Despite Discouraging Events at a Young Age, Woman Surfer Achieved a First at 70

The world of surfing is filled with miracles, which are made possible because of individuals who challenge norms on a daily basis. The stories that you’ll find here are inspirational, heart-warming, and most importantly, an outcome of very real experiences. The most recent wholesome story out of surfing is, how the sport has led to the revitalization of the lives of some older women.

While these women might have reached a certain age group, they are still very much young at heart, excited to explore the prospects that surfing has to offer them. Their young spirit has also inspired a full-fledged surf film, as their story is one that should be heard and seen by people, especially other women, all across the world.

Overcoming adversities to riding the waves like a pro

Margaret Cummings, since she was a young girl, was repeatedly told that she couldn’t go out to the sea and surf. Decades later, around three years ago, she rode her first wave at the sea as a free surfer at the age of 70, with no one to tell her what she was doing is wrong, or even a taboo. Au contraire, she was surrounded by a community of supportive women, all of who have come to love surfing as older women.

In an interview with ABC News, Cummings recalls just how things were when she was a child. She said, “I never had an opportunity to do it when I was young … in fact, it was very much discouraged. I came from Sydney and Bondi Beach. If you went out surfing as a girl, that was just an absolute no, no.” But when she grew older, she found an all-female surfing group, and this changed her life completely. She was now supported and encouraged by other women just like her, who might have lost their way over the years, but finally found it again with surfing.

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After joining this group, Marg’s narrative about surfing changed completely. She said, “My takeaway from surfing is no longer being invisible as an older woman.” She found her own people, and a sense of belongingness, and realized that she didn’t have to be alone anymore. This is exactly the goal that this surfing club aims to achieve. But who are these women? And what’s the story behind this club?

Surfing Club that is making waves

Jennifer Jefferies is the founder of the surfing club for older women, known as the ‘Surf Witches Boardriders Club’. She started the club hoping it would change the lifestyle of older women, especially the ones who have crossed the milestone of 50. For Jefferies, it was not about entertainment, but rather about helping women who started to feel invisible and disconnected.

Jefferies wanted her contemporaries to realize that they could have friends and a community. Now, Jefferies is also the Executive Producer of a surf documentary, called ‘Taking Off’, which is based on the lives of the members of this club. The movie is an attempt to spread awareness among women so that they perceive that with some encouragement, they can achieve anything they set their mind to, even if it’s an insane task such as riding their first wave at the age of 70!

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