Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

Two of the three sisters who own Watergirl are Anita Spol (left) and Ilona Anderle. Not photographed is Randi Apodaca.

Surf's up in Los Gatos thanks to a new shop

By Nathan R. Huff

Los Gatos may not have the best surf in California, but Watergirl co-founder Ilona Anderle says it's the perfect place for the small company's second shop.

Watergirl was the first female surf shop in the world when it opened in Encinitas in 1996. Since then the company has grown rapidly, now offering surf camps, online shopping and a full array of sports gear for women.

Anderle said she and her two sisters had wanted to expand to Northern California for several years. The Santa Cruz market was saturated with surf and sports shops, but Anderle, who said she knows a number of local surfers, saw Los Gatos as an ideal location.

"There are so many woman [surfers] up here per square mile," Anderle said. "I'm completely blown away by how many woman surf up here."

Surf paraphernalia includes women's wetsuits, rash guards and surf boards--which are not gender specific--with the Watergirl logo. Boogie boards and skin boards are also displayed in the colorful store at 23 E. Main St.

However, the store carries much more than just water-related toys. According to Anderle, Watergirl tries to provide girl's and women's equipment on a region-specific basis. That means the Los Gatos Watergirl carries everything from scooters to equestrian equipment. There are skateboards, snowboards and golf and tennis apparel.

Anderle said that while much of Watergirl's clientele comes from the high-school crowd, she also tries to buy clothing that works for athletic adults. "Because I'm an active 40, I tend to buy lines for me, too," Anderle said.

Equipment is often a major obstacle for women interested in male-dominated sports, Anderle said, with much of what is available being either dysfunctional or unattractive. "A lot of the issues women face are mainly just equipment," she said. "When we opened, all the surf shops were cutting down in women's clothing."

Since the Encinitas shop first opened, mainstream surf shops have begun to target the female crowd, but Watergirl continues to be a trendsetter. The company's surf camps, which are held in Hawaii, as well as Northern and Southern California, are one example. While some surf schools operate "women only" sessions, Watergirl is unique in its approach, Anderle said.

"Because we do the surf school, it's specifically geared to how women think," she said. "It's scary learning for a lot of women." In addition to the surf training, some Watergirl camps include hula dancing and horseback riding. CPR certification is also part of the camps.

But just in case men feel left out, Watergirl includes a "men's corner" in their store. There men can find surf shirts--silk or otherwise--as well as the always popular board shorts. Surfboards without the Watergirl logo are also available.

Anderle said the store has already received a positive response from local female athletes, including several who knew the shop in Encinitas. The owner hopes even more people will come down to the store on Dec. 7, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., when Watergirl unveils a new mural by artist Glenn Francis.

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