Shortboarder turned Disco Dancer

I am often asked why I converted from the shortboard to the longboard. First of all, it was never planned & it came after 5 years of working towards becoming an intermediate surfer on my 5’8 fish. But I’m thankful for the universe’s divine timing.

For me, shortboarding is fast, it’s a thrill and it gets the heart rate pumping. And whilst I love this kind of adrenaline and I loved surfing a shortboard, the first 3 years of starting SOS, everything in my life moved fast.

My new business was blowing up and I was running as I learnt, whilst also trying to keep up with my other business. I lost my dad 3 months into starting SOS, so I was juggling healing my heart whilst showing up for others.

And on top of all of this, I was chasing progress in something that started off as doing something good for my mental health, but was slowly becoming the opposite. I had a harsh internal critic who also had a bit of imposter syndrome.

So that week in May 2025, when the universe said, “You’re getting on this thing if you want waves,” it was like my entire nervous system finally got to have a break. And it made me realise I’d also lost a little joy and peace in the ocean.

Longboarding to me is the Yin to my Yang life and mind.

I have to slow down, I have to have patience, I have to feel my body and I still get to bring some of my shortboard edge, personality and style into it.

I know I have so much still to learn. I know I need to get my feet organised. I’ve been working on the dance and I get way too excited if I do something cool, to the point I wipeout.

But one thing I’ve learnt from this entire transition is that not every single surf session needs to be about chasing progression.

I even had to say to my coach the other day, “As much as I love feedback, today I’m not after it.”

Because I don’t want to go back to being the sister who thinks that unless I’m doing everything “right”, my session in the ocean wasn’t a good one.

So here’s to all the women learning to find their feet, whatever board you’re riding. May you continue to learn, continue to progress, but never forget to find joy in the ocean. 🩵🌊💃 Angie x

#surfing