
Surf Sirens 2023 blew the hatches off with the most students and the biggest instructional team to date. This was our 6th year, and while it’s always a great experience, this year was something special. It takes time to build a quality event like Surf Sirens, but I think we’ve found our stride.

The structure of the clinic has settled into a formal routine. Friday is an informal play day, a warm up for the full day of formal instruction on Saturday. This year students had 3 options: a paddle to Cape Flattery, an excursion to the rock gardens at Waadah Island at Neah Bay, or a surf session with instructors on hand to offer tips.

Saturday is the core of the clinic – surf kayak instruction from 9 to 4. At the end of the day, after everyone has had a chance to debrief and get cleaned up, there’s the traditional Extraordinary Potluck, a feast that can’t be beat.

Sunday starts with a 45-minute exercise in translating martial arts techniques to “attacking the wave”, taught by yours truly. The rest of the day is for open surf play with no formal instruction, but coaches are available to support the students’ progression. The instructors also get a chance to surf and demo technique.

But this year we had to pivot. A big front was coming in, and while Friday was halcyon with temps in the mid-60’s, bright sunshine, no wind and mild surf, conditions were already ramping up outside and rock gardens were out. So while a small group took off for a short paddle to the Cape, everyone else headed for the waves.

With 10 instructors on hand, the students self-selected into groups. The short boaters went with Jameson Riser and Linda Beltz. The intermediate group went with Melinda Moree, Teresa Wittman, and Kristy Dahlquist, and the Cape paddlers went with Beth Owen and Barbara Gronseth. Deb Volturno took the beginners assisted by me and Esther Ladwig and away we went.

This year the beginner group had something new. Two students were not technically beginners, but were recovering from rough experiences (one had broken both feet when she pitch-poled into the beach). Wisely, these women chose to ease their way back in to the surf by starting from Square One, and after 2 days of coaching, the anxiety had dialed down, the fun factor was up, and both students were smiling.

Everyone did great. Since we had to wait a bit for the surf to rise there was plenty of beach time to discuss skills and technique. Questions were asked and answered, and by the time some nice waves were coming in the students were ready to go. It was a relatively short day because we were saving energy for Saturday, which would be longer and more challenging because of the incoming storm.

In my group, emotions, skills, and foam piles characterized the day. Everyone tried really hard. Fear is real, and watching people commit to overcoming anxiety especially when they’re coming back after an injury is inspiring. These women are heroes.

As for the others, the women at the Cape had a nice paddle in good conditions. The short boaters all wanted to buy a new boat and were promoting the class, so I guess Jameson and Linda did their jobs. The intermediate group all did well and I heard Heidi caught a 4-footer. Go Sirens!

We stopped for lunch after about an hour and a half. One of the best parts of this clinic is watching the students learn and grow, and after a break and a rest sure enough, improvement was marked across the board. As the beginners debriefed, Trust was the theme. Learning and developing trust in yourself and your instructors is huge. And trust was needed the next day.

Saturday went off as planned, with the same groups but with some of the instructors switching places. The skies were dark, there was a deluge in the morning, and the waves were chaotic and bigger. There was an onshore wind as well. However, the students took what they’d learned the day before and rose to the occasion.

That evening the potluck was amazing as always, and you couldn’t tell it was leftovers. Esther was in charge of organizing this part of the weekend, and it needed organizing because of the size of the group. Esther decided that since we always have So Much Food left over after Saturday, why not have 2 potlucks? Her plan worked brilliantly and we had 2 evenings of fantastic food, and lots of it. Bonus: we had an extra night to gather as a group to socialize and share war stories. It was really special.

Sunday was another day, and 20 students showed up to the cross-training shindig on the beach to learn how to Attack the Wave. Armed with every training knife I own, we explored how stance affects balance. Using martial arts principles drawn from weapons training, students learned how to hold firm when being pushed around on land, and how this translates to staying upright in dynamic sea conditions. The lesson went home, and by request next year’s clinic may feature this class at the beginning instead of at the end to allow students to apply the principles during the clinic.

After the training session, when we returned to HQ under the canopy by the trailers, our fearless leaders Melinda and Deb announced that we had to cut the event short due to deteriorating conditions. ACA insurance would not cover us if we went out in the impending storm, and Deb’s boat was already loaded on her truck ready to go.

One of the things I love about this team, and when I say team I include the students, is their willingness to be flexible. Everyone assented without a murmur and people started helping each other drop canopies and load boats. Pretty soon we were all packed up and ready to go, and I started off on the long haul home with lots of warm feels about the weekend.

As Capt. Deb put it, “Biggest attendance, 10 awesome female instructors, great conditions in spite of a deluge, and 2 yummy potlucks! Amazing stoke drove good learning and FUN in the waves – in short and long kayaks!” In sum, Surf Sirens 2023 was a massive success.

A big shout out to the high level, committed instructional crew as well as to videographer Chris Bracamonte for taking the first professional video of Surf Sirens in action. Much gratitude to all the wonderful students both new and returning, who make this event a success year after year. Surf Sirens is a rare event, providing a safe space where women of all ages and skill levels can teach and learn about ocean whitewater together in one of the most beautiful settings on the planet. Check out our website at https://www.surfsirens.org/ See you next year! Woohoo!!!
Looks like you all had a fantastic time, and you got some excellent photos to boot.
Thanks, it was great!