Time to Start Spreading the Stoke!
Donation protected
My beloved friends and family, I need your help in fulfilling my dream!
Here's the short version of what I'm asking for:
- What: A surfboard for beginners, link: (NSP Soft School Wide Surf 9'2), accessories, and a 4/3 Wetsuit.
- Why: Because I want to teach and empower women in the sport of surfing, and also I don't want to freeze to death in the process.
- How much: $699 for the board, plus a leash ($32), shipping costs (I called and they estimated $100 for shipping these boards); and the rest would go towards a wetsuit, which can range from $100 to over $400 depending on the brand and use.
- Ways to contribute: Donate what you can; Share my story on social media; Send good vibes!
- If you have questions, please reach out to me!
- Thank you for your consideration. I love you!
If you want to know the whole story, read on:
As many of you know, I recently completed a Surf Instructor Certification course with the International Surfing Association.
I left the Dominican Republic in June of 2016 in pursuit of this goal, so that I may one day go back, open an all girls surf school and create a community that encourages girls to be badasses in their own way.
In my travels, I somehow ended up in foggy San Francisco, and I was fortunate enough to discover an amazing community of women, of different ages, backgrounds and surf levels, all of whom share a love for the ocean and a passion for learning to surf.
The Bay Ladies Surf Club
Not long after, I came across yet another incredible group of women, the Brown Girl Surf community, whose mission is "to build a more diverse, environmentally reverent, and joyful women’s surf culture by increasing access to surfing, cultivating community, amplifying the voices of women of color surfers, and taking care of the earth." I was fortunate enough to become involved as a volunteer surf instructor, and suddenly my life in San Francisco was imbued with so much meaning. As a fellow woman of color surfer, I felt that I finally found my tribe here.
Surf Sister Saturdays with Brown Girl Surf
These women have not only become my adored friends, but a source of profound inspiration and respect. They go from various parts of the Bay Area to the beach (which can sometimes be more than an hour away), put on a wetsuit (a feat in and of itself), paddle out in 50°F water (home to great white sharks), and put all their energy in attempting to learn this extreme sport.
Now, I often talk about why I'm passionate about surfing and how I instantly became obsessed after my first trial. But falling in love was so easy in my case: my first lesson took place in a tropical paradise, with an expert surf instructor, and a massive board, which was so stable that even if I tried to fall off it it would've probably smacked me right into position. I'm pretty sure I popped up on my first or second wave, and rode it all the way to the shore, feeling like the daughter of Poseidon himself. It was only natural that I would keep coming back for more, always craving one more wave.
With the exception of the Brown Girl Surf participants, so many of these women started without an instructor or proper equipment, and even without a community like the one we have now. Some confess that it took them months before they managed to pop up on a wave. And yet they kept going back and trying again, in this cold, finicky weather and harsh environment, in between their fulltime jobs and hectic city lifestyle. These are tough, real-life, badass women.
Why am I telling this story?
When I moved into this city, I kept questioning my purpose here and had trouble understanding why I shouldn't move to someplace warmer, with easier access to surfbreaks, and a lifestyle in line with my own ideals. But my experience has shown me that things happen for a reason. The community of women surfers I was seeking to establish? It's right here!
I love that I get to surf with all of these women--there's truly no greater feeling of empowerment--but I know that I can do so much more. I want to make the best of my time in San Francisco. I want to make an impact, and the time is now.
I now know that my purpose here is to facilitate the learning experience I was lucky enough to receive. I may not be able to do much about the environmental conditions, but at the very least I can share my knowledge of surfing, ensure that they use proper equipment, and introduce them to the sport in a fun, safe and supportive manner.
My goal is to start giving free/ donation based one-on-one surf lessons upon request to members and friends of members of both Brown Girl Surf and the Bay Ladies Surf Club.
Where you come in:
I want my students to have access to the appropriate equipment that will provide enough support and stability for them to practice and develop basic surfing skills in an effective and progressive manner.
Wavestorms are excellent boards--fun and safe to use--but they may not always be suitable for all the beautiful shapes and sizes we women come in. In addition, it costs money to rent every time, and we won't always be able to surf in places with rental shops in the vicinity.
Therefore, I've decided that the best way to go about this is for me to invest in a beginner surfboard, one that is large and wide enough, extremely durable (can take a beating), and easy to manage.
After extensive research and recommendations by professionals in the business, I've selected the following board:
NSP is a well-known brand with proven performance and value. This particular model features P2Soft technology which includes:
- Eco-friendly shape molded SecureCell
- EPS core.
- NSP’s durable fiberglass and epoxy
construction
- Solid rubber bumpers nose and tail
- New unique colors in green and red
- Tribal graphic pattern
- Crocodile textured soft-top deck
- Fast slick skin HD bottom
- FCS compatible fin boxes
- Supplied with soft fins
For the leash, here's an example of a brand I would buy:
https://www.dakine.com/sport/surf/leashes/longboard-ankle-9-1-4-surf-leash.html
As for the wetsuit, here's the link to a sale that's taking place now, so you can get an idea of the price range:
https://www.swell.com/Sale/Gear-Womens-Wetsuits
Alright that's all folks!
- Please donate what you can to this GoFundMe page
- Please spread the word. Share this page on social media.
- And please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions! <3
Thank you so much for your support and your faith in me. I feel so grateful and blessed for all the love I've received and only wish to pass the shine unto others!
Here's the short version of what I'm asking for:
- What: A surfboard for beginners, link: (NSP Soft School Wide Surf 9'2), accessories, and a 4/3 Wetsuit.
- Why: Because I want to teach and empower women in the sport of surfing, and also I don't want to freeze to death in the process.
- How much: $699 for the board, plus a leash ($32), shipping costs (I called and they estimated $100 for shipping these boards); and the rest would go towards a wetsuit, which can range from $100 to over $400 depending on the brand and use.
- Ways to contribute: Donate what you can; Share my story on social media; Send good vibes!
- If you have questions, please reach out to me!
- Thank you for your consideration. I love you!
If you want to know the whole story, read on:
As many of you know, I recently completed a Surf Instructor Certification course with the International Surfing Association.
I left the Dominican Republic in June of 2016 in pursuit of this goal, so that I may one day go back, open an all girls surf school and create a community that encourages girls to be badasses in their own way.
In my travels, I somehow ended up in foggy San Francisco, and I was fortunate enough to discover an amazing community of women, of different ages, backgrounds and surf levels, all of whom share a love for the ocean and a passion for learning to surf.
The Bay Ladies Surf ClubNot long after, I came across yet another incredible group of women, the Brown Girl Surf community, whose mission is "to build a more diverse, environmentally reverent, and joyful women’s surf culture by increasing access to surfing, cultivating community, amplifying the voices of women of color surfers, and taking care of the earth." I was fortunate enough to become involved as a volunteer surf instructor, and suddenly my life in San Francisco was imbued with so much meaning. As a fellow woman of color surfer, I felt that I finally found my tribe here.
Surf Sister Saturdays with Brown Girl SurfThese women have not only become my adored friends, but a source of profound inspiration and respect. They go from various parts of the Bay Area to the beach (which can sometimes be more than an hour away), put on a wetsuit (a feat in and of itself), paddle out in 50°F water (home to great white sharks), and put all their energy in attempting to learn this extreme sport.
Now, I often talk about why I'm passionate about surfing and how I instantly became obsessed after my first trial. But falling in love was so easy in my case: my first lesson took place in a tropical paradise, with an expert surf instructor, and a massive board, which was so stable that even if I tried to fall off it it would've probably smacked me right into position. I'm pretty sure I popped up on my first or second wave, and rode it all the way to the shore, feeling like the daughter of Poseidon himself. It was only natural that I would keep coming back for more, always craving one more wave.
With the exception of the Brown Girl Surf participants, so many of these women started without an instructor or proper equipment, and even without a community like the one we have now. Some confess that it took them months before they managed to pop up on a wave. And yet they kept going back and trying again, in this cold, finicky weather and harsh environment, in between their fulltime jobs and hectic city lifestyle. These are tough, real-life, badass women.
Why am I telling this story?
When I moved into this city, I kept questioning my purpose here and had trouble understanding why I shouldn't move to someplace warmer, with easier access to surfbreaks, and a lifestyle in line with my own ideals. But my experience has shown me that things happen for a reason. The community of women surfers I was seeking to establish? It's right here!
I love that I get to surf with all of these women--there's truly no greater feeling of empowerment--but I know that I can do so much more. I want to make the best of my time in San Francisco. I want to make an impact, and the time is now.
I now know that my purpose here is to facilitate the learning experience I was lucky enough to receive. I may not be able to do much about the environmental conditions, but at the very least I can share my knowledge of surfing, ensure that they use proper equipment, and introduce them to the sport in a fun, safe and supportive manner.
My goal is to start giving free/ donation based one-on-one surf lessons upon request to members and friends of members of both Brown Girl Surf and the Bay Ladies Surf Club.
Where you come in:
I want my students to have access to the appropriate equipment that will provide enough support and stability for them to practice and develop basic surfing skills in an effective and progressive manner.
Wavestorms are excellent boards--fun and safe to use--but they may not always be suitable for all the beautiful shapes and sizes we women come in. In addition, it costs money to rent every time, and we won't always be able to surf in places with rental shops in the vicinity.
Therefore, I've decided that the best way to go about this is for me to invest in a beginner surfboard, one that is large and wide enough, extremely durable (can take a beating), and easy to manage.
After extensive research and recommendations by professionals in the business, I've selected the following board:
NSP is a well-known brand with proven performance and value. This particular model features P2Soft technology which includes:
- Eco-friendly shape molded SecureCell
- EPS core.
- NSP’s durable fiberglass and epoxy
construction
- Solid rubber bumpers nose and tail
- New unique colors in green and red
- Tribal graphic pattern
- Crocodile textured soft-top deck
- Fast slick skin HD bottom
- FCS compatible fin boxes
- Supplied with soft fins
For the leash, here's an example of a brand I would buy:
https://www.dakine.com/sport/surf/leashes/longboard-ankle-9-1-4-surf-leash.html
As for the wetsuit, here's the link to a sale that's taking place now, so you can get an idea of the price range:
https://www.swell.com/Sale/Gear-Womens-Wetsuits
Alright that's all folks!
- Please donate what you can to this GoFundMe page
- Please spread the word. Share this page on social media.
- And please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions! <3
Thank you so much for your support and your faith in me. I feel so grateful and blessed for all the love I've received and only wish to pass the shine unto others!
Organizer
Marley Reynosa
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
