We catch up with former Welsh, British and European bodyboarding champion Lisa Cutts in Morocco to discuss the highs and lows of life in and out of the water, her competitive career, the rise of women’s bodyboarding, coaching, and leading our all-female Bodyboard Holidays trips.
From Grom to Interviewer: Catching Up with UK legend bodyboarder Lisa Cutts 30 Years Later
Growing up as a grom in the late 90s on the UK’s south coast, where surf was often more promise than reality, much of our time was spent hanging around the local surf shop. Much to the owner’s frustration, we’d spend hours skulking around the shop with no intention of buying anything.
The highlight of every month was when the latest issue of Three Sixty magazine landed. We’d read it cover to cover, completely absorbed by stories and photos from bodyboarding destinations at home and abroad. Every page fuelled the imagination, while the surf shop owner would inevitably groan at us, “You know you’ll have to buy that, it’s not a library in here!”
It was during those years that I first became aware of Lisa Cutts. Every issue seemed to feature her name, competition reports, photos. Welsh, British and European titles, sponsorship deals, international travel. She had already established herself as one of the leading figures in British bodyboarding. At a time when women in the sport were still few and far between, she stood out for carving her own path and showing what was possible.
Fast forward 30+ years, and I’m sitting with Lisa on a rooftop terrace, sipping mint tea, during one of our all-female Secret Morocco Bodyboard Holidays trips. The perfect place to bridge the last three decades.
We talk about the highs and lows of her journey, her excitement for this trip, and her role leading our all-female adventures to Morocco, El Salvador and Nicaragua. We also look back at her early competitive years, the rise
of women’s bodyboarding, and why coaching continues to drive her today.
So, grab a brew and join us as we catch up with one of British bodyboarding’s true pioneers.
So Lisa, here we are on a bodyboarding trip to Morocco…
As lead coach on our first all-female Bodyboard Holidays trip to Secret Morocco, what have your impressions of this location been?
“Great food, empty waves in the desert and sunshine are hard to beat, but the highlight of the trip has been the people. The local bodyboarding community has been so welcoming and supportive, reminding me exactly why I love travelling. I’m especially excited for our give-back event on the final day, where we’ll be able to share some bodyboarding gear with local groms and give something back to the community that’s hosted us so warmly.”
Our women-only bodyboarding weekends in the UK have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and this Morocco trip has been a huge success too. What do you think is driving that growth?
“I think a big part of it is the sense of community. A lot of women come along for the bodyboarding, but they also stay for the social side of things and the friendships that develop along the way. These trips and weekends create a really supportive environment where people can build confidence in the water, learn at their own pace and enjoy the experience without any pressure. Once people experience that, they often want to come back and bring others with them.”
Why do you think some women choose an all-female coaching trip rather than a mixed group?
“For a lot of women, it’s about feeling comfortable and being able to enjoy the whole experience alongside other women who are there for the same reasons. There’s something really special about learning together, supporting each other in the water and celebrating each other’s progress, no matter what level you’re at.
The friendships and connections that develop are a huge part of it too. People often arrive not knowing anyone and leave having made genuine friends. There’s always plenty of laughter, and for many women it feels like a more relaxed, less pressurised environment where they can focus on their bodyboarding and simply enjoy themselves.
Of course, mixed trips work brilliantly for lots of people, but some women really value having a space where all the dynamics that can come with having men around are removed. It creates a different atmosphere, and for many that makes it easier to build confidence, get involved and make the most of the experience.”
And Morocco isn’t the only international trip you’ll be coaching on for Bodyboard Holidays. You’ll also be joining us Central America for our Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua camps, as well as leading the first ever all-female wave pool bodyboarding event at The Wave. Have you spent much time in that part of the world, and what are you most looking forward to?
“I haven’t been to Central America yet, but it’s a part of the world I’ve always wanted to explore. Everything I’ve seen looks incredible; warm tropical water, amazing waves, abundant wildlife and plenty of uncrowded breaks. I’m looking forward to experiencing it all firsthand and sharing the adventure with the group. I also bodyboarding at The Wave and can’t wait to launch our first all women’s event there. So exciting!
What’s more, it’s likely that my bodyboarding idol, Vicki Reale, will be joining us as a celebrity coach on one or more of these Central America stops… watch this space! And in Nicaragua, we’ll have both female surfers and boogers join on the same trip, which is the first camp of its kind that I know of, so I’m really looking forward to that too”.
Now, let’s rewind the clock. I remember always seeing your name popping up in British bodyboard magazines, a young rider from South Wales spinning on a sixpence on her Genesis bodyboard, and making waves on the competition scene. How did your bodyboarding journey begin?
Lisa Cutts: Early Years and First Steps Into Bodyboarding
“I grew up on the South Wales coast, but I couldn’t actually swim until I was about eight years old. For a long time, the sea felt more intimidating than inviting. It wasn’t until my teenage years, when I became obsessed with swimming, that I really started building confidence in the water.
That confidence eventually took me out of the pool and into the ocean around Porthcawl.
Those early sessions in cold Welsh water sparked a lifelong connection with the sea. Surf lifesaving also played a big part in shaping me. Long days on the beach, training, patrolling, swimming and paddling in all conditions taught me respect for the ocean and gave me a strong foundation in the water.
Back then there weren’t many women in the lineup, but that never really put me off. Inspired by international riders such as Vicki Reale and Daniela Freitas, I’d go surf and bodyboard alongside the local boys and gradually found my place in the local scene. When bodyboarding started growing in the UK, I was hooked straight away. I loved the speed, freedom and connection to the wave. Surfing never quite clicked for me in the same way, but bodyboarding just did. That feeling of flying across an open wave face was addictive.
As my competitive interest grew, I moved to Cornwall for more consistent waves, which allowed me to spend far more time in the water and really progress. Winters were spent chasing waves abroad in places like Barbados, Sri Lanka and Hawaii. For years my life revolved around the ocean, surf, eat, sleep, repeat. Those experiences shaped me as a rider and gave me the chance to push myself against some of the best.
It all paid off with Welsh, British and European bodyboard titles, but more importantly it gave me a lifetime of experiences and a deep passion for bodyboarding that I still carry today.”
Lisa Cutts Fact File
| Born | Cardiff |
|---|---|
| Started Bodyboarding | 16 years old |
| Bodyboarding Idol | Vicki Reale |
| Bodyboarding Titles | Welsh, British and European Champion |
| Surf Life Saving Titles | British, European and World Champion |
| Hobbies | Travel |
| Favourite Wave | South Fistral |
| Favourite Board | Sniper - Iain Campbell Pro Model |
30 Years On: Life Beyond the Early Days
Up to this point, this is the Lisa I remember from the 90s. But a lot has happened in the three decades since, real highs, including success in other sports you’ve applied yourself to, and you have overcome some very challenging chapters along the way.
Health Setbacks and a Sudden Life Shift
“Yes, in my early 30s, I was diagnosed with womb cancer, which came as a huge shock, especially as I’d always tried to live a healthy, active lifestyle. I had surgery and a total hysterectomy, which led to an early menopause. I really wasn’t prepared for that.
I went from being a very active thirty-something to suddenly feeling like I was in a different body. It was frightening physically and mentally, and it took time before I felt strong enough to return to sport. Looking back, I was probably naïve about how much it would affect me, and there simply wasn’t the awareness around menopause that there is now.”
Rebuilding Through Challenge
Rebuilding Through Challenge“Then, into my 40s, I went through another major change when my marriage ended and I became a single parent to a four-year-old boy. I turned to exercise to get through it. I needed something to focus on, so I started training for triathlon. Swimming came naturally, but cycling was completely new, so I spent countless evenings on a turbo trainer at home once my son was asleep.
Looking back, it was intense, but I ended up racing triathlon series and completing a half Ironman – 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and a half marathon, which I’m still proud of today.”
Back to the Ocean: Surf Lifesaving and Masters Racing and European Masters Success
“By my late 40s, the ocean still had a strong pull, so I returned to surf lifesaving after almost 30 years away. I was nervous at first, but I quickly got hooked again and started competing in the masters division. Training became structured with a mix of HIIT, swimming and paddling.I went on to win national titles in my age group, which made me curious to see how far I could push it again.”
In 2019 I competed at the European Masters Championships in Italy. I had prepared well but didn’t really know what to expect. My strongest event is Ocean Woman, which combines board paddling, swimming, ski paddling and running. I entered six individual events plus relays and team races.
Everything clicked. I won the board race, beating the reigning European champion, and by the end of the week I had medalled in every event I entered. It was a huge confidence boost and made me think I could take things further.”
From Europe to the World Stage
“From there I set my sights on the World Championships. It took time to find consistency, and at points it was frustrating, but I kept going. Back in Cornwall I focused heavily on ski paddling with my coach Scott Wood, which made a big difference.
When the World Championships in Italy finally went ahead after Covid delays, I felt ready. I came away with silver in the ski race, bronze in Ocean Woman, and gold in both the board rescue and ski relay with my teammates.
To come away as a World Champion in my age group felt surreal. I was absolutely buzzing, it took a while for it all to sink in.”
From Surf Life Saving World Champion to Bodyboard Holidays Coach
So what was the journey from Surf Life Saving World Champion to joining the Bodyboard Holidays coaching team? How did that transition come about?
“I’ve known Rob (owner of Bodyboard Holidays) for years, and after spending most of my career in teaching and coaching, joining the Bodyboard Holidays team felt like a natural fit. The weekends became more regular after COVID, and with a bit more flexibility in my schedule, I found myself getting increasingly involved.
A trip back to Barbados really reignited my love for bodyboarding. After years of competing, the sport had started to feel more stressful than enjoyable, but getting back in the water reminded me why I fell in love with it in the first place. Since then, I’ve really enjoyed rediscovering the sport and continuing to learn.
When the opportunity came up to be part of the Central America trips, especially the Nicaragua Surf & Boog camp, it was an easy yes. It’s an exciting combination of coaching, travel and sharing great waves with like-minded people, which is exactly what I enjoy most these days.
What’s more we have an all women’s weekend at the Bristol Wave with former bodyboard World Champion Iain Campbell, in September too! I can’t wait.”
So here we are, back in the present day. Energised by this strong mint tea and with waves here looking good, it’s time to head for the water.
If you’d like to learn from Lisa Cutts, join us on our all-female Secret Morocco Bodyboard Holidays trips or our all-female Central America camps in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua or on our all-female coaching weekend at the Wave, with Lisa, in Bristol, UK.
For any questions, be sure to get in touch.
Female Bodyboarders FAQ
What’s the best way for a women to get into bodyboarding?
Start simple, safe and fun. Bodyboarding is one of the easiest ways to build confidence in the ocean early on, and a relaxed, supportive environment makes a huge difference. Small waves, good conditions and good coaching help progress come naturally.
We’d also recommend doing a bodyboarding taster weekend with us down in Newquay, Cornwall to see whether it is something your daughter or wife wish to pursue.
When is the best time to travel to Morocco, El Salvador and Nicaragua?
Morocco is best from September to June for consistent Atlantic swell. El Salvador and Nicaragua are best in the dry season (roughly November to April), with clean offshore conditions and consistent waves.
What are the waves like in Morocco, El Salvador and Nicaragua?
Morocco offers empty Atlantic point breaks and beach breaks with plenty of variety. El Salvador is known for long, fast right-hand point breaks perfect for flow and progression. but we have found a selection of world class sand bottom beach breaks. Nicaragua delivers warm water, offshore winds and fun, consistent beach breaks barrels suitable for all levels.
What are the benefits of joining the women's wave pool coaching session with Lisa
The benefits are;
Perfect, repeatable waves in a safe environment. No pressure as our instructor team are in the water with you, to help you every step of the way. Guaranteed perfect conditions. Sharing the waves with like minded ladies.
