March Feature Sister Amelia

Hey I’m Amelia,

I’m 41 and live in Sydney. I’m mum of two kids and two doggos, and 95% of my time is taken up with parenting and working as an airline pilot. It’s safe to say I’m used to packing a bag and getting on a plane thanks to my job but I also adore travelling with my fam and exploring new places. I’m a creative at heart and love cooking, sewing and music, and now surfing too!

What got you into surfing?

As a kid I spent a lot of time in the surf, either body boarding or body surfing. I guess I was generally pretty fearless, and just loved the feeling of catching a big fast wave! Fast forward to my early 20s and my body board has long since been sent to Vinnies, and I decided I wanted to be more “grown up” and tackle a surf board instead.

Throughout the next 20 years I had tiny attempts here and there to go out for a surf. With no instruction, no surf fitness and probably all the wrong equipment- you can probably imagine how that went! I won’t say it was a fail, because I never really got started in it. It was a failure to launch. It was still always something I really wanted to learn one day, but life seemed to always provide me with excuses. The kids needed me- I couldn’t possibly disappear to the beach for hours at a time! Or work is too busy. The beach conditions aren’t right for a beginner. I’m too intimidated by other surfers in a crowded break. I was never short of a reason to NOT do it.

Until I found Sisterhood of Surf on Instagram, and saw the most incredible content on women who looked to be in a similar phase of life to me, DOING IT! I knew then that the only way I was going to get some momentum in learning to surf was to do an intensive period of instruction, and what better way to do it than with a group of like minded sisters in an exotic location? I made the commitment to myself then and there.

You recently did a retreat with us, can you share with us your experience?

Initially I couldn’t click the “Book” button fast enough. But then I went through all the feels!

- YAY! I’m going on a surf retreat! 

- OMG I’m going on a surf retreat, and I can’t surf, and I don’t know anyone!

- I feel so guilty, I’m going on an 8 day holiday without my kids or my partner, and spending time and money on myself

Arriving to the welcome circle on our first day erased so many of those initial worries and anxieties. I knew that I was surrounded by so many beautiful-hearted women that only wanted to lift themselves and those around them all the way up. It was clear that many of us shared similar anxieties about family guilt and surf ability, but it was the perfect space to allow those emotions to be acknowledged and then set aside. 

Now, for the surf part! My experience of the surf instruction we had was that it was UNREAL. Sisterhood uses such friendly and knowledgeable local coaches who really make sure the session is tailored to your ability. You get fitted out with the right board, and sent to a break that is more suited to you. The coaches were the best at choosing the right waves to help you onto, and then giving you helpful feedback on what may have gone wrong on each wave (and trust me there was plenty of feedback!). We also had professional drone footage and photographs which we analysed with Angie and the coaches after a session, providing more helpful advice on how to improve on the next wave.

The absolute highlight of the actual surf session was being able to witness other sisters grabbing a challenge by the horns and killing it! Being able to cheer on new friends as they catch a wave is such an endorphin rush and I’d almost say just as exciting as getting a wave yourself! I loved how we all celebrated each others wins during the week.

Outside of surfing we had such an epic schedule of snorkelling trips, sunrise yoga and bike rides, surf apnoea training, and of course, eating delicious meals, having massages and shopping at the markets! There was some sleep in there too I promise, and the places we stayed at all had the perfect girls surf retreat vibe.

Is there anything that you are adding into your daily life that you didn’t do before the retreat?

1. Popup practice

2. Paddle fitness training with stretchy surf bands

3. Giving myself permission to take a little wedge of time for myself without feeling guilty for not being productive constantly

What do you find the most challenging about surfing and is there a way you can overcome this?

By far the most physically challenging thing about surfing for me was the paddle fitness. Despite having a good resistance training program for years and solid upper body strength, the paddle burn is something else! I definitely found that the drawback of catching a long wave was the dreaded massive paddle back out, and know I would have caught more waves if I had been able to be quicker and have more endurance in the paddle. I’m training with paddle bands at home each day now, just 5 minutes a day, and have committed to a surf OR paddle in the ocean once a week. If the conditions aren’t right for a wave, I’ll at least keep the paddle fitness increasing. 

I do find surfing a mental challenge as well in these early stages, because it is all so new and such a steep learning curve, it’s hard to have the confidence that you sometimes need to tackle a break. The retreat was so good for this because we could trust that the coaches wouldn’t put us on waves that were going to surpass our abilities, so we could relax a little more into the session. I think confidence will come with more practice, but also more education so I’m filling my feed on socials with surf content at the moment to try to learn as much as I can when I can’t actually be on a board.

Share with us your favourite surfing moment?

On our last surf day on the retreat we were at Ekas in Lombok. I felt it was all starting to come together a little, and had some great waves. I was getting super tired though from the paddling. I reckoned I had maybe one more wave in me and then I was heading back to the boat. Waiting in the line up with my coach, we watched some sets come in that looked a little big and let them go. We thought we were due for a smaller set but no- out the back formed something even bigger! We weren’t quite in the right spot to be able to paddle out past them so it was looking like a huge wipe-out was incoming. You know when your cheerful Indonesian coach looks out the back and says “oh SHIT” that things are about to get real! He said “Ok Milly, you gotta get this one!” and I knew I was in for some washing machine time if I didn’t. No pressure! Well, with the perfect words and push at the pivotal moment, I got on, and I got up, and I rode that sweet baby as far as I could! I did then get pumped by the whitewash from the rest of the set behind it but it was totally worth it!

If you could give advice to another sister about surfing what would it be? 

My advice to any sisters that have always wanted to do this but never found or made the time to learn- you will NEVER do it unless you wholeheartedly commit. Commit to yourself first! Allow yourself the time and energy output to invest in YOU. I know this is something that most women find so hard, particularly mothers. You have to give yourself the grace to step out of all those other roles for a bit and really set that intention that you are worthy of learning something new, and enjoying a hobby that does not involve your partner or children.

Once you’ve made that first step, find yourself a community! I don’t think I would have fallen so in love with surfing and now have such a sustained enthusiasm to wanting to do it more and get better if I hadn’t started with Sisterhood of Surf. It’s like your own personal cheer squad and surf university all rolled up into the most wholesome feminine energy. Find yourself a tribe that will cheer on your wins and whose journeys you can also be a part of.

Amelia on the wave in Ekas

Amelia, Angie, Sonia

pink poncho party

Video analysis learning

Amelia Snorkeling at Gili Islands