You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

Still Riding the Wave of Success We talked with twin sisters Izzy and Coco Tihanyi to find out how their business has changed since we featured Surf Diva in our first Xtreme Entrepreneurs profile.

entrepreneur daily

For twin sisters and business partners Izzy and Coco Tihanyi, change has been a very good thing. In the two years since we last spoke with them, the owners of Surf Diva--a surf school and line of surf apparel for women and girls--have seen their dreams of expansion become reality. Their Costa Rican surf camp now is being offered for 8 months of the year, and their Australian camp makes its debut on March 9.

But despite substantial growth, Izzy and Coco are still hanging loose. "We've always dreamed big," says Izzy. "This is our dream. We're amazed by it."

This year, the divas celebrate 12 years in business. It all started when Izzy, short for Isabelle, began surfing at 8 years old. While studying at the University of California, San Diego, she began surfing competitively and teaching the sport to others. Coco, short for Caroline, shares the same love for the ocean, though her background is in business and communication.

Surf DivasThe sisters have combined their passion for surfing and educating others about ocean preservation with their La Jolla, California-based surf camp and clothing boutique. Though Izzy and Coco won't release specific sales figures, they say they've increased sales by about 15 percent each year.

The surfers now are focusing on their boutique and developing new programs and other camp locations, as well as corporate team building events that draw employees from across the country. In California, they're planning on expanding Surf Diva into the Los Angeles area, perhaps Malibu or Santa Monica, by summer 2008. And several new items are making their debut at the shop, including a new collection of rashguards and "booty shorts" to prevent lost bikini bottoms.

Both sisters say it's important for them to be careful about the opportunities they get involved with when it comes to franchising in the future. "We're in the process of evaluating different opportunities," says Coco. "It's a lengthy process. We're talking with a company in Japan, but we're in no rush."

Lately, the divas have noticed an interesting trend creeping into their lessons--men. "Women are the future of surfing!" exclaims Izzy. "Now guys are coming to us for lessons." Surf Diva has had so many requests that they've started a program geared toward men called "Guys on the Side," which offers private and group lessons for boys and men. "Guys like learning from girls. They buy certificates for their dads and boyfriends," says Coco.

As for the men in their lives, Coco and Izzy are both happily married with children. Izzy recently welcomed her first child, daughter Annabelle, while Coco is mom to 3-year-old Diego. "We're extreme moms," says Coco.

Being sisters and business partners after 12 years means plenty of time spent together, both at work and at play. "We don't want to separate [work and personal time]," says Izzy. "We love what we do; it's fun to bring it home."

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

James Clear Explains Why the 'Two Minute Rule' Is the Key to Long-Term Habit Building

The hardest step is usually the first one, he says. So make it short.

Side Hustle

He Took His Side Hustle Full-Time After Being Laid Off From Meta in 2023 — Now He Earns About $200,000 a Year: 'Sweet, Sweet Irony'

When Scott Goodfriend moved from Los Angeles to New York City, he became "obsessed" with the city's culinary offerings — and saw a business opportunity.

Living

Get Your Business a One-Year Sam's Club Membership for Just $14

Shop for office essentials, lunch for the team, appliances, electronics, and more.

Business News

Microsoft's New AI Can Make Photographs Sing and Talk — and It Already Has the Mona Lisa Lip-Syncing

The VASA-1 AI model was not trained on the Mona Lisa but could animate it anyway.

Leadership

You Won't Have a Strong Leadership Presence Until You Master These 5 Attributes

If you are a poor leader internally, you will be a poor leader externally.