Cover Story: Surfer Mamas

...in Santa Cruz County there’s a whole subculture of moms who get recharged regularly just by paddling out for a killer surf session.

BY JONI MARTIN & CHRISTY SHULTS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY KEVIN PAINCHAUD

Every year on Mother’s Day our society seems to suddenly remember that the wells women draw on for their parenting need intentional refilling. But in Santa Cruz County there’s a whole subculture of moms who get recharged regularly just by paddling out for a killer surf session.

No female Jeff Spicolis, these women include college professors, teachers, business owners, a judge, a surfboard shaper and a nonprofit executive. What they have in common is a passion so deep that many have taken turns watching each other’s children on the beach to get their water time.

For some, surfing is a shared bond with their kids, keeping teenagers close and filling weekends, holidays, and family vacations. For others, surfing is “me time”; stress washes away as they focus on the ocean and its motion in the company of otters and seabirds, sometimes even dolphins and whales.

This is far from an exhaustive list of the moms who surf in Santa Cruz, and their tidbits of stories are just a sampling of what they shared with Growing Up. To read their full stories or to share your own experience in the comments, check out “Surfer Mamas” at GrowingUpSC.com.

Dina El Dessouky 22 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory:

I got 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. Sarah Gerhardt 32 Years Surfing 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. Do you have any significant community involvement?

I help with Ride a Wave, as a surf escort. What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Taking them out to Cowell's as toddlers Maria Neeley Over 20 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

There are too many! I would have to say pushing Mo Ray at 3 years old into the first wave he ever surfed by himself, at Cowell's beach. 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 like to clean up beaches for fun.

Shana Bartlett 26 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos:

After my first was born I competed in the last 5 or 6 Star O'Neill Coldwater Classic event that came to Steamer Lane. I think it was 1999 or 2000, about 21 years ago! All the best female professional surfers in the world were here competing. I ended up making it to the quarter finals, last local girl still surfing in it. I even made a little money. This was one of the last competitions I did. Now, I spend weekends at my children’s surf competitions. Full circle! Jessica Benet 25 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

My kiddo is only 3, so right now, he lays on the front of our longboard on small days at the Point. At this stage, each time we take him out, it's memorable because everything is so new. Most times, it's not even the waves that get him excited; it's just being out there or being close to a sea otter.. Syda Cogliati 30 Years Surfing 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. I picked him up and drove him straight to the Lane. He thought I was basically the coolest mom ever. Susie Deutsch 25 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

I have fond memories surfing with my boys when they were in their early teens. While I could embarrass them easily by my mere existence on land, they would always yell "YEAH MOM!" when I got a good wave.

Julia E Salido 26 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Surfing with my son Miguel who is 11 at Capitola with no one else out in stormy weather and trading fun little waves when he was just getting more confident to out past the first jetty was awesome a month or so ago. Lots of high fives and smiles. I just asked Miguel what our best surf moment was and he said and I quote "Just tell them that you always drop in on me and that it's ok and I think it is kind of funny". I don't agree with that claim, but there you are.

Grace Gooch 20 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory:

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 husband's board and paddle around with him. We were at 38th when suddenly a small seal jumped up on my board! The seal was so friendly and sweet and just wanted a place to rest. After hanging with me for a bit she hopped on top of my husbands board to join my daughter and him. For Raea, this was a life-changing moment! Susan Coffey 30 Years Surfing 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. Do you have any significant community involvement?

League Director, Santa Cruz Scholastic Surf League

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. 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 known shaper, Steve Coletta, gave me the nickname "Side Shore Sally".

Ashley Lloyd Surfing Before 10 Years Old Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos:

This year, my son, Odin, has really gotten into the ocean. I think the super warm wetsuit helps. He wasn't all that excited to surf for a while. I have just tried to keep it fun and familiar to him. All of a sudden it clicked, and he's pretty stoked. Which also means more water time for Mom! But really, it's so sweet sharing the joys of the ocean with him and it re-kindles my stoke. Julie Malcom 35 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

We were all surfing Seascape on 4th of July and a white shark came up right next to us and was eating a fish. It was pretty funny because my older daughter kept asking me if that was a shark and I was looking off into the distance not seeing it. Finally she said right there mom next to you! Sure enough, I was eyeball to eyeball with a baby great white.

Katie Loggins 20 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos:

With both of my children I surfed until I was 8 months pregnant. It was the most fun I have ever had in the water. I don't think I have laughed that hard. It is so challenging, so every wave I caught was a triumph. And, I was so fortunate to have 2 of my now closest surf friends pregnant at the same time. As our bellies grew we played in the waves, laughing at how challenging it was to surf but having each other to share in the experience.

Jill Matthies 38 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos:

I think that because I am an avid lover of the ocean and surfing I have always supported my kids to be great swimmers and comfortable in the ocean. My son Luke is already a lifeguard for Santa Cruz and my middle daughter just got hired to be a lifeguard for this summer. I have a great sense of adventure and fun and I like to say I passed that on to my kids with their love of the ocean. Jane McKenzie 57 Years of Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory:

There are so many with the amount of years I have been in the water. Now it is enjoying the next generation of surfers and trying to help them understand respect for themselves, other surfers, the ocean and environment and not to be entitled or reckless. Every time I surf there is another funny story or adventure! . Ginaia Kelly 25+ Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Surfing at the epic sandbar at Cowell's beach with my kids, and every other family we knew in Santa Cruz was out in the water. We were all pushing our young kids into waves in front of the white water on soft foam boards. Utter chaos and laughter. Families in the water, cheering each other on; Others on the beach. I remember pushing my son and his friend Selah Bartlett, riding tandem on a long 10' board when they were about 8 years old. 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. Tell us a surfing challenge related to motherhood?

Balancing self-care versus being present for

Joni Martin 36 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with or without your kids:

I spent over a decade stacking SO many surfboards on and inside our vans, taking our kids and classmates surfing as often as they wanted. Also, my friend Susie and I have done a surf-camping road trip each summer with our children and their friends, hitting surf spots and skate parks from Santa Cruz to San Diego. We don’t live at the coast, so our kids depended on us to get to the surf. That led to so many sweet hours together in the ocean!

Amy Mihal 19 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory:

I am blessed to have so many fun surfing memories over the past years. I am grateful for each moment spent in the water with my best friends, Alayna Nathe and Zeuf Hesson, both of whom were incredible surfing mentors and inspirations to me! What is your occupation

I am the co-owner of Village Yoga, and have been teaching yoga since 1999. Alayna Nathe 31 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos:

We let our kids fall in love with surfing on their own time. My son is 14 and is now hooked on surfing, all waves & all types of boards. My biggest joy is sharing waves with him at 38th, splitting the peak and having some laughs

Erin Torr 14 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

There are so many—I love our family surfs on holidays. Big Sur camp trips every summer are so fun because the waves vary so much from year to year, and surfing Costa Rica with my son and daughter was amazing! Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos:

I do not like surfing small waves and I really only surf the hook! Kathy Wiles 25 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory:

My fondest surfing memories are probably from travel adventures I took with friends when I was in my 20's, as well as memories from the year I lived on Maui with my closest buddies. We were really good at faking it till we made it in random line ups; and the carefree joy, laughter, surprises and bonding we shared during our time in the water and travels together is something I'll always cherish and remember. My husband and I have also had some amazing kid-free surf trips to Mexico the last few summers which have been such a treat!. Mei-Li Restani 2 years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

I remember one specific time that my daughter wanted me to take her out to surf. We paddled out on the same board and when I got ready to get off the board to help push her into some waves, she told me to stop and admitted that she just wanted to sit on the board with me and hang out. I just found this to be one of the sweetest moments because it isn't often I get one-on-one time with her. We laughed a lot and enjoyed being in the moment.

Gretchen Bach 43 years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Surfing Cowells 12 years ago with only myself and my daughters Eden and Violet out. There was a calm light rain and the girls didn't want to go out because there was no one else out. But that was the day that, once they had experienced the calmness of surfing alone in the rain, they became real surfers. Adrienne Saxton 32 Years of Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory:

Traveling to islands and continents to surf and finding Santa Cruz friends in each place! Surfing in Tahiti with the fire dancer I had watched perform the night before. He was the prince in the performance and when I saw him surfing the next day it was like I was surfing with a god!

Surfing at a spot up north alone with a whale nearby the entire session.

Surfing with friends in perfect conditions at my favorite spot.