8 Habits That Will Make You a Better Surfer.

I swear this isn't one of those "do 10 push-ups a day and you'll become a better surfer" kind of blogs 😅

Because honestly… the best surfers I know? They're not always the ones doing the most technical, perfect turns.

They're the ones having fun. The ones laughing when they wipe out. The ones who just feel good being out there.

For me, becoming a "better surfer" had way less to do with performance, and everything to do with mindset and feeling supported and free enough to be my best self in the water.

Listening to your body. Dancing with the ocean. Tuning into your own rhythm instead of fighting it.

Here's what actually made the difference: 

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1. Tell the Ocean you love her. 

Number 1. Always. 

There’s something about acknowledging the ocean, respecting her, appreciating her, thanking her for keeping you safe, that shifts your whole energy before you even paddle out. 

I’ve learnt this big time from immersing myself in Balinese culture. We take so much from the ocean… it feels right to give something back, even if it’s just a moment of gratitude.

Call it what you want, but it changes everything.

I used to wear swimwear that wasn't made for surfing. Or maybe it was marketed as surf swimwear, but it didn't hit the spot.

I hated worrying about my boobs popping out. I hated feeling uncomfortable in the water. But the worst part? I realised it was stopping me from going for waves. I was holding back in case I fell. 

That's when it clicked. What you wear in the water isn't just about looks, it's about freedom. When everything feels right, when you feel supported and confident, you stop second-guessing and start surfing. Thats why Elation The Label is here. 

Not what was slipping, not what needed adjusting. Just me and the water.

That's the habit. Not perfection. Just removing the little things that pull you out of the moment. 

3. Dance with what the ocean gives you. 

My favourite saying in the surf? Making something out of nothing.

A friend of my dad's once told me he'd surf anything that was surfable. Didn't matter how small, how messy, how far from perfect. He just showed up and worked with whatever the ocean gave him. I've never forgotten that.

Because the days you fight the conditions, wishing for bigger waves, better shape, more power, are the days you come in feeling flat. The days you dance with what's in front of you? Those are often the ones you remember most.

The ocean doesn't owe you a perfect wave. But if you're willing to dance with what she gives you, she'll always give you something.

 

The water glistening.
The colours in the sky.
That calm in between.

It’s easy to forget, but this is part of surfing too.

And honestly… this is the stuff you remember.

5. Set an intention, not a goal

I'm not going to pretend I'm not trying to progress. I am. I've been working on cutbacks, trying to beat sections, pushing myself to learn. But one session I looked up and realised I'd spent almost the entire time trying to nail something new and I felt defeated. Not stoked. Defeated.

That's when I said to myself  'that's it, I'm having a fun wave.' No thinking, no trying, just surfing the way I already know how. And that's where it changed for me.

Now I set an intention before I paddle out. Not a goal. Not pressure. Just a simple decision 'is this a learning surf, or a fun surf?' And if I've been grinding through a learning session and I feel it slipping, I give myself permission to set a new intention before the next wave, 'lets just have fun.' 

Some waves are for falling, trying, completely messing up. Some are just for flowing. Both are important, deciding which one you're on before you paddle out changes everything.

 

Surfing doesn’t always have to be serious.
And the conditions? They don’t have to be perfect to have a good time.

Last year, I ditched my usual board for a soft-top and just went out to play.
Close outs? Rode them anyway. Whitewash into shore? So much fun!

It was messy. There was joy. It reminded me of my younger self, no big problems, no expectations, just the water and me.

Play isn’t optional. It’s the part that keeps you coming back, smiling, and loving every wipeout along the way.

7. Remember why you started surfing and the joy it brings

I fell in love with surfing because of the way it connected me. I moved somewhere new, found my first surf crew, and it genuinely changed my life. The ocean gave me my people.

We all have bad days out there. Sometimes it's not even the waves, it's doubt sneaking in, or frustration, or just feeling flat.

That's when I come back to that feeling. The friends I hadn't met yet. The version of me who just saw joy and paddled toward it.

That feeling is still there every time you enter the water. You just have to remember to look for it.

So tell me, why did you start surfing in the first place? How does being in the water make you feel?

Surfing is fun. Surfing with the right people? Even better.

I fell in love with surfing because of the people it connected me to. Some of my closest adult friendships exist because of a shared love for the ocean. That's not something I expected, but it's one of the greatest gifts surfing has given me.

Finding friends as an adult is hard. Finding friends who want to paddle out with you at 6am, laugh at your wipeouts, and hype you up on the way back in? That's gold.

Talk to people at the beach. Join a social surf. Say yes to the group chat. When you start looking, they're everywhere. Women Soulful Surf has had a huge impact on mine, and so many others surf journeys because of the community and connection. 

That's where the magic happens. And it's exactly what we're building at Elation too, a community of women who back each other in the water. The girls who go for it.

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So… what actually makes you a better surfer?

Not skill. Not technique. It's how you show up.

Relaxed. Present. Willing to try, willing to fall, and enjoying surfing for what it is, not what you think it should be.

That's when everything starts to click.

All of these habits come back to the same thing, showing up fully, and getting out of your own way.

That's why I made Elation. Because if there's one thing I want for every woman paddling out, it's that she feels completely herself out there. Swimwear that takes one thing off your mind, so you can be present for all of it.

You've got this. We've got you x.