HITTING THE WAVES | NATE FLUELLEN

We’ve covered a number of top surfers as well as competitions. In this month’s issue, we wanted to find out more about A Great Day in the Stoke which focuses on championing Black surfers to ensure that they are recognized at an elite level. For the last 5 years this competition has done exactly that with partnerships by Lexus and Complex. Because of this event and those partnerships, it assisted Julian Williams the wild card at US Open of Surfing!

We wanted to take some time ahead of this year’s event to talk with AGDITS founder, Nate Fluellen who is also a surfer and traveler. We wanted to know more about his passion for surfing, why he loves it, and creating this event!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with Surfing?

NATE FLUELLEN: While I was preparing for my award-winning adventure travel TV show, World Wide Nate: African Adventures, is when I fell in love with surfing. That show was all about demystifying travel to Africa to the average American millennial. I started taking lessons at Venice Beach Pier on a wave storm and loved being in the water, finally learning how to surf. I always wanted to learn since I was a pre-teen.

But the moment I truly fell in love with surfing happened in Durban, South Africa, when I surfed with the Zulu boys & girls from the youth organization called Surfers Not Street Children while filming my TV show. That experience added so much depth because the joy those kids had was contagious; it was euphoric, like I was in utopia. I marveled at their surf vibes mixed with African culture, and hearing them speak Zulu or Xhosa while being free of any worry in the world is the spirit I live to be in daily.

AM: What is it that you love about this sport?

NF: When I’m in the ocean, I feel I’m closest to God. It is my saltwater therapy, and the days I see a pod of dolphins, which is often, the day is always magical. I love how each wave is different, and in a split second, you have to make a decision on how to catch the wave, put yourself in position, battle the next surfer for position, and pop up. It keeps the mind sharp and the body active.

AM: Why did you want to launch AGDITS and why is it held in Surf City USA?

NF: During the pandemic, the surf community came together in solidarity in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Tayler, and Ahmaud Aubrey. After the 3rd paddle out, I was exhausted from reacting to a tragedy and believed it shouldn’t be the continuous reason we come together. I’m an HBCU graduate of Tennessee State University, and we come together during homecoming to celebrate our love for higher education and each other. I wanted to take inspiration from that joy and just celebrate our lives, love for the ocean, and surfing. And to meet each other, we discovered each other through social media, but didn’t have the chance to connect in real life.

AM: Now that you are in the 4th year of this event, what can we keep our eyes out for?

NF: During the 4th year, you can keep your eyes out for great competitors with Julian Williams defending his title, Cherif Fall and Brandon Benjamin are back, and a lot of new talented faces. The ladies are showing up strong! We have Monik Santos back to defend her title from Brazil, and ladies from Senegal.

AM: Tell us about the kinds of events that will take place during AGDITS?

NF: We’re excited and proud to have Lexus as our presenting sponsor, and they will have their Surf LX on display. Lululemon is powering a 5k fun run/walk, which starts at their store at Pacific City Mall to the beach. They’re also hosting our beach yoga sessions and wellness zone. The Nickelodeon Kids Zone will be packed with kid activities, and Bones Loves Milk will have an arts & craft surfboard station. Yeti will have water stations to keep everyone hydrated, and Red Bull will keep everyone’s energy high. Melanated Jump Squad will lead our Double-Dutch competition, Organic Gorilla will showcase their products, Eco by Ry will glass two surfboards and donate them to our drawing and Black Surfers Association, founded by Tony Corely, will celebrate their 50th anniversary.

AM: You have great partners involved in this year’s event from Lexus to Lululemon - what does that mean to you to have them involved?

NF: Having them on board makes me proud of the event that has been built and honored how they’re showing up to support diversity in the line-up. We say it takes a village to raise a child, and we are a human community, and when we focus on a common goal, nothing is impossible. I’m thankful for all the partners involved.

AM: Will you have AGDITS in other cities?

NF: Of course, the Chocolate Tide is Rising around the world, and pretty soon I will make an announcement, but for now I will keep that information classified.

AM: Are there any other events that we can keep our eye out for?

NF: You can keep a lookout for the 5th annual AGDITS. However, if some announcements pop up before next September you will be the first to know!

IG @agreatdayinthestoke

@worldwidenate

In addition, we connected with another surfer who not only participates in AGDITS, but also runs events for this organization here in NYC! Farmy Dia enjoys surfing in Far Rockaway and getting her perspective on this event and why she loves this sport allows us to see it from the competing athletes perspective as well.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with surfing?

FARMY DIA: I first fell in love with surfing from the moment that I tried it. But, I really started to fall in love with it when I was able to share that passion and love for the water with the community around me. And for me, surfing expanded my life in so many ways that I could never imagine. I continued to grow as a person and my capacity to love also grew.

AM: What made you realize that you wanted this sport into your life and what do you love about it?

FD: Honestly, I knew that I wanted to keep surfing that very first summer. Just because it was so much fun. I was a junior in high school and it’s the first thing that really excited me and was so different from what I’m used to. So I knew I wanted to keep doing it. Then I think when I realized I could actually make a career out of this and build off of this and do more than just enjoy surfing, it was kind of a wrap from there.

AM: You were born and raised in Rockaway NY which is a surf town! What do you love about being able to surf in this community?

FD: My surf community in Rockaway is in my opinion one of the most special in the world. It is super diverse, it’s a reflection of what the city is. But in the water, you get to meet people from all different walks of life, you get to learn so many different personal stories and it’s cool because you also get so many opportunities from it. In New York, they always say “this is where you come to chase your dreams” and the last thing you expect us to do is surfing also, but it just makes anything possible really. The world is your oyster when you’re out here. I’ve met so many Black people in the water, people that are from different parts of Asia, people that you just wouldn’t expect or even think about meeting in the water. So that for me is the coolest part of this community.

AM: Why are you excited to be participating in AGDITS?

FD: I love AGDITS. I think that what Nate is doing with this is so amazing and honestly really inspiring for me personally. He’s created a space for us in the surfing world that is just that next step. We have Black surfers on tour, but we didn’t have our own competition, our own platform and that’s what Nate created for us. It’s so exciting to meet different surfers and Black surfers from all over the world, hear their stories, see how they surf, because all the styles are different depending on where you come from also depending on the waves you ride and so, yeah I’m just really excited to be a part of this. Even if I win or I don’t win, it’s always just like a blessing to take part in AGDITS.

AM: You were the Champion and runner up in the last 2 years of AGDITS, what does that mean to you?

FD: The year that I won the competition was insane for me. I couldn’t believe it and then, it was kind of a happy and a sad thing. It made me really happy because I couldn’t believe I won, but it made me a little sad because I had so little like --- I just didn’t believe in myself to even imagine myself winning. The fact that I was able to do it anyways even though I didn’t think I could was awesome, but it was like a wakeup call for me. And so it is just is really empowering. I come to our office and I’ll look at the trophy and I’m reminded of what I was able to do and how I was able to achieve something even though I didn’t think I could. And, for me, I’m just a stepping stone in the journey of Black surfing and so if this is one stone that I can step on, this means there will be so many more steps for future generations and future surfers to climb.

AM: Do you run events from this event here in NY and if so, tell us about them!

FD: I do run some events out here in New York. I do Salty Sisters with my best friend Autumn and I also am an organizer at Laru Beya Collective. Salty Sisters is pretty much our monthly surf and wellness meetups that we open to POC women all over the state. We actually have people coming from Connecticut and people coming from Jersey and so, it’s been really cool to just be able to build this community. The collective is based on our friendship and our sisterhood that we developed over the last few years, and seeing it happen in real time for other people is a dream come true. And then we have Laru Beya Collective which is a 501 (c)(3) non profit and our mission is to empower the youth of New York through surfing. So, I always like to say sometimes I’m just a result of what’s important to me, and I’m seeing more and more results as we continue to take in more and more generations of kids.

AM: When you’re not surfing, what can we fInd you doing?

FD: When I’m not surfing, I’m usually working, spending time with friends, going on an adventure. Recently I really got into dancing a lot more, and so that’s been really fun. Also, a lot of community organizing and partnerships. I’m all about bonding with other people even if I’m not in the water.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that we can keep our eye out for?

FD: I do have a few fun projects coming up actually. We did our Africa project where we sent a container with two barrels and 20 surfboards and so our recap will be coming out soon - keep an eye out for that. And then, I’ll be heading to Portugal a few days after AGDITS to take part in the Gliding Barnacles, which is a surf festival taking place out there. I’m really excited. It’s surfing, art, photography and shaping. It kind of again redefines what surfing is, because it’s not a competition, it’s a place for many professionals to gather.

IG @farmydia_

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | A Good Day in the Stoke

Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag and see HITTING THE WAVES | Nate Fluellen in mag.

SS23 | LOUIS VUITtON MENS

If you have yet to check out Louis Vuitton Men’s SS23 show, it’s worth watching as not only does it show a number of looks from the house but it is also another tribute to Virgil Abloh. The show kicks off with HBCU FAMU’s Marching 100 who walks and performs (Enlightment, If You Are Not a Myth, Mighty Rattlers, Rattler to the Bone, Get Up, S.O.S.) from a rooftop to a “yellow brick road” which brings an array of models highlighting the looks for next season.

This collection and show focuses on the belief that imagination can heal, regenerate and uplift us all. The show takes place at the Cour Carrée of the Louvre. Kendrick Lamar performed Savior, Rich Spirit, Count Me Out, N95 seated next to Naomi Campbell s the looks hit the runway.

The balance between Louis Vuitton and culture in its impact on design has been one that has always existed with this fashion house.

IN STEP WITH BREA STINSON

We're about putting our best foot forward no matter what we're doing or going to. So when we had the chance to talk with Celebrity Celebrity Costume Designer, Brea Stinson whose work has been on Beyonce, TLC, Rita Ora, Willow Smith, Justin Beiber, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes and more. 

In addition to having a great eye, she has recently partnered with The Tampax and Always Radiant Collection and the HBCU Dance Corporation during Homecoming season to host the #RadiantDanceOff, a national online dance competition that officially launched earlier this month, and is exclusively open to majorette teams at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The winning HBCU dance team will receive custom uniforms designed by Brea as well as a donation of $25,000 to cover team expenses.

We took some time to find out about how she got into the business, the importance of confidence for women in the entertainment business and why she has partnered with Tampax and Always Radiant Collection during Homecoming season at HBCUs.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you get into designing and tell us who some of your celeb clients have been as well as what is the memory of the first piece that you created for a celebrity?

BREA STINSON: I've been designing as long as I can remember. From drawing cartoon characters and bubble letters on jeans in the 6th grade for $5-25 dollars a pop, to designing prom dresses for my high school friends.....I've been putting in work for some time now!

I've had the honor of working with Will Smith, Usher, Beyonce, Zayn, Missy Elliott, Justin Bieber, Rita Ora and more. 

The first celebrity piece that stands out for me is the jacket I conceptualized for Jay-Z for his "Fade to Black" ("retirement") concert at Madison Square Garden. I had been a fan of his for so long by that point. I felt like I knew all his lyrics and certain principles that were valuable to him. I was working as an assistant stylist at the time and I suggested that we use vintage tattoo art to convey a message on a cashmere blazer that we pulled for him. I selected the dagger going through the heart and it read, "death before dishonor". The look on his face when my boss revealed the jacket was priceless. He loved it! It was at that moment, I realized there was something special in these little ideas of mine. To have him embrace my concept at such a huge moment in his career was an overwhelming feeling. I'm forever grateful for that moment. 

AM: You have dressed the world's most stunning and confident women, how impactful is that on you to be around such bold women who represent the entertainment industry?

BS: It's insane!!! It fuels me. I've been blessed to work with the most talented female creative directors, dancers, producers and artists!!! Having such women of influence choose me, wear my designs and support my dream, is more than flattering. It's inspiring to be in the presence of such power and positivity. I just try to soak up all the knowledge and good energy I can. I only hope to leave them with as much as they give. 

AM: Why did you decide to partner with Tampax and Always Radiant Collection in their initiative with HBCUs? 

BS: Tampax and Always have always been my brands of choice. I come from a family of female go getters and to be honest, Tampax was the only brand I recall seeing as a child. Our relationship goes all the way back to when I was a dancer in my younger years and from then until now, Tampax has never failed me. Comfort and leak-free protection equals confidence and those qualities are things the Tampax and Always Radiant Collection embody. Also I know from personal experience and from working with my clients that it's important to feel your best in order to perform at the highest level. All these things are the reason this partnership and initiative geared towards HBCUs really spoke to me, especially given that I graduated from an HBCU, Clark Atlanta University, myself. I'd like to think, this is indeed a way to give back.

AM:  You went to Clark Atlanta University, a HBCU - how meaningful is this partnership as the competition with Tampax highlights these elite schools?

BS: Yes, I did! Our school motto is, "find a way or make one". This has stuck with me through my education and career. HBCU's have produced some of this nation’s most RADIANT achievers. So it's not only meaningful, it’s a perfect fit! 

While we won't be able to visit all the schools during this campaign, the great thing is that everyone can participate in the competition in some way. Each qualifying HBCU majorette team can enter for a chance to win $25,000 and costumes designed by me!! And, the general public can participate by casting their vote November 2 -November 15th on who they think the winning team should be. 

AM: Beyond your involvement with this contest, how important is it to bring the awareness of this study to the African American community?

BS: It's crucial. Studies have shown 4 out of 5 women avoid wearing certain clothing and or doing certain activities during that time of the month, that could be up to a week when they don’t feel like their best selves!

Tampax and Always have been steadfast in creating products with premium protection over the years. It's time to let the girls know, that they can live their best lives any day of the month and completely show up for the task at hand, feeling comfortable and confident. There's so much to be unsure about these days, so this is one less thing to stress about. This Radiant campaign celebrates that personal freedom and fearlessness. 
 
AM: How excited are you for the Radiant Tailgate taking place at Howard University? 

BS: I'm totally excited! Howard University was one of my top 3 choices. Although, I chose CAU....I've always had a love for this school. Being a part of this campaign allows me participate in the Howard University festivities and deliver a message of style and confidence that is very dear to me. 

Read more from the Oct Issue and see In Step with Brea Stinson in mag.