SANTA CRUZ, CA.--Santa Cruz, California-based performance clothing manufacturer Girls4Sport is proud to sponsor three new female kiteboarders and windsurfers in Hood River, Oregon: Laura Maher, Zoe Najim, and Christine Parker. “Laura, Zoe, and Christine are amazing athletes with an array of talents and interests who serve as an inspiration to other women,” said Kim Ruby, President of Girls4Sport. “We’re delighted to welcome them aboard.”

Laura Maher, 40, is among the earliest pioneers of kiteboarding. A former windsurfer and Minnesotan, Maher took up kiteboarding several years ago while vacationing in Baja, Mexico. “When I saw kiteboarding I knew it was a whole new deal,” said Maher. “I went back to Minnesota that year and I started kiting on the snow and frozen lakes.”

But it wasn’t long before the wind and water of the Columbia River Gorge drew Maher out west. She now makes her home in Hood River, where she works as a hairdresser in an Aveda salon, rides for a kite manufacturer, Slingshot, and remains at the forefront of the industry.

But unlike other kiteboarding pros, Maher’s focus is less about competition and more about finding ways to grow the sport and share it with other women. Last summer, she hosted a free kiteboarding clinic for women which received an overwhelming response, filling 40 slots in 48 hours. She had to turn another 40 women away. “It was great to see the potential,” said Maher. “Women love to learn from other women.” Maher will host more women’s kiteboarding clinics in Oregon this summer.

Originally from Montreal, Zoe Najim, 35, has been windsurfing for seven years. As a young girl competing in sailboat races, Najim had always been envious of the windsurfers flying across the lake when the high wind conditions cancelled her races. “Then I met a guy who windsurfed and he taught me,” said Najim.  “Then I married him.”

Najim admits that learning to windsurf was a challenge because she was afraid to take risks, but she stuck with it because she was having so much fun. She’s now among the most daring windsurfers zipping across the Columbia River, perfecting her forward loops, carving 360s and working on other aerials and tricks. Her next goal is to learn more advanced freestyle moves, like a Spock.

Najim, who has a Master’s degree in Education, and her husband, who is a former dentist, own and operate a set of dental assisting schools in Colorado. They split their time between their homes in Breckenridge and Hood River, carving out as much time for windsurfing in the Gorge as they can.

Christine Parker , 38, who has been surfing for seven years, also lives in Hood River. She first tried windsurfing while on vacation in college. “I was immediately hooked by the exhilaration of flying across the water,” said Parker. But it wasn’t until years later, when the New Jersey native and former competitive cyclist moved to Hood River, that she was able to pick up windsurfing again and dedicate time to learning the sport.

“One of the cool things about windsurfing is that no two sailing sessions are ever the same because there are so many variables to consider: wind direction, wind speed, swell or wave size, currents, other windsurfers, the gear you have rigged and how you rigged it,” said Parker. “Every time I go out I feel like I get better or learned something and I am always trying new tricks. I would love to learn to loop and have tried a few times, but no success yet. Looping puts you in a totally different category as a sailor, and the trick of it is 95 percent mental; you must have courage, and you must commit to the trick because, as with many windsurfing tricks, if you quit half way it can be a disaster.”

Parker holds a Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in International Relations and a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University School of International Studies in Asian Studies. “I try to keep up my French, but my Japanese is fast disappearing and my Spanish is only good enough to get me into trouble,” said Parker. Christine currently manages the Gorge Surf Shop in Hood River, works as a freelance writer, has completed two novels, and is at work on a third.

About Girls4Sport:
Girls4Sport is dedicated to creating performance clothing with the female body in mind. Girls4Sport's line includes rashguard sets designed for women by women with super comfy SPF 65-rated fabrics, built-in shelf bras, out of the ordinary prints, and flattering fits.   In addition to its products, Girls4Sport has established the Girls4Sport Foundation, a charitable arm of Girls4Sport to support organizations and programs that provide girls of all ages with the support and inspiration to lead active, confident lives. Girls4Sport products are distributed through a variety of retail outlets and online. For more information about Girls4Sport products and team riders, please visit www.girls4sport.com or call 831.423.8755.

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