Thursday, October 11, 2012

Surf Sister Austrailia CHICK STICKS Interview

Narani Henson

Producer

0410 837 854

(02) 6685 9651

narani@surfsister.com.au

We Love To Surf

www.surfsister.com.au

Surf Sister Magazine

Chick Sticks ~

SURF SISTER: Can you tell us the story behind the start up of Chick Sticks? You talk about your boards being " A full line of girls and womens Performance surfboards with girl friendly shapes" can you talk about this in more detail please?

LOLA: I was always buying ‘guys’ boards because I wanted a performance board. The selection for girls is terrible. All the girls’ boards I saw had no shape whatsoever and you can barely turn on them and they weren’t even cool looking. When I was first starting out everyone was trying to put me on a 9.0 longboard, which I did and I hated it. I’m five feet tall and a little over a hundred pounds and when I stopped listening to everyone and starting riding the little fishes and thruster shapes the guys were riding I finally felt in control. I got sick of being stuck on the inside with a huge heavy board. Once I learned how to duck dive on the smaller boards Surfing got really fun and started to feel more comfortable to me.

When I stopped buying used boards and I started having customs made I knew what I wanted. I wanted a board with a little more foam so I could catch waves easier, not as wide so I could carry it, a softer nose and tail so it was more forgiving and easier to ride and definitely some rocker so there’s less pearling. The boards I was having shaped were working so well, I was learning to surf on little 5.6 to 5.9 short boards. I never planned on Chick Sticks being a company but once I started making them for myself, and my friends loved my boards it was like, I have to make these for other girls. I started my business officially last year and its growing like crazy. I have shops carrying them and sales reps and I consider myself so blessed to be doing what I’m doing. Of course I’m not the shaper, Luiz Masuzzo is my shaper. He and I took thruster, egg, fish, fun board and longboard shapes, literally every shape you can make a surfboard and with my input made them girl friendly and easier to ride. My board models are all my own programs, my own shapes.

And by super performance, my shorties are the same shapes the guys who rip surf. Five of my eight board line up are five fin options including my 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 Bad Betty longboard. I just love my boards, they are Awesome!! And they all come with full paint and you don’t pay extra. I’m getting into some tomboy designs this year, I design my own paint sprays it is so fun to be creative. I have models for the Grommie Girl, a total beginner just starting out, intermediate, advanced competitive surfer girls on up to 3 sizes of longboard. I truly make a board for every girl and every level of surfer.

SURF SISTER: How long have you been surfing/skating/snowboarding for?

LOLA: I’ve been Skateboarding my entire life, that's my first love actually. When I was a kid I skated after school with my friends and all day on the weekends. I Love Skating, it’s so fun!! And you can basically do it anywhere. I grew up in Santa Barbara close to the beach and I surfed a couple times but really only got in to Surfing 4 1/2 years ago. I’ve had my share of accidents out there, stitches in my head from the fins, broken bones, blown out knee so my surfing progression has been slow and Ive been out of the water because of injurys several times unfortunately but I’ve always Loved the sport. I’ve always seen it as a beautiful and sexy sport that is so unpredictable because every day the conditions are different and every wave is different. I Love to be out in the water and a pod of dolphins comes by. I can’t think of a more beautiful place to be. I’m not a huge snowboarder because even thou the drive isn’t that bad to get to the mountains in So Cal I don’t get to go very often. It is important to me to take my trademarked concept of Girl Friendly Surfboards and Skateboards and make the progression to manufacturing Snowboards. I have a shaper and will be introducing Chick Sticks Snowboards this Fall. I’m really excited!!

SURF SISTER: Can you tell us a bit about surf culture in CA?

LOLA: I honestly think that is so accepted here to be a Surfer that its not uncommon for me to see guys, young and old, arrive down at my Surf Spot in their business suits on their lunch break heading out for a Sesh and then quickly changing and going back to work. Also, its tough getting boards made when theres swell LOL shapers, glassers, painters, they are pretty much going to get a surf in no matter what. And I love to see families out with their little ones, teaching them how to surf. It’s awesome to live in a place (Southern California) where the climate and the breaks are so mild you can literally surf every day if you wanted to. And there’s literally a Surf Shop on almost every corner, I love it.

SURF SISTER: How many ladies are in the water at your local break?

LOLA: I do see more Girls down at my break during Summer. The Girl there that is the most rippingest and surfs almost every day I recruited to run my Chick Sticks Surf School!! I love my break because on one side are the Warm Water Jetties where the pros come to surf when they are in town and to the South is Terramar a nice longboard break and then my friends and I surf in the middle. Just a mellow break, although it can get really huge during winter swell. I Love small waves, I just want to have fun so when it’s really big I stay out and like to take pictures of the Rippers doing their thing.

Your Bio:

Lola Blake

Owner, Chick Sticks

Chick Sticks Factory

3052 Industry St, Ste 106

Oceanside, CA USA 92054

www.chicksticksbylola.com

chicksticksgirl@aol.com

(760) 908-8600

BEACH RAYS CHICK STICKS INTERVIEW

http://beachrays.com/news/2012/10/lola-interview/#more-2065

Chick Sticks are USA Made Girl Friendly Performance Surfboards
WWW.CHICKSTICKSBYLOLA.COM
CHICKSTICKSGIRL@AOL.COM
LOLA BLAKE (760) 908-8600
FACEBOOK SURF: https://www.facebook.com/ChickSticks?ref=stream
FACEBOOK SKATE: https://www.facebook.com/ChickSticksBombSquad?ref=hl
TWITTER: @chicksticksgirl

Lola Blake Interview

October 7, 2012Leave a Comment

Lola Blake has made it her mission to empower girls through surf. We caught up with her to learn more about her all-girl surfboard brand, Chick Sticks…

Where did your love for surf come from?
I have always lived here in Southern California and ever since I was little thought surfing was the most beautiful and sexy sport there is. I have been a tomboy my entire life always competing in Sports and Surfing has such a different feel to it than any other sport. The interaction with Mother Nature in such an intimate way and I’m an animal lover, so experiencing sea life at that level… there’s just nothing like surfing as far as I’m concerned. It’s just really beautiful in every aspect.
What is your earliest surf memory?
I grew up in Santa Barbara and spent a lot of time at the beach. I’m a water baby and love swimming and any kind of water sports. I think my earliest surf memory would be watching my older brother load up surfboards with all his cute surfer friends and they’d all come back surf stoked. Oh, and begging them to let me go with them. LOL! I was too young at the time to go with them but there’s was always this mystique about Surfing, I still feel that way about it. Like you can’t predict what it’s going to be like, you just have to paddle out and find out what’s in store for you.

How long have you been shaping boards for and how did you decide to start?
My shaper is Luiz Masuzzo and all my boards are shaped out of the Masuzzo Chick Sticks Factory in Oceanside, Cali and I am fully hands on. I own all my Chick Sticks board programs, I order my own blanks, draw the paint designs and oversea the entire process until its time to ship them out and I do that too! I came up with the idea to shape boards for other girls that wanted my own personal boards I had been experimenting with at the end of 2010. Officially Chick Sticks debuted in 2011.
Where do you draw inspiration from when it comes to the design, shape and style of your boards?
My inspiration for board shape is pulled from the top ‘guys’ surf brands, so that my shapes are similar, competitive and cutting edge. This way I can start knowing that I have a quality shape that works and then I modify each shape so its girl friendly. That’s the whole idea behind my company: girl friendly performance surfboards. Every board model has something that’s really special about it, or that works for a particular level or style of surfer. I have softer noses, added rocker, reshaped and narrowed tails all so girls bodies, which are way different than guys, can paddle, catch waves and duck dive easier… and there’s the “Girl Power” thing. I’m all about empowering other girls and my platform has always promoted sports as a way to do that.

Do you have any heroes and/or mentors?
My number one hero is Jesus. Then there’s Channel Islands and …Lost. Those two brands are the companies I look up to and model my own brand after, they are the best. I can’t say enough about Luiz my shaper, he has taken my board ideas to a whole new level and does excellent work… and of course all of my Chick Sticks supporters and team riders have just been amazing by sharing Chick Sticks and believing in this brand like I do. I couldn’t do it without all of the support that I have.
What are some of your favorite moments in your career?
Definitely when someone important in the surf industry says that they have heard of my brand. It’s the little things that happen that confirm that your brand is growing and people are recognizing it. Then of course the phone calls and emails saying, ‘I rode one of your boards and I loved it and I have to order one for myself’ or ‘I went from my long board to your short board and got up the first day and I cant believe I’m short boarding’- it really makes the long hours I put in worth it. Girls want super performing boards that work and look awesome.

What is something that you would do differently?
I would not have launched my brand and hit it so hard-core until my brand was a little more seasoned. I’ve refined and made a lot of changes with my branding and Chick Sticks just gets better and better. So I wish for the shops that had seen my stuff right from the start , I would have waited and hit them with it now. But maybe its ok, they’ve seen Chick Sticks come a long way.
What do you think is the future of your industry?
I see a momentum building with girls surfing and skateboarding and it’s because of the other girls out there doing their thing and brands like mine that are taking the risks and paving the way. I support other women in business and want them to succeed. It only legitimatizes women’s surfing and girl’s brands. Girls know what girls want! You’re not going to get the same product or same vibe from a guys company trying to pull a girl’s brand. So slowly I see girls being recognized more and more for their hard work and as far as girls surfing – they aren’t just powder puffs they are out there performing as respected athletes and surfing just as hard as the guys.

Which board (of yours) is your personal favorite?
I learned to surf on a fish so Ill always be partial to my Vixen shape. But I experimented and came up with a performance egg shape, the first one I built was a smaller modified version of my Hoochie Mama fun board so I called it the Hoochie Mod. Well, if I had known it was going to be so sick and work so well I would definitely have come up with a better name! So my Chick Sticks Hoochie Mod is definitely my favorite and the flag ship board for Chick Sticks. Its a 5 fin option performance egg that’s so versatile and it has a round tail so its super easy for girls to duck dive when ridden as a quad. Its got a lot of volume but thinned out in the tail so its super responsive. You can ride anything on that board, 2-foot slop to 8-foot bombs. It’s amazing.
Any exciting projects coming up?
I pretty much missed out on Snowboards for this season. But I’m so busy with Surfboards and also expanding my Skateboards and that’s really who I am, Surf and Skate, so I’d like to say Snowboards are in Chick Stick’s Future next Snow Season. I plan on introducing a Wake Surfboard, the kind you pull behind a boat, next year. I love my Team Riders and am focusing on supporting them and their individual goals as athletes so I’m working on putting together a good program for them to really help them out. I am loving every minute of what I’m doing and open to opportunities for my brand.

Filed Under: Live SurfTagged With: Beach, Beach Rays, bikini, board shorts, chick sticks, Fashion, female surfboard shaper, female surfers, girls surfboards, Interview, lola blake, Ray, southern california coast, surfboard show, surfboards, surfer, surfing, The boardroom, Wet

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Chick Sticks Girls Performance Surfboards

Chick Sticks is a company located in Oceanside, Ca that builds Surfboards for Girls. These boards are more than catchy names and beautiful paint jobs, my shaper Luiz Masuzzo and I took performance shapes and with my input made them Girl Friendly. These are Performance Boards for Girls with just the right amount of width and foam to help with paddling, catching waves and duck diving. Chick Sticks offers softer noses and tails and attention to rocker to help you when you’re just starting out or to take your surfing to the next level.

The Chick Sticks Factory uses only the highest quality blanks, colored stringers and glue line with multiple fin set ups to make every shape as versatile as possible. Everything is done ‘in house’ to keep the quality exceptional and all boards come with Full Paint and Fins. Chick Sticks offers 6 Fresh board models to choose from. Each comes with a unique and beautiful full paint and fins. Choose from 30 beautiful paint designs or I will custom paint your design.

These are the shapes the top ‘guys’ surfboard brands make only Girl Friendly. No one else offers a full line of Girls and Women’s Performance surfboards with these girl friendly shapes. Chick Sticks has a Board for Every Girl. Find YOUR board at www.chicksticksbylola.com

Featured in Women’s Surf Style, Soaked, Jetty Girl and Surf Sister Magazine’s

For full board descriptions please check out The Boards page on my website at www.chicksticksbylola.com ♥

Chick Sticks Girls Performance Surfboards

Chick Sticks is a company located in Oceanside, Ca that builds Surfboards for Girls. These boards are more than catchy names and beautiful paint jobs, my shaper Luiz Masuzzo and I took performance shapes and with my input made them Girl Friendly. These are Performance Boards for Girls with just the right amount of width and foam to help with paddling, catching waves and duck diving. Chick Sticks offers softer noses and tails and attention to rocker to help you when you’re just starting out or to take your surfing to the next level.

Featured in Women’s Surf Style, Soaked, Jetty Girl and Surf Sister Magazine’s

For full board descriptions please check out The Boards page on my website at www.chicksticksbylola.com ♥

Thursday, May 17, 2012

www.chicksticksbylola.com

If youre looking for Girls Surfboards. These are CHICK STICKS....Performance Surfboard shapes for Girls. Wow!!

See all the boards at www.chicksticksbylola.com

Chick Sticks is a company located in Oceanside, Ca that builds Surfboards for Girls. These boards are more than catchy names and beautiful paint jobs, my shaper took his performance shapes and with my input made them Girl Friendly. These are Performance Boards for Girls with just the right amount of width and foam to help with paddling, catching waves and duck diving. Chick Sticks offers softer noses and tails and attention to rocker to help you when you’re just starting out or to take your surfing to the next level.

The Chick Sticks Factory uses only the highest quality blanks, colored stringers and glue line with multiple fin set ups to make every shape as versatile as possible. Everything is done ‘in house’ to keep the quality exceptional and all boards come with Full Paint and Fins. Chick Sticks offers 8 Fresh board models to choose from. Each comes with a unique and beautiful full paint and fins. Choose from 20 beautiful paint designs or I will custom paint your design.

No one else offers a full line of Girls and Women’s Performance surfboards with these girl friendly shapes. Chick Sticks has a Board for Every Girl. Find YOUR board at www.chicksticksbylola.com

Featured in Women’s Surf Style, Soaked and Surf Sister Magazine’s

For full board descriptions please check out The Boards page on my website at www.chicksticksbylola.com ♥

Choose from 20 Fresh Paint Spray Designs or Your Custom Design No Extra Charge

Chick Sticks has standard sizes that work well for each board model or you may order any board in any custom size.

Dealers contact me for Wholesale Pricing for your online or storefront shop. Never any minimuns for wholesale pricing and I drop ship from my Factory to your customers!! chicksticksgirl@aol.com