Categories: Fitness

My Experience Surfing As A Black Girl Starts With A Board And Crazy Kinky Hair

Surfing as a black woman is a very unusual sight. Rarely, do you see a lot of diversity in extreme sports, especially surfing. However, I dare to be different because I don’t want to live my life following a set path. Following my dreams is important to me and somewhere on my list of desires, dreams and things to try was surfing. My experience surfing as a black girl starts with a board and crazy kinky hair.

Surfboards And The California Coast

I’ve always enjoyed the beach and watching the surfers catch a wave. Maybe that’s just the Californian in me. I love the carefree, laidback attitude that comes with the surfing community. I was a teen when I really started getting into surfing. I would go to Morro Bay, California which was like a two and a half hour drive from my hometown of Bakersfield, and take long walks on the beach.

One thing was for certain, I wanted to try surfing. I started getting glued to really learning about the sport. I would watch movies like Blue Crush, Soul Surfer and anything related to the topic of surfing. All I knew is that I wanted to be out in those waves too.

Crazy Kinky Hair

‘Don’t touch my hair.’ Is that not one of the top stereotypical statements that are attached to black women? Come off it.

These types of statements and stereotypes are what creates a lack of diversity in sports such as surfing. It’s more than just saying don’t touch my hair. It’s the assumption that people of color don’t want to surf, kayak or whatever sport may fit because they don’t want to get their hair wet. Which lessens the self-esteem for a person like myself.

I straightened my hair during my surfing crave stage and worried what I would look like with crazy kinky hair after getting in the ocean. But the truth is though its a low number there are black people who surf.

I’m Going To Do It All

During my junior year of high school, I told myself that I would do it all. I wasn’t going to hold myself back from doing things I wanted to do because I was scared of what people think. I went to my junior formal solo, joined the swim team after tennis season ended and I decided to take surf lessons.

The weird thing about trying something new is the days before doing that particular activity you become very nervous. But then when you actually do what you wanted to do all your worries go away. That was the exact feeling I had when I went surfing for the first time.

See Also

Surfing For The First Time

When I was out in the water my hair was no longer my main concern nor was being a black woman on a board. To be honest, I’m happy that I was that random black girl out surfing. Hopefully, it inspired other girls of color to try surfing out too.

My Thoughts On Surfing From My Journal Written On July 24, 2011

“Yea, I was pretty nervous about surfing for the first time. In my mind, I had all these obstacles set that I thought I would never manage to get over. I thought to myself, what if I’m too fat that I can’t fit into my wetsuit? What if the waves take me out to sea and I drown? There were a lot of what ifs. All I can say now is all the stressing was a waste of time because I got out there and did it. Wetsuit and all. I rode waves like a true surfer girl.”

“I walked out into the ocean with my board held to my side, wetsuit tight and firm against my skin, ready to achieve a dream. I fell a couple of times but you never truly learn something tell you fall and try again. I had a blast and just getting out there and trying was even better because now I know I love surfing as much as I thought I did.”

Surfing is was goal I had when I was younger. Let us know in the comment section what goals you had and how you achieved them.
Feature Image Source: www.pinterest.com
Annie Russell

Recent Posts

20 Signs You’re From Virginia Beach

Those of you who were born, raised, or even just lived by King Neptune periodically, can testify- Virginia Beach is it’s…

4 hours ago

20 Signs You Grew Up In NOVA

Growing up in Northern Virginia is an experience in itself; and you really won't be able to understand it unless…

9 hours ago

5 Reasons I’m Excited To Start At OSU

While I must admit that becoming a buckeye was only my dream starting my Senior year of high school, I…

13 hours ago

15 Things Only Younger Sisters Understand

Growing up as the youngest sibling has both it's perks and downsides. If you're anything like me you were stealing…

17 hours ago

20 Signs You’re A Shopper With Expensive Taste And A Cheap Budget

Anyone can look good with an endless supply of new clothes, but it takes a real trendsetter to make do…

22 hours ago

5 Reasons Why I Chose The University Of Kentucky

Deciding what to do after high school can be a stressful decision for everyone. With the thousands of colleges, gap…

1 day ago