ESM Women Profiles
By Anne Beasley
Published in Eastern Surf Magazine, 2000
Heather Holjes
She calls her home break in New Smyrna, Florida “shark city�, even though it was a dolphin that took a small chunk of in-water surf photographer Heather Holjes leg. “It was just a little nibble, like he was in for a taste test. I tried not to panic. I’ve been bumped before by sharks and I usually get out when I see a big one�
Heather began surfing in 96’ and with eight years of photography behind her she was drawn to so many in-water images. For the past year and a half Heather has been one of only a handful of women in-water photographers in the world. When deciding to surf or shoot photos, Heather says photography is a stronger passion. “It’s a hard choice, but I can always wait to surf when the lighting is bad.�
She credits her success to surfers like Aaron Cormican, who has worked with Heather one on one. “It helps to shoot the same person over and over. A surfer who can concentrate and knows where he/she needs to be for the camera.�
Heather’s photos have appeared in several magazines and she recently returned from an all-girl trip to Costa Rica.
Kira Stilwell
In the small town of Narragansett, Rhode Island, rocky point breaks generate long clean lines. It’s not unusual to see ten girls in the line-up according to Kira Stilwell, an Exercise Physiologist at the University of Rhode Island. Kira charges winter surf and 40-degree water temps with a 5-4-3mm wetsuit and her 8’6� mini noserider. “I grew up sailing and snorkeling and it never occurred to me until a few years ago to start surfing. You’d hate me, I was one of those girls that stood up on her first wave.�
It did occur to Kira, her sister Hollie, and Jennifer Sadoski to form a club for women surfers. “We had talked amongst ourselves about how cool it was having such a diverse, wonderful group of women surfers. We originally thought that a club would simply act as an avenue for us to spend lots of time in the water together. Those first thoughts blossomed into Chicks on Sticks, which has pretty much taken on a life of it’s own!�
Chicks on Sticks, formed in 1996 have been the backbone of beach clean-ups, a woman’s instructional surf program which taught over 100 women in two summers, and a smoke free three band beach bash. “One of our most recent success stories involves the re-establishment of the RI chapter’s Surfrider Foundation.�
Chicks on Sticks have members in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New York. Contact Kira at Chicks on Sticks headquarters: P.O. Box #621, Narragansett, RI 02882 (401) 789-1336.
Lisa Roselli
In 1990 Surfer magazine thought it would be cool if East Coast surfers got a little press. They asked Jersey girl, Lisa Roselli to put out East Coast Surfer, a black and white insert to the mag, which was distributed in all copies east of the Mississippi. Lisa was one of two female writers for Surfer magazine. She got all the respect as a hard-core surfer, but was frustrated at how clueless Californians were to the East Coast. “I think a lot of people took East Coast Surfer as an insult. It was duo-tone, limited, and separate. It was before Kelly was on the map.�
East Coast Surfer lasted five years and Lisa moved back to Cape May, New Jersey where she’s now an Art teacher and co-director of the South Jersey ESA.
Lisa’s heroes were girls like Frieda Zamba and Linda Davoli. They were ripping before the magazines gave women exposure. “Women’s surfing today is a world away from the way I grew up. We never had wetsuits or boardshorts that fit.�
Lisa likes to watch girls like Jaime Dewitt who can reap the benefits of women’s surfing today. “It’s so exciting to see what’s happening now. There are so many little girls who are just starting out in our ESA district. They have so many more opportunities.�
Lisa is reaping benefits too. She won the Sr. Women division at the ECSC in Virginia Beach last summer.
Carol Holland
The secret to traveling to El Salvador with two longboards is in Carol Holland’s pocket. Carol operates Surf Express, an all-inclusive surf travel company. She can help you find the wave of your choice, the lonesome beach shack, an expensive hotel, the right ticket price, and smile when saying your boards will get there in one piece.
Carol, originally from Emerald Isle, NC started tabulating for ESA contests and would pack up kids for surf trips, organizing houses, food, money, transport. She remembers using mattress pads as board bags and the day pro-lite came about. “They sent Todd this tiny little bag. It has revolutionized surf travel.�
Carol directed the OP Pro/Am Series in FL, the Tropics Gran Prix, ASP contests in Panama and Puerto Rico. She traveled with boys and boards. She saw travel agents evil eye surfers. “I was running away from surfing and I knew a lot from traveling so I went to travel school.�
After so many old ladies with too much money and frequent requests from old friends for surf travel advice, Carol rented out a desk in a small office. “I never really planned it. So many agents didn’t have a good grasp on the locations surfers wanted to go to.�
Lately, Carol has noticed more surf trips with girls in tow. “These guys answer with pride when I ask about a girlfriend or wife. They say, oh, she surfs too!�
Surf Express now offers trips to Equador, El Salvador, and the Galapagos Islands.
Kathy Phillips
With a straight face and serious voice, Kathy Phillips, Executive Director of the Eastern Surfing Association says, “behind every great male ESA director, there’s an even greater woman.�
Kathy, who chooses bodyboarding over surfing, started volunteering with the ESA when her husband became director of the Maryland district in 1979. “I started bodyboarding because there was no limits to where I could go. I’ve never had to sit in a packed out surf zone.�
In the mid 80’s Kathy found herself more involved, helping ESA Director Dr. Colin Couture with sponsorships and the Marsh scholarship. “Doc ran the ESA for 17 years. When he died suddenly in 1989, we realized a lot of where the ESA was going was not on paper, but in Doc’s head.�
Kathy was elected Director in 1990 and took charge setting up an office in Ocean City, getting an 800 number which she says is the best thing the ESA has ever done, and going on-line four years ago with the help of J.R. Brotherton. “We have a huge Internet presence and so many local districts have their own sites.�
In Kathy’s nine years as director, ESA memberships have nearly tripled from 2000 members to 7000. She credits the ESA’s success to the dedicated network of families and surfers who volunteer their time.
In the past few years Kathy has watched the women’s divisions grow dramatically, siting this year’s Scholastics event as the largest turnout of Jr. Women ever. In the future Kathy hopes to see a small paid staff. She has big ideas for new programs and plans to stick with the ESA and bodyboarding for years to come.
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