Stories from The Wave Project: feature for Wavelength

Editorial feature writing for global surf magazine, Wavelength

I started volunteering as as surf mentor with The Wave Project in September 2021 and it’s one of the most rewarding and inspiring things I’ve ever done, so when they approached me to write this feature for Wavelength I jumped at the chance. The charity is dedicated to helping the young people who need it the most, through its innovative surf therapy programmes. Wavelength’s theme for this edition is ‘The Joy of Surfing’ so, as well as writing about the charity’s approach, I focused on capturing some of the unique, personal stories of The Wave Project’s positive impact on both the young surfers and the volunteers in my neck of the woods, West Cornwall. It’s pretty special to see it in print.

Thank you to Mike Lay and congratulations on your new position as Editor. It’s a beautiful, interesting and incredibly positive first issue and I’m honoured to have been involved alongside such talented creators! Thank you to Megan from The Wave Project in Cornwall for thinking of me for this too.

Below are a few snippets - but if you’d like to buy a copy of the magazine to read the full piece, you can do so here.

“If there’s one thing we can all agree on as surfers, it’s that being in the ocean feels good. What better stress-relief than paddling out, immersing ourselves in the beauty of nature and, if only for a short while, focusing our minds on nothing but catching waves? Surfing is therapy for us all at times - and award-winning charity The Wave Project has harnessed that concept to help the young people that need it the most.”

“The whole experience creates an incredibly safe space, through its compassionate volunteers and people-centred process. It’s a space for the young people to be themselves and let go of what’s happening on dry land for a while. It’s a space for them to learn new skills and feel a sense of accomplishment, to build their confidence and self-belief. And it’s a space to make social connections and new friends, share meaningful moments and create positive memories.”

“The Wave Project is rewarding in every sense - and it reminds me that surfing is about play. Being out there with those kids, without the pressures of competitive line-ups and without my inner critic getting frustrated at my pop-up mistakes or ugly wipeouts, I had so much fun.

I rode on my belly on a bodyboard racing a ten year old to the shore. I jumped up and down screaming  ‘yewwww’, and throwing shaka hands up at a thirteen year old paddling solo into a lovely little green wave. I joined an eight-person party wave where we all squealed with excitement as we surfed the one foot whitewater on our foamies, riding the boards in whatever way our bodies and abilities would allow, inhibitions well and truly out of the window.

I saw and experienced the relief and the happiness that being in the water had on every single one of us out there, no matter who we were and what we were going through, and it filled me with such gratitude and emotion. This is what surfing is about. This is why it’s such an incredibly effective form of therapy. This is pure and simple joy.”