Lara Lenington A Long time Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory I remember my daughter asking me why only women surf as she only saw my mom friends and me going off together. Sweet she lived in that world as a kid.Surfing up north in the morning and then loading my car with kids and boards looking for surf in town after school. What is your occupation Psychologist Do you have any significant community involvement? I have always volunteered at my children’s schools. I volunteer for the local psychological association. I volunteered for years for the local soccer club. Tell us something unique about you as a…

Ginaia Kelly 25+ years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory Surfing pregnant until 7 months along. Feeling great. Wearing my husband larger wetsuit. With birth of second child, was surfing again two weeks post-partum and felt like I didn’t miss a beat. Went snowboarding at 5-weeks post-partum; and at 10-weeks post-partum, was picking up toys on the floor with the baby on my chest in a Baby Bjorn, and herniated a disk in my low back and spent the next 8-days bedridden. Solo–intense moment was jumping off the point at the Lane on a big day (double overhead +) to paddle around to middle peak, and…

Kristen Kellermyer 40 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory Surfing with my daughter in Mainland Mexico we had at least 30 beautiful blue winged stingrays swarm the line up and share our last wave of the day. What is your occupation 17-Mile Driving School owner, operator and instructor Do you have any significant community involvement? I’m courteous on the roadway and always use my turn signal 🙂 Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos Moms tend to lots of morning details. As a result, local well know shaper, Steve Coletta, gave me the nickname “Side Shore Sally”. What…

Grace Gooch 20 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory Oh there are so many to chose from! One incredible surf trip that comes to mind is when me and my husband and our children went for a surf at pleasure point. My daughter isn’t old enough to surf but likes to get on my husbands board and paddle around with him. We were at 38th when suddenly a small seal jumped up in my board! The deal was so friendly and sweet and just wanted a place to rest. After hanging with me for a bit she hoped on top of my husbands board to…

Susan Coffey 30 years Surfing What is your occupation Finance Manager at Save The Waves Coalition. Do you have any significant community involvement? League Director, Santa Cruz Scholastic Surf League What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids? Too many to count! Surfing is a shared passion and our life pretty much revolves around the ocean and the rhythm of the tides and swell. Beach days, contests and surf trips have created so many amazing memories.   Return to Surfer Mamas Article

Julia E Salido 26 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory So many memories. I am having trouble focusing on one. I love traveling to Mexico to surf. We have had wonderful times in Nexpa and San Blas, but I always love coming home to surf the spots I know best with my surf buddies here usually around Manresa/Aptos area. What is your occupation High school history teacher Do you have any significant community involvement? Mainly as a teacher. Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos My husband Pancho who is a dedicated (basically lives there on weekends from…

Maria Neeley Over 20 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory A long time ago, before kids, I was surfing at an undisclosed beach break south of here, I pulled into a barrel going right , and I could see the shoreline right through the wall of water. It was so beautiful. I wiped out because I looked that way, but it was totally worth the view! What is your occupation “Play and roam” mom, part time surf coach. Do you have any significant community involvement? I am a part of an amazing crew of skateboarder women known as the Santa Cruz Lady Lurkers. I also…

Sarah Gerhardt 32 years Surfing (First woman to surf mavericks!) Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory A fun memory I have is going to the Slater wave pool, surf ranch with my daughter and seeing her get barreled What is your occupation Chemistry instructor. Do you have any significant community involvement? I help with Ride a Wave, as a surf escort. Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos I surf really early before my kids wake up. What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids? Taking them out to Cowells as toddlers. What are some challenges of surfing…

Dina El Dessouky 22 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory The most special surfing experience I’ve had in recent times was getting to shoot in the water up North with none other than the legendary Sachi Cunningham for a film collaboration that Textured Waves did with Roxy for International Women’s Day this year. My friend Chelsea Woody asked me to be a part of that, and even though the waves were small, from the minute I rolled up into the parking lot at dawn on that crisp, clear winter morning and met all the women involved, I knew it was going to be magic. We…

Susie Deutsch 25 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory One fun and intense memory I have was arriving at Tamarindo, Costa Rica after a red eye flight. My trip overlapped with my good friend Joe’s trip by 12 hours. Joe insisted that we have a surf together before his family returned back to Santa Cruz. We paddle out in the windy afternoon conditions with me having zero energy. After a bit Joe exclaimed “Look, a turtle!” As we watched the “turtle” the tail came up a good 8 feet from the head. At that point we realized it was a crocodile. My energy went from…

Syda Cogliati 30 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory When my daughter was 3 months old, I took her on an all ladies’ surf trip to Costa Rica. She would fall asleep in a baby sling, and when I went out to surf, I would slip the sling off and put it on one of my girlfriends.   Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos My son is now in college on the east coast. When he came home for spring break last month, I drove to the airport with all his surf gear packed in the car.…

Jessica Benet 25 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory Some of my best memories are growing up surfing with my dad and my older brother and I look forward to sharing that stoke with my own kids. What is your occupation Landscape Designer Do you have any significant community involvement? I enjoy catching up with the regulars every time I paddle out at the lane. Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos I have a background in marine biology, so I have fun teaching my son about ocean life both above and below the water. What is your…

Shana Bartlett 26 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory I was on a surf trip in Mexico with about 14 grom surfers and a few guy leaders including my husband when I was 21 years old. Funny enough,a handful of those groms became Santa Cruz’s top surfers just a few years later(Anthony Tashnick, Bud Freitas, Darshan Gooch, Peter Garaway and more). I was feeling really off, tired and nauseous. It hit me on the trip that maybe I am pregnant. There were no girls to talk too about these symptoms and no phones to look up anything on. I can still remember confiding in my…

Gretchen Bach 43 years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory Dropping my 11-year old daughter off to surf the Lane by herself. That was harder for me than watching her drive away in a car for her first time. What is your occupation Realtor Do you have any significant community involvement? Current: Santa Cruz Educational Foundation Board Member. Past: Santa Cruz City Green Schools Board Member, Co-Founder of the Santa Cruz County Scholastic Surfing League, and former Surf Coach for Santa Cruz High, and Mission Hill and Branciforte Middle Schools. Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos I like…