Seea spent the day with Naomi Folta, originally from Virginia, roaming around her home base, Venice, CA. We skated around the iconic Venice boardwalk, went to Naomi's apartment to admire her vibrant art, and headed south to Laguna Beach to free dive. Naomi is one of the most adventurous and kind people we have ever had the pleasure of meeting. When she puts her mind to something, she makes it happen! We hope you get inspired by Naomi, her lust for life, and drive to bring the joys of art, surf, and skating to her community!
Photos by Megan Youngblood
1. You didn't grow up surfing or skating. How did you first get into both activities, and what drew you to them?
ON SURFING-
My first surf experience ever was when I was 13 years old at White Beach on a family vacation to Oahu. My dad, who had actually surfed a bunch as a young adult in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, handed me, my brother, and my best friend foam tops and kinda just told us to go for it - so we did. I don’t remember much from that experience except the feeling of sitting on the board in the middle of the ocean in a beautiful sunset.
But actually learning how to surf started when I was on a solo trip in the Philippines, when a Japanese guy from my hostel asked if I wanted to join him to visit a surf town five hours north of Manila. I had just arrived in the Philippines and felt overwhelmed with all the things to do and felt stuck- so when he asked me to go- it was an obvious yes. I showed up to the town, stayed at a hostel where we slept in hammocks for like 5USD a night, and took a surf lesson the next day. I fell in love with surfing there and then, and what was supposed to be a few days ended up being two months. I surfed every day for hours on end- learning from the people around me and just by being in the water. So many days of growth, but I was hooked. I was living the dream surf life in a supportive community of friends, had my girl surf crew, stayed in a room with just a fan, a bed and a shack-like shared bathroom overlooking the surf break.
ON SKATEBOARDING-
Skateboarding is a funny story because that journey actually began with a penny board with my brother and our friends in Okinawa, Japan in 2013. I feel like that was a classic gateway into skateboarding because growing up, I really only thought boys and rebels skated. But penny boards felt inclusive in a way? Anyway, we pretty much rode around town in our lil posse of penny boarders until mine got run over by a taxi.
However, it wasn’t until 2018 when I moved to NYC and went to my first skateboarding meet-up that skating shifted my life. Just before moving to the city, I was in Virginia with my parents and was hanging out with one of my dad’s church friends. The friend, who was probably in his 40s, had a skateboard, and I was enamored by the tricks, etc, and he told me if I wanted to get into it, then I should buy a board.
So I had just moved to NYC, with my bags and my skateboard, and was scrolling through Instagram. I was still in a new chapter of life in a new city, trying to create an identity for myself. One day, I saw photos and videos of Kristen Noelle (now the chapter leader of GRLSWIRL NYC) skateboarding and thought I would give that life a chance. I cold DM'd Kristen asking if she knew of any skate meet-ups or wanted to skate, and she sent me info on a Briana King skate event.
On the day of the event, I couldn’t get out of bed to go to the event because I feared people would know that I didn’t really know how to skate. That I was going to this event dressed up in my cool skater girl fit, but didn’t even know how to ollie. Eventually, I made my way to Williamsburg, riding the train with my board, nervously skating here and there on the streets, and was greeted by the warmest people at the meetup. That day I met most of my skate friends. I remember us skating across the Williamsburg Bridge in a crew full of womxn, and that really changed my brain chemistry. Skated almost every day I possibly could after that meetup. I am so grateful to Kristen and Briana, and everyone at that event.
Naomi surfing around California. Photos via Naomi Folta.
2. You've lived in both New York and LA. How have both coasts and cities influenced your love and relationship to skating and surfing?
SKATEBOARDING-
So I first lived in NYC in the winter of 2018. New York was the first place I actually learned to skate and where I found my skateboarding community. Because of that, I had my biggest love and inspiration to skate while I was there. I was skating almost daily, going to parks all around the city, learning tricks from other skaters, going to skate events… I really made it my lifestyle. Because we have so much skate history, skateparks, and legendary and talented skaters in the city, I felt a strong push to progress personally and within my community. There’s also an element of nature in it all because NYC experiences all four seasons, which includes rain and snow. So when it was nice out, you had to make the most of it and skate your heart out.
When I moved to LA, I actually moved to be able to surf. Skateboarding was not at the forefront of my mind as it was when I was in NYC. I had moved to LA just after living in a surf town in Mexico for a year, so surfing good waves became the main focus. But funny enough, skateboarding was the thing that introduced me to my community in LA. When I moved here and didn’t know anybody, I went to my first GRLSWIRL event, and the rest is really history. It’s iconic to be around Venice and the abundant history of skateboarding here.
SURFING-
Surfing in NYC really changed my life because it was the first surfing community that I truly had. I worked at a surf shop in Rockaway Beach called Station Surf Shop, and worked during the first year of COVID. It was probably the busiest season ever because it was peak summer, and everyone wanted to learn how to surf. NYC surfing is the most diverse lineup of people I have ever surfed with. The easy and affordable access to the beach and the lack of many surf spots near the city really bring everyone together. The waves can be flat or barreling, so it’s definitely extremity of mindsets when surfing.
Surfing in LA is incredible because of the variety of waves, the good quality of waves, and the insane nature. Surfing in LA can feel intimidating because the localism is definitely visible, and I have never seen so many men yelling at each other in the lineup. Surfing in LA is also special because there is just so much surf history here.
So in summary - NYC skateboarding feels intense and with grit. LA skateboarding feels more relaxed. NYC surfing feels diverse. LA surfing is iconic and fun.
Naomi skating around Venice, CA.
3. While in NY, you decided to quit your 9-5 and follow your dreams of traveling and skating. How did you get the courage to follow your dreams, and what was that experience traveling like?
I got the courage to follow my dreams because I had a taste of that possibility when I was backpacking Southeast Asia for a year right after college. I experienced that it was possible to find a job after traveling for long periods of time, and also saw many travelers living their lives by working remotely. That was critical for me to see firsthand because at the time, remote work wasn’t as popular as it is now, and I always assumed the traditional path was the only way to go.
I think I also got the courage to follow my travel, surf, skate dreams because I was just ready for it and really wanted it. Whenever I want to do something, I have to do it, and I do whatever it takes to make it happen. That’s just how my brain works.
4. You worked as an art teacher after moving to LA. How has that work influenced your own creativity? What influences your art?
Yes! When I first moved to LA, I had less than $2k to my name and was offered this job through a friend. I worked at the school for two years as an art teacher assistant and was able to extend my love for art to the kiddos, which was amazing. We had so many resources and materials to make almost any project we wanted. It was such a good feeling to be able to use my hands to amen art, experiment and play with different mediums, utilize my creativity, and encourage kids to express themselves through art and teach art every day.
5. How did you start working with GRLSWIRL, and what are your favorite parts of being on the team?
I went to my first GRLSWIRL group skate in Venice at the end of 2022. I immediately felt the undeniable joy and positivity of being around women who empower other women and fell in love with the community so much that I kept on showing up. Then, a spot was open for the team rider position, and I was asked to be a team rider and said yes!
My favorite part of being on the team is being able to work with incredible women. I get to call the most inspiring, intelligent, worldly, feminine, open, strong, loving, community-driven women my teammates, and it feels like we can save the world lol. I also love being able to meet people from around the world and learn about their cultures thru skateboarding. It’s really a worldwide impact.
6.How did you start free diving? How is it different from surfing?
I grew up snorkeling a bunch in Okinawa since I was a kid so I am very comfortable in the ocean :)
I was inspired to get my free diving certification because I felt that it was important to know how to hold my breath for long periods of time and just to challenge my body in something different. After getting the certificate and being able to dive down to 80 feet, I felt a kind of empowerment and confidence in myself in the ocean.
Free diving is different from surfing because it requires you to be very slow, and you have to fully trust yourself. It feels like meditation. Surfing requires more physical stamina, working with the natural environment and dynamics of a surf line-up, and you have to constantly be assessing what is coming up next. Sometimes I feel it’s easy for the ego to let loose when surfing, but it’s really you versus yourself in free diving. Free diving is also special because you get to know the ocean below the surface and enter a completely different world with different creatures and different rules.
7. Your mom and family are from Okinawa, and this year you decided to get traditional Ryukyu tattoos (hajichi). Tell us more about the decision, what the tattoos mean, and how they have influenced your relationship to your Okinawan culture.
Hajichi are traditional Ryukyu tattoos that women would receive during significant milestones in their lives, such as coming of age, womanhood, marriage, and other important periods. The tattoos have different symbols/designs based on where you are from on and within the Ryukyu islands. The symbols themselves have different meanings, ranging from finding your ancestors in the afterlife to spiritual protection and more.
I got them as a dedication to my Okinawan family and culture. As a sign of respect and honor to my female ancestors. And to forever carry my Uchinanchu spirit and pride wherever I go.
Naomi's Hajichi tattoos.
8. Through GRLSWIRL and in your own time, you volunteer. How has that helped you connect with the community, and how has your volunteering changed your relationship to art, surfing, and skating?
The most important thing is when you learn something (especially something that has brought you immense joy) - to pass it on to someone else. There is no better feeling than watching someone exhilarated when learning how to surf or skate…that joy is contagious.
For skateboarding - volunteer with GRLSWIRL!
For surfing - volunteer with Los Courage Camps (nonprofit organization giving free surf lessons for children from communities of color in LA) and Laru Beya (nonprofit serving the underserved youth in Rockaway and NYC)!
Volunteering with all of these organizations has strengthened my connection to where I live, with my community, and enriched my life in every way possible. They are my family!
9. You have so many amazing passions, from skating to modeling to art to community work. How do you want to continue combining these passions, and how do you see them growing and transforming in the future?
I want to combine my art, surfing, and skateboarding into something that empowers people to tap into their creativity, confidence, and self-expression. I want to especially focus on working with the youth and POC community.
Thank you to Naomi for her kindness, joy, and willingness to share. We are so lucky to meet people like her in our community, spreading a love for skate, surf, and creativity!
