Women-Owned Surf Shops & Businesses
- Girl in the Curl Surf Shop – Dana Point
Mary Hartmann, otherwise known as "The Surf Queen of Doheny," opened Girl in the Curl Surf Shop to help introduce young women to surfing in Orange County. All merchandise in the store is geared toward girls, who can find everything from seashell jewelry to sparkly surfboards. Located on Pacific Coast Highway, Girl in the Curl is a pastel pink, Hawaiian-themed haven.
- Traveler Surf Club & Coastal Outpost – Pacifica/Malibu
A former professional surfer and California Surf Museum director, Julie Cox now owns Traveler Surf Club & Coastal Outpost in two California locations–Pacifica and Malibu’s iconic First Point. Her passion for surfing inspired her very own collection of women's surfboards, The Jule Collection available at Traveler and Noll Surfboards.
Surf Schools & Programs for Women & Youth
- Black Girls Surf – San Jose
United States Coast Guard veteran Rhonda “Rokki” Harper started the mentorship program Black Girls Surf for young African American women interested in turning surfing into a professional career. Harper hosts developmental camps for youth and “board meetings” in different cities across the U.S. to connect aspiring surfers and learn more about the sport.
- Las Olas – Carmel-by-the-Sea
Bev Sanders spent 18 years in the snowboard industry before focusing on surfing and helping women reach their full potential in the sport. In 1997, Bev launched Las Olas women’s surf camp in Carmel, where the motto is “We make girls out of women.” Bev’s commitment to creating a nonjudgmental environment both challenges and inspires women.
- The Wahine Project – Monterey
Founded by Dionne Ybarra in Monterey, The Wahine Project serves young girls around the world who would otherwise not have access to surfing resources.Through education, outreach and travel, The Wahine Project seeks to break down the barriers that prevent young girls from participating in surfing and increase their awareness to their global citizenship.
- Surf Diva – San Diego
Competitive surfer Isabelle “Izzy” Tihanyi is the founder of La Jolla’s most recognizable surf school: Surf Diva. The dedicated and professional instructors at Surf Diva represent the surfing community in charity involvement and environmental support, making it a pillar of surf schools.
- Sun and Salt Collective – Santa Cruz
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Cassandra Keller grew up surfing, exploring the ocean and adventuring in nature. Her background ignited the passion she brings to Sun and Salt Collective, a women’s surf and yoga retreat. The four-day retreat is all-inclusive, offering surfing activities as well as nourishing food and mindful practices.
California Natives Turned Professional Surfers
- Sage Erickson – Ojai
Originally from Ojai, Sage Erickson mastered her shredding skills in the Central Coast surf before taking first place at the Vans US Open of Surfing in 2017. Now based out of Ventura, Erickson divides her time between training in and out of the water.
- Courtney Conlogue – Orange County
Courtney Conlogue exemplifies passion and grit with her impressive professional record–she is a two-time runner-up to the World Title (2015, 2016) and winner of the US Open of Surfing (2009). Growing up in Santa Ana made Huntington Beach her break of choice, where she started winning local contests by the age of 10.
- Autumn Hays – Santa Cruz
For 19-year old Santa Cruz native and local resident Autumn Hays, representing Santa Cruz surfers as a woman is “awesome.” Hays travels to surfing hotspots like Australia, Japan, and Tahiti, but she always looks forward to returning home – the classic California beach town and the birthplace of mainland surfing.