Community is friggin’ rad.
On February 24, I received an Instagram message from Louise, an online friend who lives halfway around the world in Devon, UK. The message was a share of this video from Staunton Surf Sisters and Sister Motion. It highlights some of the challenges that women face in the water, and the need for community, and serves as an invite to a gathering for International Women’s Day (IWD).
Watching the video, I was instantaneously inspired and also bummed—there was no way I would be getting to a gathering in the UK for IWD—but it got me thinking. I can’t go to the UK right now, but maybe I can gather some local women and create a similar event—one oriented toward community and comradery around women who love the water around Seattle.
Later that night, my friend Patty and I went to get back in the water after too long of a break—just to dink around, hang out, and watch the sunset near the Edmonds ferry terminal. I told Patty I was thinking about organizing an IWD gathering on the water. Her response? “Let’s do it.” (Which, that was a little bit crazy of a response since the water was 46º and the air, by the time we got out, was 32º)
I sat on the idea for a couple more days, then realized that March 8—IWD—was right around the corner, and I needed to get my butt in gear—so I threw together a set of graphics, posted it, and sent it to three other accounts: Patty, Erica with Seastr PNW, and Surf Ballard.
And Patty sent it to some work friends and Skate Like A Girl Seattle—and Erica said she’d be there, and sent it to a few other folks, too, including Surf Ballard and Urban Surf.
The word spread, and excitement (for me, at least) built. Surf Ballard and Urban Surf were in.
A few days before the event, I had this strange realization that my plan was going to plan… like… what? Since when do plans do that? When I realized we might have a really cool event on our hands, I posted to my personal social media to see if any of my talented creative friends were up to come out and take photos—and my good friend Cassie volunteered.
SO many different things came together through this community of women that I did not know 12 months ago. (Except Cassie. I’ve known Cassie for AGES.)
On the night of, Patty brought warm beverages to warm up after a cold paddle and a Nora Vasconcellos skateboard deck to raffle off, and Erica added to the raffle prize pool with some sponsor swag from Mustang Survival and sweatshirts from Urban Surf. Surf Ballard and Urban Surf both showed up with staff, and brought out paddle boards so women without their own could join us.
In total, at least 18 women came out (Cassie, photographer, included) to support the event—both on the water and on land—and at least three men showed up to support, too—including Dave, from Surf Ballard, and a Mike, a man who learned about the event on social media, and came down for land support and to loan a surfboard to a woman who didn’t have one.
Photo taken by Cassie Sanchez. View her full website here.
Given the weather this time of year in Seattle, I don’t think we could’ve asked for a more beautiful evening to watch a mid-March sunset from Golden Gardens.
We chatted about inclusion, access, wetsuits, and water temperatures (the water was about 45.5º on Wednesday evening)—about community, comradery, and the need for women-led spaces. We talked about tides and currents, and the healing aspects of getting in saltwater. I think I heard the phrase (or something like it), “I came because I wanted to find more community with women who love the water.” from nearly every person who attended.
Four days later, my heart is still full thinking about the event and remembering it through the beautiful photos that Cassie took. (more photos)
I’m still blown away at how much better it turned out than I envisioned.
I’m still in awe of how many women seek out community and support from other women—and how eager women are to support other women.
I can’t wait to do something like this again—and I don’t think I can wait a whole year for IWD to come around again.
If you participated in this event and haven’t received access to the photo gallery yet, please DM me on Instagram or shoot me an email so I can hook you up!
If you’re looking for an inclusive surfing community in the PNW, please join our newly-formed PNW Inclusive Surfers Discord server—open to any non-jerks in BC, WA, and OR.
