NowVIZ / Milka Duno

NowVIZ: You have a Masters degree in marketing, which is kind of unusual for the surfer stereotype. Why did you pursue it and how have you found it useful?

Holly: I get bored easily, and I love to read. I was always a good student, finishing high school with a 3.8 GPA. I then went to The University of California, San Deigo and graduated in just 3 years, so I could get on tour. Then once I graduated I got bored.You can’t surf all day and remain stimulated, so after a few months I needed something to keep me mentally motivated. So I started working with some of the older girls on tour Rochelle Ballard, Layne Benchley, Kate Skarratt, Megan Abubo, etc. with a non-profit that they had started called IWS (International Women’s Surfing). The goal of the organization was to have a platform to petition for their rights within the governing body of professional surfing (then called the ASP). I got involved and helped transform it into a membership organization, getting young girls involved, help raise money, and help sponsor events. We were even able to sponsor a few of the girls on tour who weren’t able to get sponsorship (and not because of their lack of talent.) It was a great learning experience and it kept me busy, but after a few years I realized I was doing all the work and none of the others were helping, so I quit. I then met a woman who was the Marketing Director for PADI (the dive company) who inspired me to continue my education. So I decided to go after a masters degree in marketing. I found marketing to be really interesting and learned a lot. The most useful part of the degree for me was we were required to write a business plan and mine was to start a surf camp in Nicaragua. I then realized it was feasible and something I actually might want to do!

NowVIZ: Your Surf with Amigas-Surf and Yoga Retreats sounds amazing! What types of women are you finding most interested that come to your retreat?

Holly: We get all types of women coming to retreats. We’ve had everything from age 11 to 68! While people have come from all over the world, most come from the US and Canada.

The average participant is in her late 30s, early 40s. Single, no kids, working a highly skilled job (doctors, lawyers, nurses, advertising), who want to get away on an adventure, but don’t have other women friends who are able to travel. 90% of our guests arrive solo, but leave the retreat with a new group of like-minded friends. Surfing is our primary focus, but it’s really only a part of the retreat. We strive to help people have the very best vacation of their lives, push their limits and overcome fear, leaving the week inspired and motivated to go back to their “real lives” knowing they can achieve anything. We get a lot of repeat clients, (the record is 8 retreats) which is the best feedback to have knowing that we’re doing something awesome. (*The main retreat is in Nicaragua) NowVIZ: What do you enjoy most about living in Nicaragua?

Holly: I just love the lifestyle. I like running around barefoot all day. wearing a bikini and board shorts to work, running the dogs off-leash to an empty beach every afternoon, and diving into the warm water to bodysurf. I also love that I could afford to buy land, build a house, and create a home without having to work so much I never have time to enjoy it.

I do miss first world benefits like fast internet, easy shopping, and unlimited restaurant options. Our internet is stone age, the nearest grocery store is 45 minutes away, and we have a total of three restaurants nearby, but it’s worth it.