Yvette Curtis is the founder of Wave Wahines, a nonprofit organization that aims to empower girls through surfing as a “girls only surf club”. Based in Croyde, a place with beautiful beaches and good surf at the coast of the UK, she tells us about her motivation, struggles and advice for all the other surfpreneurs out there.
Yvette, let’s go back in time: What was the moment that you were fascinated by surfing?
Well, who didn’t watch Point Break and wanted to be as cool as Tyler going straight from surf to work? I must have been about 16/17 years old at the time.
How was your path into surfing after this moment?
Alas, I didn’t actually try surfing until many years later. My first surf experience was a part of my ‘turning 30’ year. That’s pretty late by most people’s thinking. But once I had tried it, I loved it (thankfully, I loved falling off as that’s still what I do most of the time).
Back in 2016 you’ve started Wave Wahines. What was your motivation to initiate the project?
That’s easy! My eldest daughter, Aiyah, was 12 at the time and wanted to surf more frequently. But I am not really a surfer so was not really able to help her (especially with a 2 year old in tow at the time). We looked at the local surf clubs and schools and she found they were either hugely boy dominated and quite closely formed groups, or I found lessons at schools were too expensive to be a continuous expense for myself as a single parent.
By trade, I am a Personal Trainer and have my own successful business. So I decided I had the tools to start something for the girls in our area who find themselves in the same position as my daughter. Thankfully, a local surf school agreed to support our project and we were born.
Back then, Wave Wahines was more for younger girls. By I saw that you also offer weekends for over 30 year olds. So for whom is Wave Wahines by now?
Initially, it was girls my daughters age, the same group that are usually the first to fall out of organised school sports for so many reasons. For a couple of years mums and older women were asking if there could be one for them, too. So in February 2019 we ran a three week session program in collaboration with Devon Girls Can, specifically for the over 30’s and we had over 20 women turn up!
We started a weekly club session for the over 30’s from the April and it’s been growing ever since. We hope we can expand our offering even to have a small four week program of ‘Teeny Wahine’ ages 6-8 years.
How do girls and women benefit from learning to surf within a group of females only?
There is so much research conducted to show the positive impact a female focused environment has on its participants and I have definitely found that to be the case with Wahines. With our younger group, the social pressures were always a factor, ranging from self confidence or feeling embarrassed or taking a back seat to boys as they may in a mixed environment. They get to just ‘be silly’ and there’s no judgement or pressure.
The cheering and support the girls have for each other can’t fail to seep into their everyday life and they seem to grow in confidence and self belief weekly.
It gives them the power to believe there is no such thing as a boys sport as they are happily enjoying a sport that has previously been dominated by boys and men.
With our over 30’s group, it opened up the most fantastic opportunity for conversations and a real sense of sisterhood.
Was there ever feedback given by a participant that you will particularly remember because it was so special?
There have been so many incredible moments, it’s really hard to pick just one, but one of our over 30s women called me before attending and had extreme back issues and was scared it may cause more pain. I advised that I am a trainer and as I’m always in the water, I would be ensuring her coaching is in line with her issues. Over the coming months she went from prone surfing of a wave so standing up easily and comfortably. Her progress was kept in manageable terms so her back could cope and indeed strengthen.
After the session when she first got to her feet, she came and hugged me looking tearful and said she would never have imagined trying to surf if it hadn’t been for me and the Wahines.
To bring women something so life changing really never fails to humble me.
What was your biggest challenge with Wave Wahines so far and how did you face it?
As with most community based things it’s keeping the costs low to our participants as affordability is really important to me, whilst still ensuring all costs are covered and we can provide additional equipment for training out of the water, too.
Also we used to get asked all the time ‘What about boys?’. Luckily I have always had a lot of research to call on to support that decision. By now people can see why it is needed and why it works.
How is Wave Wahines financed?
We are funded by the weekly club fees of £10 and an annual membership. We usually just have enough to cover the coaching costs. Any excess gets kept for end of year presentations and winter events. We also get some funding from local organisations to buy additional kit.
What are your future plans for Wave Wahines?
I would love to be able to offer to more age groups and perhaps a pathway into competitive surfing, too. We train all winter out of the water so giving wider training options would also be fantastic.
What's your advice for other surfpreneurs who are just starting out?
Believe in it! I had moments in the beginning when I wanted to just give up. But I knew the local girls needed the club and I believed in what it would stand for. So I just kept going and I couldn’t be more proud. My eldest daughter is now a surf coach and I was shortlisted for The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year 2019 Grassroots Award. I still work as a personal trainer for a living but will never stop pushing Wahines and women’s surfing forward.
Interviewed by Sophie Krause
Writer and marketeer being addicted to chickpeas, loving everything outdoors (but especially the ocean) and wishing her zodiac sign was turtle. Sophie is collaborating with Surfpreneurs Club as writer to inspire others (and also herself) with the unique & exciting stories of all the great people you will (kind of) meet here.
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