For Women, By Women
OUR STORY
Chica Brava was founded by Houston native Ashley Blaylock, who first came to Nicaragua in 2003 and was immediately drawn to the waves around San Juan del Sur. What began as a surf trip quickly grew into a bigger vision: creating a space where women could challenge themselves, connect, and grow through surfing.
At the time Ashley was 23 and in law school, but her passion for surfing and for building something meaningful in Nicaragua only grew stronger. After earning her law degree in 2005, she moved permanently to San Juan del Sur, dividing her time between real estate and the water as she prepared to launch her retreat.
As one of the few women in the local surf lineup, Ashley earned the nickname “Chica Brava” (brave girl), which became the name of the camp she officially founded in 2007. By the spring of 2008, she welcomed her first group of guests, and since then Chica Brava has empowered thousands of women from around the world.
Today, the camp is carried forward by a dedicated team of locals and international staff who share a love of the ocean and a commitment to supporting women on their surf journey. Whether joining us for a week as a guest, a season as an instructor, or longer as part of the team, everyone who comes to Chica Brava leaves with more confidence, connection, and joy than they arrived with.
Learn how Chica Brava impacts the community and how you can make a difference
Learn MoreASHLEY BLAYLOCK
As the founder of Chica Brava, Ashley Blaylock was born and raised in Houston in a family of eight children. After several visits to San Juan del Sur, she left her career as a Texas attorney to open an all-girls surf camp, the first of its kind in Nicaragua and one of the very first in the world.
Since then, Ashley has shared her passion for surfing with women from around the globe through Chica Brava. Married to a Nicaraguan and raising two boys, she has always loved living in Nicaragua, but her family is now based in Houston so her oldest son with autism can access the specialized schools and therapies he needs. From Houston, Ashley directs operations and returns often to personally host camps, while spending summers in Nicaragua with her family.
Ashley is a six-time National Surf Champion in the women’s division and was ranked fourth overall in Central America in 2007. Her love of surfing has taken her to the Mentawai Islands, Bali, Spain, Mexico, Hawaii, California, and across Central America. She remains a licensed attorney in the State of Texas and has been featured on Fox News and Great Day Houston, as well as in publications including The Houston Chronicle, Cosmo, and Forbes.