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For a long time, I surfed without fully understanding the impact of my board’s design. I knew I needed a longboard to cross-step and nose ride, but the world of surfcraft always seemed distant, almost secretive.

Once I started to dig in and learn about surfboard design, everything changed. It didn’t just improve my surfing—it opened up a whole new way of experiencing the sport.

In this episode, I’m talking about why understanding your board’s design is a crucial part of becoming a better surfer. From catching more waves to having confidence in your choices, surfboard knowledge gives you a deeper connection to the sport and more control over your progress.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about walking into a surf shop or curious why some surfers catch every wave, this episode is for you. It’s about gaining knowledge and taking ownership of your progress.

Key Takeaways:

• How surfboard design directly impacts your performance and your confidence in the lineup.
• Why knowing more about your board earns you respect and connects you with other surfers.
• My journey changing up my surfboard — and the shifts it made in my approach to surfing.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• The Surf Société's 3-part Surfcraft Workshop Series:
  • Shop & Shaper Conversations: How to confidently ask the right questions in a surf shop.
  • Surfboard Shapes & Styles: A guide to the most common shapes and what they’re best for.
  • Nuances of Surfboard Construction: Demystifying fins, concaves, and everything in between.

Resources

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

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With a single call to "the big dogs," Sasha Jane Lowerson set in motion a revolution for equality in competitive surfing. Despite her success in numerous competitions under her former identity of Ryan Egan, Sasha feared competing as a transgender surfer. Instead of letting fear take over, she embraced her true self and championed groundbreaking inclusion policies for surfers of diverse genders.

Join us for this episode as we peel back the layers of "bullshit" and explore what it means to live authentically. Sasha and I discuss the challenges within a predominantly cisgender, white, male-dominated surf industry and the cultural differences between the Australian and Californian surf scenes. We’ll also delve into Sasha’s evolution as a surfboard designer and shaper, as well as her future plans for advocacy and continued work on diversity and inclusion in the surfing community and so much more!

Main Themes:

• Advocating for Inclusion in Surfing: "I think I just want to let you know I'm here and I'm me and I'm scared to surf, but if I can say something and do you think we can put something in place to, like, make it safe for, like, 3% of the population? There's going to be more than me. I had looked up soccer Australia and I'd seen that they'd had a policy, I'd looked up a whole bunch of other sporting organizations that had gender identity inclusion and surfing just hadn't done it. And it was I started to believe that, like, I was like, Well, are we ran by the old dinosaurs still, or are we going to move forward?"
  
  Navigating Competitive Events: "You got to really choose your events. Some girls who are like, some of the best loggers in the world are like, "Yeah, we just don't go to that event because such and such, They go to that one and we go to this one"
  
  Breaking Barriers in the Surfing Industry: " I think that old saying, time heals all wounds. And I think that's, I'd love to be able to wave a wand and, and say 50% of the industry around all now we've got half the jobs in the industry are for all us girls, too."

Resources:

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Shop Dip and get 15% OFF with the code "confessionsofasurflady" at checkout at Dipalready.com
• Follow Sasha: @sasha_jane_lowerson
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by our amazing partners and listeners like you. This means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase through the links provided. Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the podcast.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

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Want to stay out of a surf slump, keep the stoke high, and make progress in your surfing? Start a surf journal! In this episode, I, your host Laura Day, share how keeping a surf journal has been a game-changer for me. I’ll explain how I document my sessions, reflections, and surf goals in a cute, bright colored, A4 notebook, decorated with stickers, stamps, and photos. This ritual not only helps me track my progress and overcome mental blocks but also captures my favorite memories in each session.

We’ll discuss the importance of enjoying the process of surfing, connecting with nature, and cherishing every experience in the water—plus, why documenting it all matters. I’ll provide practical tips for starting and maintaining a surf journal, ensuring it becomes a meaningful part of your surf journey.

Tune in to discover how to avoid surf slumps, treasure your surfing memories, and foster continuous growth in the water. And if you keep a surf journal, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@confessionsofasurflady)—I’d love to see it!

Main Themes:

• The Power of Keeping a Surf Journal: "The game changer for me has been keeping a surf journal. Before I created The Surf Société, I didn’t keep a surf journal. However, some of the ladies in The Surf Société do, and they do such a beautiful job of it. Seeing their progress and knowing that they keep journals, motivated me to start keeping one myself." — Laura Day
  
  
• The Challenges of Surfing Progression: "Surfing is a challenging sport to progress in due to constantly changing conditions and numerous variables, both external and internal. With such fleeting moments in your surfing journey, it’s easy to feel discouraged if you don’t see immediate progress." — Laura Day
  
  
• The Benefits of Reflective Writing: "What's really cool about writing it down in a notebook is that even if you don’t have the answer right away, putting it on paper helps solidify it in your mind. It gives you something to revisit and ponder later. This process allows you to track your thoughts and progress over time, providing a chance for deeper reflection on your experiences." — Laura Day

Resources: 

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

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Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.

Join us as we celebrate the 50th episode of Confession of a Surf Lady Podcast, and nearly 50k downloads! Tune in to hang out with me, Host Laura Day, and longtime listener, Surf Société Member, and surfy friend Diana Zalucky. Together, we reflect on the podcast's journey and our mission to empower women in the lineup through the pillars of knowledge, culture, and sisterhood. I, Laura, share my experiences building the podcast while Diana shares highlights of building confidence through her surfing journey.

We also explore the challenges of social media, body inclusivity, and representation in the surfing world and emphasize the significance of curating your social media feed to foster personal growth in and out of the lineup.

Grab your favorite post-surf snack and tune in to this heartfelt episode filled with insights, laughter, and reflections on the journey so far!

Highlights:

• Embracing the Unpredictable Nature of Surfing: "I am not in control of anything. The ocean is not linear at all. So why the hell do I think that I can be in charge of this one sport in the world where you're moving and your playing field is moving, and it's never the same ever again." — Diana Zalucky
• Confidence in Surfing and Life: "At the core of it, having confidence in surfing, in life, that confidence is built when you show up for something that is hard, when you show up for something that you don't know how to do, when you show up for something that you're unsure about. You show up for it, you do it, and confidence the byproduct of you showing up for yourself because you took the leap on yourself. You took a gamble on yourself. So to me, confidence for surfing is that moment when I'm having butterflies in my stomach and I show up and it doesn't matter what happens in the water. But I kept that promise to myself." — Diana Zalucky
• The Power of Community in Surfing: "It's sharing with others and getting that stoke back from them and that encouragement, the surf society and the women in it are the people that I want to hang out with. — Laura Day

Resources:

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Shop Dip and get 15% OFF with the code "confessionsofasurflady" at checkout at Dipalready.com
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by our amazing partners and listeners like you. This means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase through the links provided. Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the podcast.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

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After 4.5 years of running this podcast we've reached 50 Episodes and surpassed 50k Downloads! Thank you to our listeners, guests, friends and family for listening and supporting our show. I couldn't be more grateful.

xo, Laura Day

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

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The connection you have with your surf community directly shapes your surf experience. While being part of a surf group is important, it's even more crucial that the community aligns with your personal goals, motivations, and personality.

In this episode, I, your host Laura Day, share my personal journey in finding the right surf family. I discuss my experiences with toxic surf clubs and unhelpful friendships, and how I ultimately discovered a positive and supportive community in The Surf Société. These stories underscore my core message: it’s perfectly okay to move on from groups and friendships that don’t enhance your surf experience. It’s healthy to seek out communities and friendships that support and inspire you.

Whether you're struggling to find the right surf group or searching for a supportive community, this episode offers encouragement to make your surf journey as enriching and joyful as possible. Tune in to learn why finding and nurturing the right surf community is essential for you.

Main Themes:

• The Heart of Surfing: Community and Connection: "The number one component that makes surfing really special is the community, the people that you get to surround yourself with. Whether they're friends or part of a club, finding a group of women that you can surf with and go out to brunches or dinners with after sunset is part of what makes a surf journey so soul-filling." — Laura Day
• Toxic Surf Club Impacting Mental Health: "It started to feel, frankly, really toxic and not fun. There were a few instances where I was outright bullied online and in person, and I began to really dislike surfing. I hated how it affected my mentality toward surfing. It made me feel really bad about wanting to get out in the water." — Laura Day
• Navigating Your Surfing Journey: "It's okay to go and find a better fit for yourself. You don't have to feel guilty or ashamed. You don't have to feel like you're leaving people in the dust. It's okay to find a group that works for you and makes you feel good about your surf journey." — Laura Day

Resources:

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

Send us a text

Growing up in Orange County, Ben loved to spend time in the water. However, as he grew up transgender, the revealing nature of swimwear eventually made him uncomfortable and led him to give up his time in the ocean. It wasn’t until he moved back to Orange County from San Francisco in 2010 that he was encouraged to get back into surfing.

In San Francisco, Ben found a strong sense of acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community. The freedom to be open and authentic about his identity was transformative, and it inspired him to reconnect with surfing and begin shaping his own boards.

Ben is passionate about inclusivity and accessibility in the surf industry. By sharing his story, he inspires others to pursue their passions, regardless of perceived limitations.

Main Themes:

• Transgender Experience in Sports: "So it's weird that it was something that I wanted to do, but being transgender, when I hit puberty, like, that wasn't cool with me. Swimming things that I loved. You wear things that are rather revealing. Wetsuits, bathing suits." - Ben Soto
• Sacred Surfboards and Economic Disparity: "There was a reason why the Hawaiians thought, is something sacred when they made surfboards. Not just anyone could make a surfboard. You had to be a priest. And there were rituals and ceremonies, there were launching parties, and it was a special thing. And it's gone from this wholly sacred thing that we took from these people and now make millions while they live in poverty." - Ben Soto
• Surfing and Spirituality: "When I go surfing and when I'm in the ocean, that is the closest I truly feel you can get to God's energy and the energy of the universe that flows within everything. When you catch that wave, that sensation, that feeling, there ions flying and atoms swirling around you in this energy that is coming from thousands and thousands of miles and the energy is what you're riding. This thing that's created and it comes all this way and at the very last moment of its energy, you get to play with it." - Ben Soto

Resources:

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Shop Dip and get 15% OFF with the code "confessionsofasurflady" at checkout at Dipalready.com
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership
• Follow Ben on Instagram @sotosurfcraft
• Visit Ben's website sotosurfcraft.com

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by our amazing partners and listeners like you. This means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase through the links provided. Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the podcast.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

Send us a text

Whether it's navigating a competitive lineup or dropping into steeper waves, every surfer is bound to face fear in the lineup.

But what happens when that fear becomes so debilitating that you can no longer enjoy your sessions?

Meet Kim Chareonbood. Hypnotherapist, sports mental trainer, and Surf Guide at The Surf Société Community. Kim specializes in helping surfers overcome fear and trauma holding them back in the water, and in life.

In this episode you'll hear about Kim's personal journey of managing fear and self-doubt to push herself to surf bigger waves, we'll share relatable stories of feeling intimidated in the surf but build confidence anyway, and you'll learn the brain science behind fear, as well as, how to utilize fear to your advantage in the lineup.

If you've ever struggled with anxiety about bigger waves or crowded lineups, this episode is a must listen.

Main Themes:

The Impact of Traumatic Experiences: "When you have a traumatic experience, it's in our body, in our system, in our mind, and it kind of has its own life. The information of the experience is so overwhelming it can't be processed by your brain in the normal way, and it leaves kind of an imprint of an unfinished story.'" - Kim Chareonbood

Embracing Incremental Progress: "You can really do mini-step by mini-step. People usually say, 'Now I have to go there and I have to take this wave.' No, the first step is to go closer and then go a little closer. Then maybe the next day you try to take the wave and you pull back, it's fine. It's like the next step, right? So that is one thing you can do. Go really mini-step by mini-step and be fine with it." - Kim Chareonbood

Risks in Surfing: "If you're not willing to take risks, you can't go surfing. There's just no point in you going surfing, even not small waves, because in the small waves there's more incidents, I would say, than in the bigger ones." - Kim Chareonbood

Resources:

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Shop Dip and get 15% OFF with the code "confessionsofasurflady" at checkout at Dipalready.com
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership
• Follow Kim Chareonbood on Instagram: @fearless_surfer
• Visit Kim's Website: Surfmentaltraining.com

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by our amazing partners and listeners like you. This means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase through the links provided. Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the podcast.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

Send us a text

Have you ever experienced the poetry of surfing? The saltwater molecules enveloping your body as they break your fall from a wipeout, the energy of a wave curling up to greet you, propelling you down the line for a mere 10-15 seconds. The natural components of your local break that set the stage for play and connection with your best friends.

In this episode you'll take a sneak peak into an exclusive Surf Société event. Follow along as our members meet Easkey Britton, Irish big wave surfer, marine scientist, artist, poet, and author of Saltwater in the Blood.

Together we explore the profound connection between women and the ocean. How our bond with water and the cycles of our local ecosystems is reflected within our own cycles in womanhood and life.

Easkey shares her journey from professional surfer to marine scientist, highlights the best surf spots in Ireland, share's her mindset shift from big wave surfing to motherhood and so much more.

Tune into this episode to celebrate your innate connection to the ocean and your saltwater in the blood.

Resources:

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Follow Easkey on Instagram @EaskeySurf
• Purchase Easkey's Book Saltwater in the Blood
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership
• Shop Dip and get 15% OFF with the code "confessionsofasurflady" at checkout at Dipalready.com

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by our amazing partners and listeners like you. This means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase through the links provided. Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the podcast.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

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Join our community The Surf Société with your first 7 Days FREE

Improving your surf skills is no easy feat and learning from others is critical part of the process, but when does unsolicited surf advice cross the boundary from helpful to condescending? And are newer surfers listening to advice that concerns safety in the lineup? OR are they brushing off tips and claiming the advice from experienced surfers as ugly localism?

In this episode, we'll talk about the importance of communication in an evolving surf culture and growing lineup and how we can maintain and encourage community and camaraderie when crowded lineups lead to frustration. 

We'll also hear your confessions to this episode's prompt "What's the most memorable piece of unsolicited surf advice you've ever received."

Join me, Laura Day and Surf Société Member Danyelle Carpenter for a critical conversation balanced with laughter and fun surf sister stories.

Main Themes:
The Good and Ugly Sides of Localism: "I think the differences between, between that good local and that ugly local is are you focused on getting yours or are you focused on community?" — Danyelle Carpenter

Generational Knowledge and Respect: "How do we get more access to that generational knowledge? How do we give more access to that generational knowledge, especially with, like, the lineup becoming so much more crowded and it's less of a conversation of numbers of people out there, because you can't stop that. And how unfair is it for you to be like, well, I started way earlier than you, so you shouldn't be here." — Laura Day

The Responsibility of a Surf Coach: "I volunteer and I teach people, new surfers, and, when I'm pushing them in, when I'm choosing a spot for this to sit, we're picking those spots that's our responsibility. To keep them safe, to make sure that it is a fun time."— Danyelle Carpenter

Resources:

• Try a membership at The Surf Société with 7 days free.
• Shop Dip and get 15% OFF with the code "confessionsofasurflady" at checkout at Dipalready.com
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership
• Follow Danyelle Carpenter on Instagram @babelrose
• Shop Danyelle's shop: BabelRose original products.

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by our amazing partners and listeners like you. This means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase through the links provided. Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the podcast.

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com

Send us a text

Free Shipping: Shop Dip's after swim (and surf!) detangler bar and get FREE shipping when you use the code confessions at checkout.

Finding plastic nurdles on the remote beaches of Sri Lanka left Kate Assaraf heart broken. Having grown up in New Jersey where seamlessly going from beach to nightlife was a part of summer culture, Kate never left home without a bottle of conditioner to treat her hair after a day in the saltwater. Now a surfer and long term hair-care enthusiast, Kate hated the fact that her post-surf hair care contributed to the world's growing plastic problem. After dozens of iterations working with a chemist, Kate created an eco-friendly solution in her company called Dip! An environmental awareness company parading around as a damn good hair care company.

In this episode you'll learn all about Dip and how this badass entrepreneur combined her love for hair, sustainability, and surfing into a haircare line fit for surf ladies who love the environment (and are tired of those post-surf tangles!)

Main Themes:

Plastic Pollution & Kate's Inspiration to create Dip!
"When I was in Sri Lanka, they already had like a bit of a plastic problem. A ship had spilled plastic nurdles all over. It broke my heart. Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful, untouched places I've ever been and nurdles just mimic food for so much wildlife there. It's heartbreaking". - Kate Assaraf

Accessible Sustainability
"Sustainability is a weird subject, right? People want to care about it. But they either don't feel included or they feel disenchanted because they don't think that they can do much about it. For me, like the little emotional thing in my day, is my hair. If I'm having a bad hair day, I'm miserable it affects my confidence. So I thought why not make something amazing that that tapped into doing something good? Something you use regularly that reminded you about reducing your plastic instead of like finger waggled you into it." - Kate Assaraf

Greenwashing & Beauty Products: Reef Safe vs. Reef Safer
"Surfers want their their heart and soul in reef safety and understandably so. And I'm also on that on that team. When you're in the cosmetics industry, and you know that this term doesn't mean anything but consumers hold so much weight with it. It's tricky. You see consumers going back and forth on brands on reef safety. The term that I've seen that is most appropriate is "reef safer". It's very easy to put reef safe on anything right now there's no one there there no police it." - Kate Assaraf

Resources:

• Shop Dip and get 15% OFF with the code "confessionsofasurflady" at checkout at Dipalready.com
• Follow @Dipalready on Instagram here.
• Follow us your host Laura Day: @confessionsofasurflady
• Follow The Surf Société: @surfsociete for surf lady tips from #thesurflab inside the membership

Confession

Support the show

Confessions of a Surf Lady is supported by The Surf Société, our unique digital women's surfing platform where we come together to Learn More. Surf Better. Live Happy. Learn more at Surfsociete.com