Life is Better When You Surf® - Danielle Clayton
This week we have a chat to very inspiring Salt Gypsy founder and GSI collaborator Danielle Clayton.
GSI: Hi Danny, can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you live and how Salt Gypsy was born?
DC: Beginning life as my personal blog in 2012 while working as a surf guide in the Maldives, Salt Gypsy is drawn from a lifetime chasing long period swells across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It was simple - I simply needed a product that wasn't in the marketplace for core ocean women: surf leggings. I had two pairs made for myself during a visa run to Bali in 2012, began surfing and blogging about how practical they were to surf in and how much more confident I felt in the lineup. Finally, a product that didn't slip sideways or pull down in the surf, protected my skin from UV rays, and covered my bum so I could focus on my wave count. Ten years later, two businesses (a now closed down retail store in Byron Bay) and 1 grommet later, we have grown into a female surfer-owned company committed to responsible and fair manufacturing while championing everyday oceanwomen to feel good and surf better.
Originally from Aotearoa, New Zealand, I now live in the Northern Rivers region NSW with my husband and son.
image supplied by Salt Gypsy
GSI: How old were you when you learnt to surf? Where was your first lesson and who taught you?
DC: I have been largely self-taught since the age of 15. This was 1995 in Auckland and the era of shortboarding, so my very first "beginners" surfboard was a 6'4 shortboard bought off the Trade & Exchange (NZ) newspaper with my hard-earned savings from a part-time job waitressing.
I learned to surf the long, hard way - on my shortboard, out at Auckland's wild west coast beaches (Maori Bay predominantly for any Kiwis reading this!). Suffice to say, duckdiving was the first thing I got down pat and it took me years to be able to stand up and ride a wave confidently. I did have some school friends who would try to "teach" me but that basically mean't accompanying you out the back and promptly left to your own devices once a set rolled through. I did invest in a couple of random surf lessons around the age of 17 or 18 but pretty much it's been a lifelong observation watching other surfers - mostly guys as female surf role models were very few and far between in my era. So it's much different to what's on offer for women and girls these days!
GSI: What is the best tip you have for anyone learning to surf?
DC: Observe observe observe: the ocean, how it moves: currents/rips/tides, how it's affected by weather and winds. And definitely observe & study other people much better than you: where are they sitting, where are they taking off, how are they paddling, how do they manoeuvre on the wave etc.
Also - invest in the right equipment! This wasn't really an option when I was learning to surf so I'd recommend starting on a big fat wide soft top and you'll progress so much faster than battling away on boards that are too small.
image supplied by Salt Gypsy
GSI: Tell us about a surf session that really sticks in your mind.
DC: One of the few long, fronthand barrels I've had, at a spot in the Maldives while I was working there, where time slowed right down and I felt the presence of my dad who had died tragically a few years earlier. That was a very special, spiritual moment for me.
image supplied by Salt Gypsy
GSI: What is your favourite surf spot?
DC: Insane crowds aside, Jails in the Maldives is one of my favourite spots for it's long righthand break. It's where I met the love of my life my first season working there, had the best backhand barrel of my life, and where I surfed the biggest wave of my life in this amazing swell in the 2010 season. I'd been surfing that spot nearly everyday for a few months so felt confident and surf fit, caught one wave, was completely undergunned, rode it all the way and was so happy to still be alive I pulled off and hung with my guests just watching the swell and the handful of gun surfers out there for the rest of the session. Pretty memorable.
GSI: Tell us a bit about the Salt Gypsy range of surfboards?
DC: It's been an honour to work with the GSI team on designing this dedicated women's surfboard range so we could specifically cater to a variety of skill levels, surf styles, and conditions. Frankly, I wish these had been around when I was finding my way into surfing as a teenager!
I think our Salt Gypsy surfboards stand out for their versatility, stability, and user-friendly designs. With slightly fuller outlines it's made them easier to paddle, balance, and manoeuvre. This accessibility caters not only to beginners but also to intermediate and advanced surfers looking for a range within their quiver that can perform in different wave conditions.
We've included a range of models, such as the Mid Tide mid-length, the Dusty longboard, a SUP and our new Chi Chi shortboard. The boards come in dimensions suitable for different rider heights and weights, acknowledging the diverse physical needs of women surfers. Design-wise we use clean, understated aesthetics, with minimalist graphics, in line with our brand’s focus on timeless simplicity and connection to nature.
image supplied by Salt Gypsy
GSI: What is your favorite GSI board from your current range?
DC: The Chi Chi! Coming from a shortboard background but nowhere near as surf fit as I used to be, I've found the Chi Chi to be a super easy paddler, helps me get into more waves and is really responsive to turns. I love it and think it's an epic introduction for women and girls wanting to progress into shortboards.
GSI: Our company mantra is ‘Life is Better When Your Surf®” how does that statement resonate with you?
DC: As someone who has built their life around proximity to good surf, it really speaks to me. Life throws challenges and tragedies and for me, in those times that I and my family have been through, the ocean and surfing has always been my panacea. Surfing makes me feel strong and confident: physically, emotionally and mentally. I really hope it does that for others, too.
