Margarita is a Chica Brava alumni, who has made her Chica Brava surf trip an annual adventure. Hailing from Nicaragua, but now living in Houston, Texas, she just can’t get enough of the ocean. On a recent trip here to San Juan del Sur, she decided to bring her boyfriend along so he could see what all the fuss was about. After a couple days with Chica Brava, we think he left with the surfing bug, and hopefully will come back for some more surfing here in Nicaragua! Here is Margarita’s story and how surfing changed her life.
Hello fellow Chica Brava sisters! Every time I meet one, I feel as though I am greeting a sorority sister… Could there be a better grown up way to gain the same shared experiences towards deeper values we use in life?
-Courage in the face of uncertainty,
-Stamina to keep going when you are challenged,
-Commitment to stand up on the board (even if it’s just to ride the final few yards of whitewash), and
-Community with other amazing women who are adventurous enough to pick up new skills in an unknown place and make new friends.
I could list dozens more, of course, but you get the gist.
When my boyfriend had the privilege of a day lesson with these ladies, he wondered/suggested why it wasn’t a co-ed camp all the time? This was SO AWESOME! Why leave the men out? I pointed to the group of ladies that were in the camp for the week, surfing nearby…their cheers, shouts of encouragement, and debrief sessions on the shore over smoothies (or in my case – beer)… “Because THAT would never happen”, I answered. Men change the dynamic, and the women would not really build that sense of community or power. The sense of kinship you build with other women adventurers, the shared history and accomplishments, a certain appreciation of estrogen-laced humor. To his credit, he saw the point. Working in a male-dominated industry as I do makes you appreciate the motivational power that a community of women can provide for each other.
Ashley’s vision of empowerment for women crosses all income and generational boundaries. The charity she founded for young women, her careful and superb selection of instructors, and the tireless attention she gives to her business and new son never cease to impress me. My annual short visits to these amazing women have become a spiritual retreat of sorts…where the Chicas continue to inspire me to chase my dreams relentlessly, daring to dig deep to catch that wave that I am still learning to identify as more than a bump for the pelicans to ride as they eat their lunch floating on the water. When I fall off, I have to come right back up – but mind your head!
Encapsulated from my experiences are the lessons I bring back with me to my desk job as a Financial Planner. Courage, Stamina, Commitment and Community – all things you need when working in the real world that envies the life that Chica Bravas lead, both on the sand and in the Boardroom!
Thank you Ashley, Naomi, Elsie, Sarah, Candy, Noelani, Annaleigh, and Mama Colleen…you inspire on a daily basis, and can’t wait to come back!
