Saba Surf and its distinctive homemade surf wax is riding a wave of popularity with surfers in Southern California and beyond.
“Everyone … loves (our surf wax),” said Gal Tshnieder, who cofounded the surf lifestyle brand with partner Laura Quintana. “In of our , it’s been phenomenal so far.”
Tshnieder and Quintana — who met while surfing — launched Saba Surf in 2022, selling their hand-poured, natural surf wax that is created from scratch using their own formula.
They had started making the wax in their kitchen as a hobby during the pandemic, but it quickly grew into a ion project.
The wax gained fans in the surf community in Venice, California, where the pair live, and has since grown through online sales.
Tshnieder says Saba Surf’s popularity stems from the wax’s ability to adapt to different temperatures, making it easy to use in warm places like San Diego or cooler areas like New York. He said the wax heats up quickly and has enough traction without being too sticky.
Quintana — a model with experience creating content for brands like Adidas and Ripcurl — helped set up Saba Surf’s online shop, where Tacky Top Coat and Bumpy Base Coat wax is sold in packs of 6 for $18, and in packs of 12 for $30. Shipping is $5.
On top of surf wax, the brand also partners with surfer artists to make small-batch unisex apparel and accessories like hoodies, t-shirts, and keychains.
Saba Surf’s products are also carried at The Board Club in Newport Beach.
Tshnieder and Quintana said they hope to expand to more stores, including in the San Diego area, where they enjoy surfing at Swami’s Beach in Encinitas.
Learn more about Saba Surf at sabasurf.com and follow @saba_surf on Instagram.
Roxana Becerril is a freelance writer.
