East Coast Surf Stories - The Kacar Family
The Kacar family are local legends of the South East area. A trio of ladies that make the lineup feel welcoming and fun. Whether you just saw Inga and Sunyata split a peak (Inga going left and Sunyata going right) or you hear them crack jokes to one another, they'll always leave you smiling.
I had the lovely privilege to connect with these ladies via zoom from across the country to chat about their surf journey as a family of badass, lady rippers. We were able to discuss the feelings of being a woman in the lineup, how having a supporting family adds to their experience in the water, and simply got stoked off of women’s surfing.
Inga surfing her home break in Myrtle Beach
Inga began her surf journey while living in Guam. There she was exposed to paddling about with the Ocean's currents amongst friends. As life goes, she moved until she landed in Myrtle Beach. Living so close to the beach, it was only natural to have her daughter Sunyata take a surf lesson. That was the moment they both began to dance with the waves. Naturally, Izzy (younger sister) followed suit. Each of them would borrow the other's board and go for a surf. Not only bonding with the Ocean, but with each other.
How did you like learning in Myrtle Beach?
Sunyata: " You really have to work for it in Myrtle. You have to fully commit to the waves because of the inconsistency."
Inga: "It makes you a better surfer BECAUSE you have to work for it, you have to commit."
Surfing has always been a male-dominated sport, but luckily that idea is shifting. More and more women, like the Kacar family, are picking up a board and paddling out. That doesn't mean sitting in a mostly male lineup isn't still intimidating.
How does it feel to be a woman in the lineup, not just in Myrtle, but anywhere that you paddle out?
Sunyata: "I think it's empowering. I feel pretty badass sometimes. Whenever I go to Masonburo, I always feel so cool after a long adventure day because I paddled out to the long lineup. I paddled over to the island and that can get kind of heavy sometimes. I feel most confident when I'm surfing I love it."
Inga: "I would have to say the same thing, but it depends on if I'm surfing well or not."
Inga: "I definitely feel more confident when there are more girls out there, especially back in the day. Those guys were intimidating. She (Sunyata) would let those guys know I was her mom. She would just call out "Mom!" because guys were bullies, not so much now. As soon as they found out I was her mom they would back off."
Sunyata: "It was much more agro when we first started surfing. And it was hard for me to progress because I just felt so...I don't know...I didn't want to look stupid. But that's why one summer I had to only go in the mornings so fewer people were out. There are some guys you can surf with, but it's definitely nicer to have girls around."
It's not easy being a beginner in anything, especially surfing. Learning to navigate the Ocean while balancing mixed emotions to respect the locals, and on top of it all trying to gain more confidence in general. That experience can be made a hell of a lot easier with a ripper mom and badass sisters by your side.
How does it feel to have such a powerful squad and be so influential in the surf community of Myrtle Beach?
Inga: "I've got older friends. My friend started to learn at 52! And I have other friends from work that want to try it, and you're never too old to try it. It's fun! I'll be the first grey-haired woman out there surfing since all the old dudes can do it."
Sunyata: "You hate it sometimes then you love it. It's addicting. I was even late for my own birthday party/thanksgiving dinner because I was surfing."
Sunyata: "I'm just happy now that there are more girls out there because I really hated feeling like the only girl out there for a long time. You know if there are more girls out there, we take over. We have our little spot. You don't feel so alone."
Inga: "You don't feel so singled out."
Sunyata getting a late summer swell in before winter hits Myrtle Beach
Listening to the Kacar ladies stoke out on each other's styles and surfing is inspiring alone. Sunyata and Inga lit up talking about Izzy's sickest wave this past summer. They beam positivity when it comes to women's surfing.
Any last words of wisdom?
Sunyata: "As a girl, even just trying to surf is impressive. So, even if you're just learning how, stick with it."
Inga: "I find myself, even when people are learning now, I'm just more patient when there are newbies out there. I'm encouraging. I'm not an encouraging person, it's not my personality. If you're getting out there trying then I have to applaud you because it can be intimidating."
A big thank you to the Kacar ladies for taking the time to chat with me early in the morning about the thing we love most, surfing.
All photos by Anna Troy Conlon. Look up her Instagram for more. @artoy
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