Saba Surf brand: an interview with Laura Quintana

Saba Surf started in 2022 as a hand-poured surf wax brand in Venice, California. It has since grown into a surf shop and cafe on Venice Boulevard in Mar Vista, Los Angeles, with its own clothing, boards from local shapers and a coffee bar.

We interviewed co-founder Laura Quintana in March 2023, when Saba was a wax and T-shirt brand. The interview is below, as we published it then. First, here is what Saba Surf is today.

Saba Surf today

Who owns Saba Surf?

Saba Surf was co-founded by Gal Tshnieder and Laura Quintana. The company's 2024 announcement of its shop names both as co-founders, and the Los Angeles Times described Tshnieder as the owner in July 2026. Saba doesn't publish its ownership, so that is as much as the public record says.

Where is Saba Surf?

At 12912 Venice Boulevard in Mar Vista, Los Angeles. The shop and cafe opened in 2024. Saba lists its hours as 7am to 3pm daily.

What does Saba Surf sell?

Coffee, its own clothing and hats, and surf gear: boards from local shapers, wetsuits, fins, leashes and tail pads. The best-known drink is the Breakwater, a latte made with coconut water and vanilla.

Does Saba still make surf wax?

Wax is what the brand began with, and Saba listed it among the products in its shop when the shop opened in 2024. It wasn't in the online shop when we checked in September 2026.

Why is Saba Surf suddenly so popular?

In July 2026 Gal Tshnieder appeared on the TV show Love Island USA. The Los Angeles Times reported that hundreds of new customers came to the cafe afterward and that staff were seeing record numbers.

Our interview with Laura Quintana

Published in March 2023 and lightly trimmed in September 2026. Everything below reflects that time.

When we spoke, Saba was making its wax by hand in Venice, from what it described as locally sourced, organic ingredients. It also sold a small line of T-shirts, hats and beanies. We loved the T-shirt slogan, "Big Wax Sucks."

We met up with Laura Quintana, co-founder of Saba Surf, to find out more.

Hi Laura, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. Where in the world are you today?

Hey, thank you! Today I am at Hollow Trees surf break in the Mentawai Islands, sitting at the resort to use the wifi for a bit and have a mojito.

What does a day in the life of Laura Quintana look like?

Everyday is different. I’ve been living on a 62 foot catamaran boat with 12 other female surfers exploring the surf breaks around here for the past week (and for the next week!) but normally, I am based in Los Angeles California. When I’m home and not on set for a shoot, I wake up and move, either a run or a surf to start the day. Then a bit of work on my laptop at home or at Little Lunch Coffee shop in Venice, CA. I will handle some pome prep for upcoming shoots maybe. Ship out orders for Saba. And finish the day with another surf if it’s good.

When did you start surfing and how did you get into it?

I started surfing consistently about 5 years ago. I used to run competitively and I love to move, but I just got tired of it. My friend would take me out with her when I first started, and when she moved back to Florida, I continued on my own. Just from being out in the water, I met some women who are my closest friends today.

What inspired you to co-found the Saba Surf brand?

To be honest, I had free time and I knew Gal (my co-founder) was interested in starting the brand, and would need help with the social media and branding, but since we started as true business partners, it’s been so much fun. I love working with Gal. We get our friends involved and use our platform to share their stories. It’s fulfilling and I get to use my network from a decade of modeling to help build a brand that hopefully can support other surfers in the future.

What have been some highlights and challenges in starting the business?

Highlights include working with friends, writing off surf trips, and representing a product that is actually great quality. So far the only challenge was when Gal and I were living in Hawaii for 2 months and we had our buddy shipping orders for us. Our first big order of wax came in and he shipped it in the wrong package even though we told him exactly what kind it had been sent out in. When the customer received it the wax boxes were all torn up and some were even missing. We apologized profusely, explained the situation and refunded him of course but needless to say.. our friend isn’t allowed to be involved in anything Saba-related anymore (haha!) we rip on him for it all the time.

What makes Saba products unique?

We’re local! Hand poured in Venice, CA. You also use so much less of our bars to wax your whole board than you do with other brands of wax. It’s also way stickier than others I’ve used.

What's next for Saba Surf? Any exciting news on the horizon?

More video content highlighting our friends who own surf-adjacent businesses. We’ve talked about hosting a mini surf comp which would be a blast. We also have some cool new clothing in the works. Maybe some surf trips? Who knows! The sky's the limit.

Can you share some of your favorite surf breaks?

I surfed A Frames yesterday here in the Ments and it blew my mind. I’ve never surfed a wave quite like that before. I love Topanga back in LA. Always a good time down at SanO. Surfing K38 in Mexico with my best girlfriends Megan and Jaye has a special place in my heart as well.

Where is your dream surf destination? Which boards will you ride and who would you take?

I'd love to surf farther down south in Mexico. I’ve only gone as far as Las Gaviotas. I ride Thread boards exclusively at the moment. I have my 6’10 single fin that I bring with me everywhere. A 6ft thruster that I actually painted a chess board on the bottom of and like to play chess in between sessions on it. And my Thread log is in Costa Mesa waiting to be picked up once I’m back home.

Laura, thanks again for spending a bit of time with us, any final comments for our readers?

Thank you! This was fun and I appreciate your time. Final thought? Don’t take it too seriously. You can apply that to whatever you need it to at the moment, but for me, I’m thinking in terms of our business. I find that with Saba, our most successful ideas and products come to mind when Gal and I are just goofing around bouncing ideas off each other. And shouldn’t that be how it always is? I think we’re meant to enjoy this life, not spend it grinding ourselves down with work we hate while chasing some unattainable concept of success that someone else came up with. Anyways, thanks!

---

For more info visit Saba Surf