Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Cox, Rel Lavizzo-Mourey.
Julie and Rel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Agoura Hills learning to surf Malibu as a kid. In my twenties, I was a professional surfer on the women’s longboard tour; I traveled the world surfing and also supplemented my income as a surf instructor in Mexico. Later on, I settled down in north county San Diego as Director of the California Surf Museum and also embarked on my first entrepreneurial partnership designing a line of surfboards for women called the Jule Collection. Shortly after meeting my wife, Rel Lavizzo-Mourey, we moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where Rel started a clothing collection of art-lined outerwear called Silver Lining and later became a partner with Traveler.
When living in SF, I found that city life was not always as compatible with surfing as I would have liked. I had to manage schlepping my board around before and after work in a smaller car and up and down lots of stairs. This along with wanting to have a place to get a hot shower and warm up made us come up with a new concept “surf club” that combines the amenities of a gym with the convenience of a place to store surfboards securely close to the ocean. After launching one surf club in the Bay Area, we decided to bring the idea back home to Malibu, where we recently opened our second location.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We’ve been blessed to have had a pretty smooth process so far overall, but there are always constant small obstacles and challenges that come with any type of entrepreneurship or working for yourself. There is never enough time in the day and as a married couple working together it’s definitely hard some times to switch off or out of work mode!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Traveler Surf Club Malibu is a place where surfers can store their boards, and have access to amenities like hot showers, towel service, coffee tea and cold drinks, a wifi lounge and day-use changing rooms. The Coastal Outpost is a retail space with curated goods gifts and gear that embody the California lifestyle. Many of the products are made in California and range from unique clothing and swimwear to jewelry, home goods, and outdoor gear.
What were you like growing up?
I have always loved surfing from a young age and feel most at home in the water or riding a wave. My interest in retail came later on, as was drawn to unique products found or inspired by travel. Rel was always into art as a child and loved to paint, draw and work with her hands, so it’s cool that she’s now incorporated that passion into her clothing line that we sell at Traveler.
Pricing:
- Day passes to the Club are $20
- Product prices range from $5-500
Contact Info:
- Address: 22941 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu CA 94044
- Website: www.travelersurfclub.com
- Phone: 424.425.8033
- Email: hello@travelersurfclub.com
- Instagram: @traveler_surf_club
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/traveler-surf-club-and-coastal-outpost-malibu-2
Image Credit:
Ian Zamora
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