When you look out at lineups not only in the UK, but all over the world, there’s a definite sea change in the air. Where once the lineups were a predominately male domain, increasingly we’re seeing the ladies pick up a bodyboard and give it a dig.
The unique accessibility of our sport means that for women of all ages, but particularly those in the middle stage of life, this new, exciting and vibrant new chapter is very much within reach.
Middle life is traditionally a time of shifting priorities, but for a growing community of women, it has become the ultimate era for exploring the ocean and discovering a new world of friendship and stoke.
Here at Bodyboard Holidays we’ve long seen the transformational impact that being in the water can have. Women & Waves was founded in 2017 by Rachel Murphy and Rob Barber to create an inclusive, supportive and accessible surf community. Since 2022 we’ve teamed up with them to host dedicated all-women's bodyboarding weekends and camps, and we’ve got some really exciting events coming up.
From the North Shore to Newquay: The Evolution of Women's Bodyboarding
To fully appreciate the thriving community of modern female wave riders, it’s fundamental to understand how this side of the sport has developed. Women’s bodyboarding has a rich, fierce, and fascinating history that laid the foundations for what we see today.
As documented in Owen Pye’s epic chronicle of our sport Born to Boogie, the women’s scene grew steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s, gaining major traction in hubs like Hawaii and Brazil. In the late 1970s, pioneers like Phyllis Dameron were already making their mark, charging notorious North Shore spots like Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay in maxing conditions (see images 13 & 14 below). By the mid-1980s, an explosion of female participation in Brazil completely flipped the script. In fact, for a time in Brazil, women’s bodyboarding eclipsed the men’s side of the sport in terms of popularity.
The 1990s ushered in a golden competitive era, with international riders like Stephanie Pettersen (see images 13 & 14 below), Karla Costa (image 3), Daniela Freitas, and Mariana Nogueira becoming absolute superstars.
At one stage I had seven Japanese sponsors," Pettersen recalls in the historical archive. "People were just calling me asking to sponsor me... every single one of them was from Japan."
Top riders were earning lucrative contracts, appearing on the covers of major fashion magazines, and being mobbed by fans at contests.
For former world tour competitor, eBodyboarding.com co-founder, and Bodyboard Holidays guest coach Vicki Reale, looking back at those high-octane days showcases just how much the soul of the sport has matured.
"Back in the day, I was competing against Brazilian legends like Stephanie Pettersen, Karla Costa, and Neymara Carvalho (image 7 & 9 below). I wanted to ride like them and look like them! Competing with them on the world tour and learning from them was so cool. Honestly, if some of them were on today's tour, they'd be top five for sure. Neymara is still out there ripping in some of these events! Today, the Japanese ladies are up there. They're lighter and smoother in some ways, but nobody matches the power, aggression, and style of the Brazilian girls. My biggest inspiration right now is Isabela Sousa - in my opinion, she's the best female rider ever."
With top riders like Joana Schenker, Isabela Sousa, Alexandra Rinder, Namika Yamashita (see image 16 below with Rob Barber at the Malidives Pro event that Rob was guest commentator) and many more continuing to push the envelope in the present day, the high performance and competitive side of the sport is in safe hands. But when Vicky reflects more broadly, it’s not just this element that continues to push boundaries. She sees a deeper change.
"There are so many older women out there now! I think that's because women like me grew up bodyboarding and never quit. And there are just way more females in the water, period. Young and old, on bodyboards and surfboards. There have never been as many women in the lineup as there are right now, and I love it!"
Equipment has also evolved to match this growth. Back in the day, riders were forced to battle the elements on thick, rigid, unforgiving craft.
"Thinner, more flexible boards have helped me so much," "Back in the day, I rode stiff, thick boats! I always wonder how the riding in the '90s would have been if we had today's boards. Check out my model the Tribe Valkyrie!"
The women’s side of the sport has a continuing legacy of strength and accessibility.
"Everyone loves the beach; most people can grab a boogie and ride a wave on their first try. It's so accessible and you can't help but crack a smile. It's so good for you mentally and physically.”
Building the Sisterhood: Community, Coaching, and Overcoming Barriers
To keep riding this wave of new participation, our focus alongside Women & Waves is on creating welcoming, safe spaces for women to learn. Central to this strategy is our elite team of female coaches, led by former European Bodyboarding Champion Lisa Cutts, alongside Rosita Sanchez and Amy Nutbrown.
This specialised coaching approach recently culminated in a historic milestone: the world’s first-ever all-women's bodyboard coaching session at a wave pool, held at The Wave in Bristol on September 19, 2026. Delivered by Lisa (see images 4,6,8 below) and Rosita, and overseen by senior coaches Iain Campbell, Rob Barber, and Damian Prisk, the event sold out instantly. The entire side of the commercial wave pool was filled exclusively with women.
"For nearly all of the women, it was their first experience”, explained Lisa.
“Many of them had never surfed this type of wave before but had been drawn to the event in the knowledge that they were going to be supported every step of the way, with coaches at the take-off point, in the water, and in the channel."
The pool session brought together women who decades of bodyboarding experience alongside absolute beginners. Operating on an intermediate wave setting, some worked on paddling technique and trimming across the face, while others practiced advanced manoeuvres like spins, rolls, and cutbacks. This controlled atmosphere was completely different from your average ocean lineup.
"Once they paddled out and were guided into waves, the nerves and worries started to fade, and excitement and enthusiasm took over"
"The shared stoke and the sense that everyone was figuring it out together built a strong bond of belonging and being part of a very special, supportive community. Celebrating success and sharing worries without judgment, basking in the jubilation of the whole experience... the ladies definitely had a buzzing glow about them."
This "buzzing glow" is exactly what we strive to recreate across all our events. The biannual Women's Bodyboard Weekends run for two days every spring and autumn, packing in three comprehensive lessons with all equipment supplied. To bridge the gap between trying and succeeding, every session is filmed from both land and water. The coaches then use this footage for supportive video analysis reviews, allowing guests to visually understand their body positioning and wave timing.
For those who want a completely casual, zero-cost introduction, our surf socials offer a free monthly meetup. These gatherings encourage female riders to explore the beautiful Newquay coast together without the coaching element. Equipment use is entirely free if you don’t have your own. The group simply checks the local forecasts, heads to the beach with the best conditions for a surf and wraps up the day with a big group meal. This environment is curated to make it as relaxing and positive an experience as possible – as Lisa explains below.
"Some of the challenges that guests have can be anxiety around being in the ocean and not really understanding how it works.
"Well-equipping them with information that can help keep them safe and make them feel more at ease is so important. Also, guests are often putting themselves well outside of their comfort zone and helping them to realize that they are not the only one feeling like this helps them build connections and a shared goal to overcome."
The Guest Perspective: "Boss Level Therapy"
No one understands the transformational power of this community better than the guests themselves. Sally from Wales (see images 1 & 2 below) is a prime example of a woman who found her true ocean calling through Bodyboard Holidays. Her journey shows how shifting from stand-up surfing to bodyboarding can completely restore the simple joy of being in the water.
"It’s a long story. I used to try very hard to stand-up surf. Covid came along and no one was 'allowed' to go surfing. I found not being in the sea really tough mentally. When lockdown was lifted, it felt like the whole world was in the sea at my local break! Long story short, the work-reward ratio was all wrong for me. I just wanted to be in the sea enjoying myself, and bodyboarding took all the seriousness out of surfing and just became all about the fun again."
Sally bought a board and went for it, but she was still missing the social side of the sport.
"The only thing I missed at this point was not having anyone to chat and relate bodyboarding with locally, as all my friends were stand-ups. So, I came across Bodyboard Holidays online."
She signed up for a coaching weekend that happened to be visiting her local Welsh break, and the decision transformed her social experience and ultimately led to deep, lifelong relationships.
"I met so many cool people. I was super inspired, and this led to me joining the Welsh Bodyboard Club. Now I have a load of friends to go boog with. Bodyboard Holidays opened a door to me meeting a whole community of boogers from all around the world too! Every event I’ve done has been just fun and energy. I come away surfed out with my social cup full up. I sleep like a log for a few nights after, and then I want to do it all over again.
"The most important things I’ve got out of Bodyboard Holidays is definitely the friendships I have made with likeminded people. I met Gemma—who is now one of my best friends—and I became a bridesmaid for her and her partner, Matt. They are like family to me now. We bonded entirely over that first Bodyboard Holidays weekend that I went to."
When asked what she would say to another woman standing on the shoreline, letting doubt hold her back, Sally's advice is uncompromisingly enthusiastic.
"I would talk to women who are thinking about booging all day long to convince them! Firstly, it is way less headwork than stand-up surfing... from catching waves to even walking down the beach with a bodyboard instead of a massive Mal surfboard! Life is easier on a boog, and I think simpler joys are the best. I know that being in the sea is like therapy for me. Being in the sea with a group of women who are on the same wavelength is boss-level therapy! I found that the encouragement from other women in the water is a full force."
Taking It Worldwide: The Ultimate Female Travel Adventures
We’re not stopping at UK coaching events and socials. For women looking to pair their new passion with world travel, Bodyboard Holidays has curated bespoke international coaching retreats. Following the massive success of the inaugural female-led trip to Secret Morocco, the team is expanding its international calendar.
Next on the horizon is a genuine world-first concept: a combined women’s surf and bodyboard coaching trip to Nicaragua. This unique trip allows female bodyboarders and female surfers to share the ultimate tropical getaway together, solving the classic travel dilemma for friends who ride different gear. The February 2027 trip has already sold out, with places for 2028 also going quickly.
The bodyboarders will receive dedicated coaching from Lisa Cutts, while the surfers will be guided by Chelsea Roett from the Women & Waves team. With Nicaragua's warm water, prevailing offshores and great waves, it offers an idyllic environment for intermediate riders looking to dial in their skills without stress – as Lisa explains here.
"The combined ladies' surf trip to Nicaragua is so exciting! I have always been away on trips with my surf buddy who is a stand-up surfer, and we have an absolute ball. Enabling female surfers and bodyboarders to enjoy a shared experience and access high-quality coaching for either skill set is such a fun concept. The waves there are ideal for both types of riders."
For those looking to learn directly from the legends of the sport, the upcoming trips to El Salvador and Costa Rica offer a rare opportunity. Lisa will be joined by former world tour competition and Australian Champion Vicki Reale as a professional guest coach. Far from an intimidating elite training camp, the trip is designed to give women bespoke coaching in an ego-free, encouraging and supportive setup.
"My encouragement is always to congratulate them for just giving it a go," reflected Vicki.
"I want to make sure they know it's about the feeling you get from being in the water on a boogie. To some extent, they can now look up to me like I looked up to the pioneer Brazilian girls back in the day. I just hope that I can inspire them."
Whether it's a sunny afternoon along the Newquay coast for a monthly social, a structured video-coaching weekend at The Wave pool, or a bucket-list trip to Central America, we have a trip and experience for women at all stages of life and of bodyboarding. These are about much more than just bodyboarding, they’re an opportunity to connect with a like-minded, diverse, interesting and supportive group of women, through the ocean.
Head to the Bodyboard Holidays calendar today to see all our upcoming events and take the first step on an exciting new journey.
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