There’s something special about surfing the Lane. Most days, the lineup is packed. Surfers stacked from the rocks at the Slot to Middle Peak and down into Indicators. Everyone battling for position, trying to find their waves. It’s part of what makes the Lane iconic, but it also makes moments of space out there incredibly rare. That’s why getting to compete at the Lane feels like such a treat. During contests, there are usually only six of us in the water at a time. Even if it’s just for...

Ola Chica shares highlights from the 2026 SurfAid Cup in Santa Cruz.An unforgettable day of surfing, community, and raising $50,000 for SurfAid. Surfing for Something Bigger 🌊 Last weekend, I had the honor of being invited to surf as a pro in the SurfAid Cup Santa Cruz 2026, and it was one of the most fun, unique experiences I’ve had in the water in a long time. I surfed with an incredible group of men and women, The Kelp Cruisers, and from the very first wave, it felt different. It wasn’t...

Why is travel so important? Travel is more than just visiting new places. It shifts your perspective, challenges your comfort zone, and creates space for personal growth in ways that everyday life often does not. I recently took a trip to New Zealand with my husband, and it reminded me exactly why travel matters so much. It was not our typical surf focused adventure. This time, we leaned into something different with more exploration, more variety, and more unknowns. Even packing felt like a...