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If you’ve been harboring a desire to pick up surfing, a new board, or one of the best wetsuits for women, now might be a perfect time. The Olympics will include the sport for the first time this year, so elite athletes will be providing bountiful inspiration in the waves of Chiba, Japan. The pandemic saw a boom of board sales meaning beginners certainly won’t be lonesome in most lineups. And a set of organizations are making the sport more accessible and inviting. In New York, the Laru Beya Collective is helping BIPOC youth get water safety training and surf lessons in the Far Rockaways. Queer Surf Club is connecting LGBTQ+ surfers around the world. The founders of Textured Waves advocate for greater diversity in the lineup, while SurfearNEGRA is providing scholarships for girls of color to attend surf camp.
Meg White, surfer and communications officer for Queer Surf Club, found the ocean was a place of refuge when she came out in her late 20s. “Being in the ocean gives me a sense of freedom like no other,” she says. “As soon as my feet hit the water, I’d feel my body relax and the hundreds of thoughts swirling around my head would stop and I could just be. Surfing and being in the ocean was my first love and has got me through everything.”
For anyone ready to take the plunge—or simply looking to get some new gear—I spoke to a set of surfers who ride waves from Cornwall to California about their opinions on the best wetsuits for women, sunscreen, and accessories. And as an enthusiastic surfer myself, I included a few of my own favorites. Here’s to staying stoked all summer long.
Best Swimsuits and Wetsuits
“My favorite swimwear brand is The Seea. Living in Hawai’i, comfort and sun protection is key. Sometimes it’s not feasible to reapply sunscreen if you are surfing for more than a few hours. The Seea offers a wide range of suits designed to give a bit of extra protection from the sun, while staying comfortable and on during the heaviest surf sessions. Bonus is they fit well, even for me who doesn’t have a sample size body. A company founded by a female surfer, I find the designs really compliment the female form while holding up in the heaviest conditions. One of my favorite go-to combos is The Palomar crop rash guard paired with the Georgia bottoms.” - Martina Duran, co-founder of Textured Waves
“In the winter, Patagonia’s R3 Yulex keeps me warm in the waves at Rockaway, but for the past five or so years I’ve worn Cynthia Rowley’s short wetsuit in the summer; it’s super comfortable and I love that it has a pocket in the back—if I ever see trash in the water, I’ll grab it and put it in the pocket so I can take it to a trash can onshore.” - Ella Riley-Adams
“My favorite surfwear is made by The Seea, an eco-friendly brand that is designed by an Italian fashion/bikini designer, Amanda Chinchilli, and made sustainably in California. The bikinis and surf suits stay on, meaning while you are going through the surf washing machine nothing moves, which is important while surfing because sometimes you don’t have the time to adjust things before the next wave hits you. Some of my favorite suits are the Harper and Swami surf suits, the Kaili leggings, and the Vega bikini. - Rosie Jaffurs
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“My favorite wetsuit is a local brand from Northern California Feral 5/4 with a hood or Feral 4/3. The hood is stretchy and comfortably fits all of my hair, and the suit itself feels like butter on my skin keeping me toasty and warm. In warmer climates my go-to surf suit is anything by The Seea. Particularly their Penelope bodysuit, which stays in place in larger surf and protects my calves from sunburns!” - Chelsea Woody, co-founder of Textured Waves
“My favorite wetsuits/surf suits are from sustainable brands like The Seea and Kassia Surf. Neoprene production is incredibly harmful to the environment and these brands are using sustainable practices and materials like Yulex and limestone. They both make beautiful, timeless pieces that I have used for several seasons now. I love everything The Seea creates because it flatters every woman’s body. Some of my favorite pieces are the Sydney 2mm long jane paired with the Rincon 2mm jacket, and for warmer sessions the Saile and Tofino one piece and Mimi Surf Suit. The Kassia Surf 2mm long arm springsuit and 3mm psychedelic fullsuit are fun, colorful pieces that make me feel powerful in the lineup.” - Danielle Black Lyons, co-founder of Textured Waves
“My favorite wetsuit to surf in would be the Sisstrevolution suits. Why? Well when I look for a suit to surf in I would like a suit that feels secure and offers mobility as well as stretch. Something I also found very hard to find in a suit is, in my case, having curves in certain areas made it very hard to fit—I would have to go a size higher which did not work for the less curvy parts of my body. With Sisstrevolution all those areas are covered so well. I love it.” - Cynthia R. Hicks, water safety director for Laru Beya
“My absolute favorite ‘go-to’ suit is Ansea’s Yulex one piece. It’s functional, comfortable, sexy and sustainable. When I’m feeling spicy, I go for the Reversible High Waisted Bikini Brief by Ansea in hot pink paired with a statement tee like Honorable Mention’s “Award Winning” Organic Cotton Tee.” - GiGi Lucas, founder of SurfearNEGRA
“I wear an eight-year-old Gul 5/3mm suit pretty much all year round. I’ve had to stitch it up a few times, but it's still going strong. When I do need to replace it I’ll definitely be getting a Patagonia Yulex suit knowing how damaging neoprene is for the environment and human health.” - Meg White
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Best Sunscreen
“I wear Coco Aloha zinc for my face in the surf because the owner Gita, color-matches to your skin tone, and it stays on for hours in the water. Out of the water, I wear Sun Bum mineral SPF 30 tinted sunscreen face lotion. It‘s zinc-based and goes on light with a matte finish, offering excellent protection.” - Danielle Black Lyons
“My favorite go-to sunscreen is Avasol, it’s an all-natural, environment and reef-safe sunscreen, and even the packaging it comes in is compostable. Love not getting sunburnt!” - Rosie Jaffurs
“Reef protection is my first consideration when thinking of sunscreen. We have to remember that anytime we enter the ocean, we are visitors and must mitigate any damage we may be causing to the delicate ecosystems that have existed before us. Even though a sunscreen may be labeled “reef safe” there still is evidence that certain nanoparticles cause irreversible damage to reef systems worldwide. For that reason I love Avasol which is reef safe and free of nanoparticles, nano-titanium dioxides and nano zinc oxides. It also stays on and doesn’t run. The packaging of the stick is completely plastic-free and completely biodegradable (which also helps our oceans in the long run). Bonus is that it comes in different shades and doesn’t leave the dreaded white sheen on my skin. For a daily sunscreen when I am not surfing I use Supergoop’s Matte Screen—an excellent vegan product that is reef safe using Hawai’i state standards. It’s free of any synthetic fragrances and irritants and I find it works really well as a makeup primer if I am planning to doll myself up. Products that have multiple uses are a win-win, because it saves money for me and plastic waste for the environment!” - Martina Duran
“I prefer to use natural products to make sure my skin stays safe and hydrated. Sun Bum’s zinc-based Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray keeps my shoulders and back sufficiently protected while paddling out and catching waves.” - GiGi Lucas
“My favorite sunscreen is Zoca Lotion which is a brand that is actually based in my surf community. I love the fact that there are no chemicals involved in the making of this, as well as the fact that I don’t have to re-apply as fast as I would any other sunblock. I can feel the difference in Zoca on my skin versus any other; where once you begin to sweat the sunscreen drips into your eyes and burns. I have never had that issue with Zoca and I love that because at times I can be on the water for hours without a break.” - Cynthia R. Hicks
“I swear by Supergoop’s Play Everyday sunscreen for the parts of my body that aren’t covered by a wetsuit. For my face, I love Shiseido’s sunscreen stick because it stays put and it’s easy to apply—plus they just did an adorable collaboration with Tory Burch. The stick version is coming soon, but the liquid formula is just as good, and available now.” - Ella Riley-Adams
Best Surf Accessories
“For added sun protection I normally wear an adjustable bucket hat that adds extra protection for my face and neck while out on the water. Sometimes that sun can be so strong on certain days!” - Cynthia R. Hicks
“I always have my Navy Blue Telfar Shopper and a collection of African Wax Printed Fabrics in my car when jetting around town post surf session. Both items are perfect for absorbing water, repelling sand and looking stylish all at the same time.” - GiGi Lucas
“I don’t leave the house without my Aquis hair turban. My after-surf curl health ritual includes a freshwater rinse with a spritz of a hair moisturizing oil blend wrapped under an Aquis hair turban for my journey home (or any burrito stops along the way). This gives my hair a head start on the repairing/detangling process until I get home.” - Martina Duran
“I love wearing my waterproof Birkenstocks to the beach; they’re lightweight and super comfortable. For a dry bag, I’ve honestly been using a hand-me-down cooler bag that my parents bought in the ’90s, but in the summer when my wetsuit dries out quickly, I’ll use my Cotopaxi backpack to carry my stuff.” - Ella Riley-Adams
“Love coming in from a surf to my Slowtide towel and a “lost not found” surf culture magazine. Parking lot culture is a real part of surfing and there’s nothing like watching the waves and cruising with friends styled out with all of my favorite products.” - Rosie Jaffurs
“I use my fair trade surf changing poncho by Marlin Ray daily—it also doubles as a cute outfit in a pinch. I adore my dry bag by Watershed dry bags. It holds my wet suits and is super durable. Nothing can penetrate this bag and it’s also quite stylish. Kassia Surf palo santo surf wax is a little luxury I afford myself as well. It’s the best surf wax and the most beautiful scent.” - Danielle Black Lyons
“Love the Vans Surf Trek Slip-On shoe! Easy to travel with because they pack down and can be slipped on post-surf for whatever you are getting into. They allow my sea-soaked feet to breathe after a long surf and can be great for a simple beach hike, wading through creeks, and best of all they are rinsable!” - Chelsea Woody
“My homemade changing towel goes everywhere with me! It’s two beach towels sewn together and it even has a hood. It’s 13 years old and still as good as new. It makes a world of difference on windy or chilly days when you’ve just got out of the water.” - Meg White