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<\/p>\nPicture this. It is zero degrees on a dark wintry morning as a group of wetsuit-clad women gather on the sand at Point Roadknight.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a sharp chill in the air but they greet each other warmly before grasping their boards and paddling out into the surf.<\/p>\n
They are a diverse bunch with one thing in common \u2013 all are Surf Coast mums living somewhere between Torquay and Wye River and each has a fervent desire to ride the waves.<\/p>\n
These ladies are self-proclaimed \u201cmurfers\u201d \u2013 mum surfers with varying degrees of experience from total beginner through to those wanting to hone their skills.<\/p>\n
Leading the way is Tiff Riggs \u2013 a Torquay-based performance coach and former competitive surfer whose world travels to coach and conduct retreats were put on hold due to COVID.<\/p>\n
The change of pace presented Tiff with a new and unexpected calling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a bunch of mums at Anglesea playgroup in March last year and they were all talking about how they would love to go surfing and some were watching YouTube videos trying to figure it all out,\u201d Tiff, a mum-of-two, explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of them contacted me and asked if I would take them for lessons and I was like \u2018nah, I don\u2019t do that\u2019. But they kept pestering me and I was like \u2018alright, I\u2019ll do it\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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Eight mums turned up at Point Roadknight on day one.<\/p>\n
Fast forward to 2021 and there are now about 50 murfers in this tight-knit group.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has just grown into this thing,\u201d a humble Tiff says, smiling. \u201cWe do weekly sessions but some come fortnightly or just whenever they can fit it in with their commitments with kids, school and work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all do it for different reasons \u2013 some want to learn to surf, some love socialising and during COVID it was a chance to get out of the house and come together.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tiff takes a holistic approach which includes passing on an appreciation of the ocean and surfing etiquette.<\/p>\n \u201cI teach them a bit of everything, not just how to surf, but also surf forecasting and the lifestyle of surfing,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone is on their own journey but we are doing it together and helping each other and being supportive.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are murfers everywhere, it\u2019s like a thing and ours is just growing huge which I guess is because I\u2019m here to help and instruct and give them goals and things to work on.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve all come from everywhere and they are all amazing women who are so diverse in what they do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many were new to the area and say it was an ideal way to make friends.<\/p>\n That was the case for Hannah Jenkins who says she\u2019s forever grateful Tiff gave the group a chance.<\/p>\n \u201cI was YouTube videoing how to surf and I hired a board and went out and nearly died,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n Michelle Cummins counts herself among those who were total beginners.<\/p>\n It took a month before she caught her first wave. It was worth the wait.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something you don\u2019t forget and you definitely get a feeling of being connected to the ocean,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing out in the water is good for the mind, body and soul.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anglesea\u2019s Amanda Diblasi is proud to show her two girls, Delilah and Ezra, that girls can surf.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s role modelling for my girls \u2026 getting out in the water and showing them that it is not just for guys out there is the best thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle agrees wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s lovely to see mums being positive role models for our kids \u2026 stepping out of our comfort zone,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd Tiff is just an inspiration to all of us girls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s sunshine in a person,\u201d Hannah adds. \u201cShe is all about the mums and us getting out there and giving it a crack and pushing ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For Laura Callea, the group is a \u201cbubble of all round positivity\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t surf at the moment because I\u2019m pregnant and it\u2019s the number one thing that I miss,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was such a self-care act I think \u2013 socially, physically, mentally \u2013 the fresh air and getting to know the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n Emily Gilbert, from Moggs Creek, had surfed a little before joining the murfers.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it\u2019s really been about the friendships, it\u2019s better than any coffee group or playgroup because we are being challenged and learning something new,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/04\/fullsizeoutput_2aa-225x300.jpeg?_t=1619627100\")
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