iSurf, Santa Barbara

Owner Alelia Parenteau remembers her days of heading to the beach and watching the boys surf. She stayed on the sand even though deep down she wondered what it was like to grab a board and ride the waves. She desperately wanted to find a supportive female environment to learn the sport, and when she found none she decided to create her own. That's why she created iSurf, whose founding principle is to motivate women to hit the waves. The surf school encourages women and men to make surfing a lifelong habit by offering confidence-building lessons full of positive reinforcement as well as necessary surf skills. Beginners can try a group lesson, while those already dedicated to their surfing pursuit can opt for an annual membership, which includes unlimited access to iSurf group clinics, discounts on events and trips, as well as some free iSurf merch.