A pro surfer's guide to finding the perfect Vrbo

“Surfing with other people is really special,” says Chelsea Woody, co-founder of Textured Waves, a collective that works to help women of color and other underrepresented groups feel welcome in the water.

“It brings a level of camaraderie between folks that you don’t really get when you’re on a hike. It brings out your fears, which you can help each other through, and when you see a friend on a wave and cheer them along, it spreads confidence in everyone.”

Now 38, Woody first got into surfing in her late 20s when she and her husband quit their jobs to travel the world, before settling in Santa Cruz, California, so they could surf daily. She takes frequent trips with friends to Hawaii, Costa Rica, Florida, and Southern California, with Rockaway Beach in New York high on her wish list of future trips.

What does she look for in a surf vacation rental? “Location, location, location,” she says. “I always want to be close to the beach—walkable, ideally. A place that will easily accommodate your surfboard is important, and an outdoor shower is nice, but comfortable accommodation is more of a priority.”

She likes to be close to good food spots, to engage with local culture and so they don’t have to cook too much while on vacation—and once back at the rental, it’s great to have a firepit or outdoor table to congregate around over a delicious meal. If you’re new to a place, she recommends hiring a local surf instructor to find out the best breaks for your level.

It was a movie that first got Woody interested in surfing—2002’s Blue Crush, which follows a girl trying to become a pro surfer in Hawaii—but she had always been intimidated by the ocean.

“I was very nervous and scared of big crashing waves,” she says. “It didn’t help that the waters in the Pacific Northwest where I grew up are dark and cold, but I also wasn’t familiar with what to do or how to be in the ocean. I didn’t want to get my hair wet, because as a woman of color I felt like I always had to be presentable. There were all these things I had to get over.”

But when she and her partner set off on their international adventure, Woody took the opportunity to learn. On Lombok, an island east of Bali, they found warm waters and friendly instructors. “We surfed every day and totally got the surf bug,” she says. “I got smashed around a lot, but I learned to read and handle the energy of the ocean. It gave me a level of confidence and calmness I didn’t know I possessed, which was empowering.” She’s been surfing ever since.

In 2019, she founded Textured Waves with her friends Danielle Black Lyons and Martina Duran to encourage other women of color to join them, and now they run inclusive retreats in Waikiki, which she describes as the perfect place to learn, thanks to the warm water and all-round aloha. She is also now sponsored by Vans Surf.

But while she clearly adores surfing, Woody is quick to point out you don’t have to ride a surfboard to have fun at the beach. “You can boogie board or bodysurf or just wade in the water,” she says. “You’re immersed in nature and there are so many ways to enjoy the ocean together. That’s what makes it such an amazing group trip.”