“I’ll be surfing when I’m 120”. It’s a phrase I’ve said to people numerous times.
I’ve lost count of the number of people who have reached out in the past weeks asking if I’m back on a board yet. The answer is sadly, no, because my mobility is still so far removed from the norm, I can’t put pressure on my right hand, and if I fell on it (to be honest, if it’s jarred slightly even), it’s excruciating.
I’m an impatient person, and I think for the people who know me there was the expectation I’d be rushing back to everything as soon as humanly possible. The thing is, I’m in this for the long haul. I want to be doing these sports and the other things I love that depend on my mobility until I’m dead. Which means, much as I’d love to back at the skate park and back in the sea, I’m coming back when my body is good and ready. Strong.
I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of longevity. Of a life where you don’t let age determine what you are able to do, but you give your body the best chance of performing at it’s best, for as long as possible. So, I was intrigued to listen to the MenoPositive podcast this week, and an episode with Dr Tamsin Lewis. She talks about the concept of your ‘Joy Span’ - a point of view on not just how long you can live, but on living life with the fullest joy.
“lots of people struggle to experience joy, it’s unfamiliar. We are very much taught a lot of the time to work, to be productive, to do, to accumulate. But joy is when we relax, when we laugh, when we connect, when you have moments of awe where we experience our environment. But it’s harder to experience for people because of devices, our phones, these different digitally driven dopamine fuelled scenarios is taking us away from our ability to inherently create and experience Joy”
I like the idea that it’s not just focusing on health, on movement, but on the pure fuel that is joy to age well. So, here we go, this list is all about finding more joy.
Don’t Be Board:
Watch and listen to these: Love for women on boards
There has been lots of love for women on boards in the news lately, the BBC are speaking to so many of the brilliant communities in this space: The London Skate Mums; and The Board Mums in the South West
Explore this: Are surfboards made for women?
They’ve also written this really interesting piece on whether surfboards are designed for female bodies
Spend some time with this: Skate like a lass x nowness
I really enjoyed this short film on grassroots skateboarding communities in the North East England. Visual artist Juliet Klottrup is behind it - so the project comes to life as a zine, and exhibition, a short film - all exploring female and non-binary skaters who are carving out a community.
Reconnect with this: Skating for Mothers x Hot Moms x The Salty Club
I’ve been trying to find other podcasts that I really enjoy in the skate / surf / snowboarding space (not as simple as you’d think beyond the ones I talk about all the time on here). I liked the skating is for mothers mini series that the Salty Club did back in 2024 - also it included one of my former guests @hotmomsofskateboarding who is always worth a watch / listen. Here’s the Salty episode, and here’s mine incase you missed it.
Get on Board:
Come to This: Our ‘Find your Joy’ event On May 15th
We have just confirmed our next virtual event, £10 for non members to attend, free to attend if you are a paid member (you get one of these monthly). We’ll be exploring why board sports are so essential to our mental maintenance and I couldn’t be more excited for our line up. We have Lisa baxter, a CIC director from the board mums club, and breathwork coach. We have India from resurface uk, who run transformational surf retreats to help you flourish and also addressing trauma directly; and Danni @surfconfidencecoach who often works with people to use surfing to find Joy and get past issues that are holding them back. Ram from @scorchaskateschool is coming to talk you through her history, and also Jackie aka @fortyandpushing on Instagram. Book now!
Meet Up at This: London Skate Mums x Bay Sixty Six
The London Skate mums crew are brilliant, including several members that have been interviewed on this podcast. Please do head along to their next meet up Saturday May 10th for skate pals old and new.
Surf confidence coach x joy coaching program
The lovely Danni aka @surfconfidencecoach has recently launched a Joy Programme - put yourself in her trusted hands to find the joy in your day to day existence.
The Board Crew: Louise Boussemart
Louise is our resident yoga coach when you come on any of our events or retreats, you can find her at @louise_beyondthemat . Alongside her brilliant yoga instruction that is tailored for board sports (and delivered in the best french accent), Lou is infectiously positive and energetic and always up for new things (including being pretty nomadic), which we love about her. Let’s find out a little more:
When and how did you get into board sports?
I really got into board sports in my late 20s, during a time in my life when I felt a strong urge to do anything I wanted without a single care in the world. I clearly remember that period — a time when I truly felt I could be anyone, do anything, and somehow, also started to really get to know myself. It all began with skateboarding, and not long after, I picked up surfing and became completely obsessed!
What do you love about them?
What first got me hooked in skateboarding was actually similar to what I loved about yoga: the strong sense of commitment, the focus on balance, mindfulness, the importance of repetition, letting go of the ego, consistency, trying, failing and starting again.
I think most board sports carry an element of fear you have to move through, and I'm really drawn to the idea of feeling the fear and doing it anyway, on a board or in life in general. With surfing, I particularly love the sense of perspective and calm it brings, and the practice of observing and reading the waves. That journey is endless and very humbling.
Describe how it feels when you’re on a board
Pure joy and an absolute focus on the present moment. I'm not gonna lie, sometimes I also feel frustration whilst having a bad surf but then I quickly remind myself to let go of expectations and remember why I am even on a board in the first place. It's only surfing afterall and I'm only here to have fun and enjoy!
What would you say to anyone considering trying?
Go for it! It's never too late to start something new. Surround yourself with people who will be your surfing or skateboarding buddies, and oh boy there will be so many of them along the way! Take lessons, always ask for advice on where to go and what gear to use.
Be excited aboit being a beginner, it means you have so much opportunity for growth and progress. Go out there and don't worry about what anyone else thinks because the truth is, nobody cares and no one is watching at the skatepark or in the sea. Lastly, when it comes to surfing, be humble, don't take yourself too seriously, never forget that the best surfer is the one having the most fun!
That’s it for this week! Don’t forget to share if you’ve enjoyed this, it makes a bit difference to us growing the podcast community & keeping it ad free. And do check out our paid subscription offer, it’s less than the cost of a lunch a month and you get our free monthly community virtual events and panels, as well as bespoke content and behind the scenes podcast content.
Caroline x
Board Women Founder