Power Of The Pack

Rediscovering the power of the pack with the Saunton Surf Sisters. ›

by Steph Conway

For the past two years, collectively, we've been through it. Isolation has been difficult for most of us for the simple fact that humans are social creatures. After living abroad for a decade, I moved to North Devon last December for work, knowing no one. I was determined to find a way to continue surfing, even if it meant jumping in the ice-cold Bristol channel. But I didn't want to surf on my own. Re-learning to surf in cold water after being blessed with perfect reef breaks in the warmer climates of Indonesia and California sounded like a daunting and likely dangerous task. So, I set out to find some surf buddies. On social media, I discovered a local women's surf group that would change my North Devon social life for the better.

Attending the first Saunton Surf Sisters meet up as restrictions eased in June, I felt nervous about putting myself out there. But as soon as I parked and found my way to the meet-up location, I was immediately greeted by Ella, and quickly befriended several members. We all made our way with our wetsuits and boards as one big girl group into the sea. The surf was small but fun enough for the beginners to catch some baby waves, with the occasional clean set for the more intermediate surfers to enjoy. From that day forward, my social calendar filled up with regular meet-ups and new hobbies like wakeboarding, acro yoga and rock climbing with other members who have since become close friends.

Saunton Surf Sisters was formed by Ella Louise Sullivan, a former London art director turned North-Devon based multi-faceted entrepreneur, who had found her love of surfing through working at a Portuguese surf camp and on surfing holidays in Indonesia. Finding herself in a new location, she missed a sense of community with other women. "I was constantly surfing on my own, surrounded by men and thinking, where are my girls at? Surely there must be other women thinking like me?"

Ella isn't the only one noticing male-dominated lineups. According to an International Surfing Association survey, women account for only 19% of the 18 million surfing community worldwide. "I wanted to share my love of surfing with other girls," Ella explains. "To give those that might be new to surfing the chance to meet other North Devon based women and do fun stuff together."

Saunton Surf Sisters are as much about female empowerment as surfing. The group organises monthly events at Saunton Beach for anyone from >

"There's something therapeutic about jumping in the sea, and going surfing with a bigger group helps build your confidence in the waves."

- Member and North Devon native Joanna Hamer

experienced surfers to total newbies. Beginners can get the hang of their pop-up, while the more able surfers go out and join the line-up. It doesn't matter if it's your first time on a board or you've shredded for years; everyone can benefit from getting in the sea. Surfing in the UK isn't quite the same as in Bali and California. You won't find many surfers in bikinis here due to the colder climates, grey skies and needing a whole lot of neoprene to keep warm. But no matter where you choose to jump in the water from, all surfers know the sense of serenity that comes from paddling out into the waves of your nearest break. More than just a sport, surfing is therapeutic, a way to connect with the sea, meet new people in the line-up and gain both a physical and mental release. Issues you encounter while surfing can reflect the problems you struggle with in real life. So if you can learn to deal with them in the water, you can learn to deal with them on dry land, too. "There's something therapeutic about jumping in the sea, and going surfing with a bigger group helps build your confidence in the waves," adds member and North Devon native Joanna Hamer. "Meeting up in groups can be daunting at times because you don't know how approachable everyone will be. But everyone in the group is so lovely and from all different walks of life, so it's enjoyable to be a part of."

As well as surf meet-ups, the group also organises yoga classes, skate sessions, and beach events and has an online community of almost 300 women. The best part about being part of the Saunton Surf Sisters, according to member Louise Pamment, is "being part of a group of females that just love to see each other win! It's so sick being in the water and hearing all the girls hyping each other up and having a blast."

Surfing with a group of women can be empowering. You can cheer each other on as you catch (or miss) waves and help each other learn. It's always good to have surfing friends because they can give you tips and tricks to help you improve. "Just come try and make a connection with another woman," encourages Ella. "Slowly, these connections build up and then a community is made. And that's what we are put on this planet to do. To build connections and build community. These things take time, and hopefully, in the next couple of years, we will have a vibrant community of women who surf and support one another."

The future is bright for the Saunton Surf Sisters. As the group grows both at meet-ups and online, so do the opportunities to expand. "We could help fundraise to get girls who haven't had the chance to surf before out for lessons and purchase foamies for them," muses Ella. "I'd love to help empower the next generation of female surfers to get out there with us!" Receiving genuine support hits the nervous system differently. From the smallest act of a heart emoji under your latest grid post to the presence of strong female friends with who you can entrust with your darkest secrets, championing other women results in more opportunities and increased success for all. Being a part of the Saunton Surf Sisters and rediscovering the pack's power in North Devon honestly reminded me of the most essential rule in surfing: to have fun.