one. Try it!

What It's Like: To Be A Surfing Magazine Swim Issue Model

Amanda Booth in a Beach Riot bikini shooting Surfing Magazine's Swimsuit Issue 2013. Photo via the Swim Issue Facebook page.

Most of us are shy about letting someone take our photo in a bikini, let alone plaster it on the pages of a glossy like Surfing Magazine. Not Amanda Booth, the gorgeous-as-all-getout blonde who graces Surfing's 2013 Swim Issue for the second year in a row. We caught up with her to find out what it's actually like to be a swim issue model— turns out she's a pizza-eating, real-deal surfer with honest advice for living out of a van, and we love her to death:

You've appeared in Surfing's annual swim issue before. Were you excited to get the call again?
I was very excited! I don't often have the chance to partake in modeling jobs that involve things I actually like in my "real" life. Not to mention it was a location shoot—I never get to go on those, so I was most looking forward to traveling with such a rad crew.

Behind-the-scenes. Photo by Amanda Booth.

Tell me about preparing to be in a swim issue. Do you train or eat differently?
I don't do what you would imagine a model to do before shooting swimwear. I guess I eat one less slice of pizza...but I still eat the pizza! The only thing I worry about is poop babies (is that okay to say?). You're up at the butt crack of dawn—pun intended. Four in the morning was our usual call time to be sure to shoot during the best hours of light during the day. Traveling around the world is enough to give you a belly ache, let alone being up that early in a house of 15 strangers. So I just be sure to eat a lot of good fiber a few days before.

WATCH: Alana Blanchard's Training Routine

Alana modeling for Rip Curl.

Alana Blanchard is the vixen of the surf world—fluid and strong in the water but feminine and sexy on the beach—leaving brands clamoring after her as a model and team rider. At this moment, she's got the whole package, but after watching the new video from her Surfer Girl series, I think she's realizing exactly what goes into having longevity in the surf world:

Training is so crucial to every aspect of your outdoor life, even surfing (I should say especially surfing). The more flexibility, strength and stamina you have, the better you'll perform and the longer you'll stay in the game. I think Alana realizes in this video how far she has to go to level up with Kelly Slater, a 41-year-old force of nature beating out kids half his age in competition. You don't get like that by eating cupcakes and jogging once a week. So get out there, get sweaty, and improve your situation (no matter how good you look in a bikini).

Editor's Letter: A Little Elbow Grease

Dear Darlings,

An editor's letter? Really? I know DirtbagDarling.com is far from magazine pedigree, but it never hurts to share a sneak peek at what's next.

It's getting warmer, which means it's almost time to put on my bikini and lay around all day—just kidding! Spring means I can dive full-force back into my favorite activities: rock climbing, kayaking, windsurfing, hiking, camping, biking, surfing and trail running. But a long list of activities means I need to be in tip-top shape if I want to advance my skill level—it's time to Get Sweaty.

The next few weeks are devoted to getting fit and training smart. We'll delve into minimalist/barefoot running, trail running and standup paddleboarding yoga while trying out every class our gyms offer. We'll also be unrolling two new sections: What It's Like—where we walk in the shoes of interesting people—and Dirtbagging 101, a series of easy-to-follow how-to lessons for beginners.

In addition to all of this, watch out for workout tips (including some from the most kick-ass celebrities), a Clif Bar-inspired recipe, nutrition ideas, more product reviews, and even printable training plans. If you notice some changes to the website, bear with me—I'm trying to make it a little more navigable.

How do you get in shape? Tweet me or Instagram me a photo @dirtbagdarling #getsweaty—I'll be giving away random prizes throughout the month.

Live Adventurously,

Johnie and the Dirtbag Darling Team

Girl Gone Wild: SUP Yoga Instructor Emma Rossoff

Have you ever met someone who you thought was going to be awesome, then she turned out to be even better? That's kind of what I have going on with Emma Rossoff. I got in contact with her when I wrote this piece about Outdoor Vino and immediately wanted to know more. It started with her covetable position as Tasting Room Manager at Naked Winery near Hood River, Oregon, where she gets hands on with sales, staff and, yes, tastes wine. Then it was her summer job running an outdoor yoga program, followed by her winter job running the Sno-Blasters Kids Snow Sports program at Mt. Hood Meadows. To top off it all off, the girl is stunning. Amazing home base, dream jobs, killer body and personality to boot? I think it's safe to say she fits in here.

Oregon is such a wonderful place to live for an outdoorswoman. What activities do you take part in?
I love to ski and snowboard on Mount Hood, and standup paddle board and kite board on the Columbia River. Down winders on the SUP [standup paddle] are some of the best adventures.

You were one of the pioneers of SUPYoga—what are the benefits of practicing on the water?
It challenges your core stabilization muscles and your senses more than on dry land. You're surrounded by beauty, which can sometimes distract or overwhelm you, so you have to be more focused. The consequences of falling in the water are way more fun (and refreshing) than falling on a studio floor, so one might be encouraged to get into an inversion, for example. It's a total confidence booster.

What's one piece of gear you're loving right now?
I'm loving my Marcy ear-flapped beanie by Pistil and my Omni Mitts by DaKine—both essential for winter in Hood River. The Naish 12'6" Glide is the best all-around SUP for me. It's wide and stable enough for SUPYoga, fast in the flat water and easy to carry.

Tell me about picking up kiteboarding.
I had a nightmarish adventure learning how to kite off Jetty Island near Seattle a few years before moving to Hood River. I launched myself into the air and crash-landed into the sand. My friend had to spend an hour saving the kite I was using. When I moved to Hood River, I invested in five or more hours of private lessons...essential! Even though the gear is much safer, everyone should learn from a certified instructor. Kiting on the water together with my husband is one of the coolest things we share, although one of us is usually on the beach with toddler duty.

Working at a winery seems like a great job—how does your career help you lead an outdoorsy lifestyle?
At Naked Winery, "we aim to tease!", so it's always fun. Several of us also work for Mount Hood Meadows during the winter, including one of our owners. He understands the importance of keeping it real and we even have a brand of wine that represents that with Outdoor Vino.

What are the top three items on your bucket list right now?
1. Standup paddle the Colombia River to the Pacific Ocean.
2. Hike the Pacific Crest Trail south to north with my family.
3. Hold Pinca Mayurasana on a SUP.

Check back next month because Emma is showing us three easy yoga moves to try on our SUP boards right here! 

Get Gear: Artist Claire Oring X Billabong Collection

This article originally appeared on GrindTV.com. 

Artist collaborations are nothing new, but this one's a doozy: Billabong's teamed up with Los Angeles-native Claire Oring for a summer collection of tops, tees and swimwear featuring hand-drawn illustrations by Oring (who also shot the lookbook) and modeled by team rider/artist/singer Lindsay Perry (who also designed graphics for the lookbook). It's talent overload up in here, so instead of grilling the girls on their work for the collection I let them do the talking for me. Here, Claire and Lindsay dish on their favorite pieces from the collection and their creative process:

Lindsay Perry: I love your style of work. Where do you usually begin with a piece?

Claire Oring: I start with lots of messy graphite scribbles testing out different compositions. I try all sorts of things and then combine my favorite parts of each one into one design.

LP: You're also a great photographer. How do you get ideas for your shoots?

CO: I love being swept away by a story, especially a story that's solely visual so you have to connect the dots yourself by finding clues from what's in front of you. I often draw inspiration from mythology and folklore and wonder how I can make it my own. Your two collages for the lookbook are incredible. Where they planned or an experiment?

LP: Funny you ask. A lot of times I start with one idea and by the time I'm finished, it's completely different. What inspired me with those two pieces was the overall vibe of your photos. The colors were soft and almost muted, so I wanted something that would accent the designs and feel of the location. The lighthouse was big inspiration as well. I've always been into collage making, and this was the most intricate piece I've made with that concept. What was your favorite piece from this collection?

CO: I love the one-piece sit because I think it's so cool that a Polaroid is now a swimsuit. Also, my mermaid skeleton illustration. What's yours?

LP: Definitely the one-piece bikini. I love the print and cut. As for the tees, I love the V-neck tee with the floral heart on it—delicate and simple.

CO: Does art influence your personal style?

LP: I definitely think so. I'm braver with my fashion because of it—I like to mix things up. I love fringe, fur coats, and high-tops. Do you think living in LA has an impact on your style?

CO: Yes! I'm such a proud Californian. I grew up in Manhattan Beach, and I loved growing up in a laidback beach town with one of the most culturally relevant cities in the world a short drive away. I love the trend-setting vibe of this city. Another bonus of LA is all the nature surrounding it. Nature is an important ingredient in my world so I appreciate its availability.

Thanks girls! Shop the line here.