June
26

What to pack for the beach… even if you’re not a surfer.

One of the benefits of Mi Ola’s home base in Costa Rica is that we pretty much get to surf every day…sometimes twice a day. I know, rub it in, rub it in…

BUT, with all of those early dawn patrol mornings spent surfing and all day, sun filled boat trips to Ollie’s Point, Mi Ola rider Kristen has gotten the gear that she carries in her surf bag down to a science. Kristen was so kind to share some of her secret ingredients that help keep her surfing for hours.

Sun Protection:

Living in Costa Rica, the sun down here is H-O-T. Since moving to Costa Rica, because I am exposed to the sun everyday, I have become much more cognizant of sun protection. I prefer to surf in the early morning or during sunset when the sun is not as intense, and then I hide inside the rest of the day! My sun protection starts with high SPF sunscreen, my Kaenon polarized sunglasses, a hat to keep the sun off my face, and a pretty rad Mi Ola rash guard (LOVE the Pescado long sleeve rashie!!!). I still am looking for a sunscreen that stays on my lips!

Rashguard, hat, sunglasses: Check!

One of my secret sun care ingredients is Pañalito, the Costa Rican version of diaper-rash creme (American brand is called Desitin). Due its high content of zinc oxide, it is a great, thick sunscreen that stays on…and since it does not have any other chemical fillers, my face does not break out as soon as it touches my skin. I also apply it to my scars and recently started rubbing it in on my ears and hands to make sure I have extra protection on these more exposed and sensitive body parts. Of course, you can use it to treat rashes caused by surfing.

Bikinis that STAY on:

After some research and personal product testing, I have found that the best type of suits that stay on are the cross-back tops and the bottoms that have, well, skimpier coverage. Why the smaller bottoms? My theory is there is less fabric for the white-water to drag down. Talk about some toasty buns!

One of the benefits of being a team rider for Mi Ola is that I get to product test the suits and rashguards. My favorite Mi Ola pieces are:

  • Reversible wrap top: Two bikini tops in one! AND this top stays on…I have surfed in this top, cannonballed 20 feet into a pool, and done flips off a catamaran and no one has yet to get a free show.

  • Boyshort: OK, I know I said the skimpier the bottom coverage the better the suit stays on (like the Casita Boythong)…BUT this bottom ROCKS. It is super comfortable and can go from playing out in the waves to the beach bar to yoga class no problem.

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Casita Boythong, Tira top and vintage Brasil shirt

  • Pescado Rashguard: Not only does this rashguard protect me from the sun, but it is a head turner. I can’t even begin to tell you the amount of compliments I have gotten on this piece! The best part is that when I wear this I am one step closer to being a mermaid…

Waterproof everything:

From boat trips to the down pours that can happen during rainy season, it is important to waterproof your belongings. This starts with my dry bag backpack to my Lifeproof case for my iPhone. For the stuff that I can’t waterproof, I put them in zip-lock baggies and then into my dry bag. Things like:

  • My Nikon DSLR (I never leave home without a camera…or two.)
  • First aid kit (Bandaids, superglue, anti-itch cream for those jellyfish stings, Ibuprofen, alcohol cleaning pads)
  • Surf wax
  • Money to buy a pipa (coconut) after a surf session
  • Ding repair kit
  • Extra large beach towel to wrap around my tall-self
  • Leave-in conditioner (The saltwater sucks the life out of my hair so as soon I get out of the water the repair treatment starts! I highly recommend Macadamia Natural Oil.)
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses, and extra hat

SURFBOARDS!

I wish I could have a whole quiver of boards, but until I get Robert August to shape me my new board, a 6’4″, my two magic sticks are a 9’4″ Robert August “Wingnut Noserider” and 7’6″ Robert August “Waimea” model. Smooth like butter and the ride so sweet!

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And when I am stuck on dry land…

Yoga mat: As I learned the semi-hard way, yoga is essential when you are surfing a lot. Somehow I went almost a month without practicing and coincidentally strained my back and neck. All the paddling, arching your back, and wipeouts require some good stretching. Plus, being bendy has some other advantages as well….like being able to touch my toes! I recommend Jade and Manduka mats.

Goof Board: When I am dry docked visiting my family in the US, I love to hop on my Goof Board balance board. It is an excellent tool for improving your column strength balance and super fun to cross-step on!

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May
16

Mi Ola Team Rider Katia Brankovic

Bikinis that are made to stay on need to be put to the test. Enter Mi Ola team rider Katia Brankovic. Katia is one of our newest team riders and she already has been dropping into overhead waves while rocking Mi Ola. Verdict?

“Massive waves at Langosta river mouth, just me and five other surfers. Every wave was better than the other…and all in my awesome Mi Ola top. Love that it stays just in place in double overhead waves!!!”

Besides loving to surf big waves, Katia is also a mother of two wonderful kids and she recently started adorning the chicas in Tamarindo with her beautiful jewelry, Cat & Leona. We chatted with her this week while waiting for sets at nice reef break not too far away from Tamarindo and a nice Mi Ola beach day at Lola’s in Avellanas yesterday. Check out our interview with her below!

Mi Ola: When did you start surfing?
Katia Brankovic: I started two years ago here in Tamarindo. I had couple of lessons and got hooked…

MO: What brought you to Costa Rica? How long have you lived here?
KB: I have always was dreaming of spending time in Central America, learning Spanish, but never though I would stay here for so long. This is my third year here…

MO: What is your favorite wave(s)?
KB: I love reef breaks… solid overhead double overhead waves…

MO: Any tips for chicas that are just starting to surf?
KB: Be patient and of course get yourself the right bikini! Reliable and pretty… Mi Ola is great choice of course! :)

MO: Besides surfing, what else do you do to stay so fit?
KB: I do all possible water sports when not around waves: kiteboarding, wake skating, water slalom skiing. I recently started with running and I like it a lot!

MO: What do you do in your free time?
KB: I don’t have much left after my two kids, but I love reading!

MO: Tell us a little more about your jewelry business, Cat & Leona? How and when did you start making jewelry?
KB: It used to be my hobby when I was a teenager. But here in Costa Rica, surrounded by all incredibly creative people, my forgotten passion just burst into this little craft work business. It’s easy to became creative here since you have to use what is available because there is not a lot of different materials readily available to buy! I love to mix different materials, incorporate crochet into my designs, play with colors…

MO: We hear that you speak not two, not three, but SEVEN languages! And you can play the harp! Do you have any other hidden talents?
KB: Oh well, my native is Russian, I moved to Croatia twelve years ago, so Croatian, English off course…then there is this part in Croatia where I used to live that was once part of Italy, so Italian is the second official language there and my kids went to Italian school. When we moved here to Costa Rica the transition from Italian to Spanish was really very easy! Than German I was learning at school and I practiced in Austria where I used to work…and I recently started with French, it is my new year resolution! And I would love to learn Japanese one day…

I played harp last time 20 years ago, was ready to go to conservatory but that change my mind. It is a dream of mine to have a harp and play again but it is a very expensive dream unfortunately…

I love love cooking, was really much into the idea of opening a sushi bar! My friends like my sushi a lot, but my most loyal fan of my sushi is my daughter for sure!

MO: What is your favorite thing about your Mi Ola suit? Which design(s)/ color(s) do you like best?
KB: I’m deeply in love with my pin up top and super cheeky bottom in gold, stay on approved in huge waves! Like my friend said ” you can go through apocalypse in this bikini!!!!” And gold color make it looks hot! So it’s a second name for it “apocalypse bikini” :)

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MO: Any cool stories about you wearing Mi Ola?
KB: I wore the reversible wrap top in a beautiful peacock blue and was so happy to try it in action that I did not even notice it was two sizes bigger than I normally wear!!! (There was a nice 4ft swell and I was so excited to try out the top. I was happy that it really stayed on and only when I got back home I saw the tag and realized that the tag said size large!!! I passed it on to my friend Kristen, so the wrap top is my next must have in Mi Ola collection!)

MO: As an active chica, what are a couple of things that you can’t live without/ don’t leave home without?
KB: As an active chica and busy mom I love my Rip Curl surf watch! It helps a lot to be in time!

Thanks Katia!

Photos by Steven J. Eliopoulos, Katia Brankovic, and Kristen Brown

 

May
2

Mi Ola Team Rider Kristina Ullrich

Who is that girl?!

If you follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or have checked out Mi-Ola.com, you definitely have seen Kristina, one of our Mi Ola team riders who also happens to model our suits. Besides having an amazing body and naturally stunning, Kristina is a super awesome chica that rips! Did we also mention that she is a hoot?! I know, don’t you just hate her!

We caught up with Kristina a couple of days ago over some good Costa Rican coffee and a freshly baked mango torte. Besides putting Mi Ola to the test in-and-out of the water, Kristina runs her own wedding planning business, Perennial Weddings, down here in Costa Rica and is a soon-to-be saltwater momma (congrats!!!). Check out our interview with her below!

Mi Ola: When did you start surfing?
Kristina Ullrich: I started when I was 18, when I joined the Surf Club at Salisbury University in Maryland. I lived in Ocean City, Maryland and surfed all the time. Also traveling to Hatteras, North Carolina regularly!!!! Who ever thinks East Coast doesn’t have surf, keep thinking that, keep the lineups empty and special.

MO: What brought you to Costa Rica? How long have you lived here?
KU: I was dating someone, who found work here. I thought it was a great opportunity because I surfed in the States, and Costa Rica was known for its waves, so hey…why not?! :) Decided and moved in 1 month.

MO: You rip! Give us some secret hints on how to shred like you!!!
KU: Ha! Thanks. Um, one, surf with boys who are better than you. Two, have fun and don’t get too hard on yourself. Three, be a little competitive, but not too much. Four, don’t take every wave, be picky, really learn to read a good wave from an “eh” wave. And five, maybe this is generic, but have fun…otherwise, its not even worth it.

MO: What is your favorite wave(s)?
KU: I refuse to give away breaks, so I’ll say a solid right beach break, fast, little barrel, but enough shoulder so you can play. Uh…I’m dreaming of one now. :)

MO: Besides surfing, what else do you do to stay so fit?
KU: I love a beach bootcamp I go to 3 times a week, I run a lot, and love mountain biking.

MO: What do you do in your free time?
KU: Surf, collect seaglass, chill with girlie friends, work out, and I really love TV, unfortunately.

MO: What is your favorite thing about your Mi Ola suit? Which design(s)/ color(s) do you like best?
KU: Its how its advertised, but I love that its purely built for the surfer/athletic girl in mind. From design, cut, color, etc….its meant for water, sand, sun. Also the booty…who doesn’t like a cute booty. :) My favorite cut is the wrap top, pulls everything in and it stays secure, I also dig the new tank top rashguards, so cute! My favorite color, for me, I love the fushia. I’m just not a pink girl, but her color fushia, is less girlie and more tropical and fun.

MO: Any cool stories about Mi Ola….not slipping, other girls wanting to know about the suit you are wearing, etc (I know from wearing my suit chicas ask where my suit is from and I never worry about it while out in the water surfing).
KU: I think we all get compliments on each others’ suits, thats fairly common, especially in specific Mi Ola suits, like the wrap top or the lingerie style one, but I love that one time I literally went for a beach run, didn’t change, grabbed my board, and hoped in the water.

MO: As an active chica, what are a couple of things that you can’t live without/ don’t leave home without?
KU: Bikini for sure, whether its surf, wakeboard, or a jacuzzi :) !!!!! Running clothes, running shoes, leggings (good for a night out or with a hoody), mascara, and flax seed (fiber, hehehe…since we’re being honest). Other than that, things will vary depending on where I’m going.