Surfing Again at 47

Returning to the Ocean at 47: What Re-Learning to Surf Taught Me About Presence

Over six years away from surfing feels like a lifetime.

Surfing at 47 and coming back to the ocean has felt, in many ways, like learning all over again. My body is different. My hormones are different. In fact, my mind plays tricks on me some days, whispering doubts, old expectations, and comparisons I no longer want to carry.

And yet… returning to the water has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

This time, it’s different. There is no pressure. First, there is no pressure to prove anything; I feel no need to surf big waves. In addition, I don’t have to represent a surf school, an image, or a title. I have learned to release others and my own expectations, which have allowed me to move freely with joy and peace.

There is only me, listening to my body.

Learning to Surf Who I Am Now

At this stage in my life, surfing is not about conquering the ocean — it’s about connecting with it. It’s about respect. Therefore, I focus on respect for the water, for my limits, for my energy, and for the woman I am right now.

Some days feel strong and fluid. However, other days feel slow and tender. More things hurt than they did in my twenties and thirties – that part is real. Consequently, what I’ve gained is wisdom. I make better decisions. For instance, I know when to paddle out and when to stay on shore. I know when to rest, when to push gently, and when to stop.

And that kind of awareness is a gift.

Building Strength, On Land and Within

Returning to surfing has asked me to show up fully — not just in the water, but in my daily life.

Currently, I’m working really hard with strength training, meditation, Pilates, gentle yoga and grounding hikes. Not to chase performance, but to feel confident. Moreover, I want to feel stable and capable in the water. These practices support me physically, but they also support me mentally. Ultimately, they remind me that strength looks different at every stage of life, and that all of it counts.

And while yes, coming back to surfing has brought me incredible strength, it has also broken me down and humbled me in very difficult ways. I find it difficult not to do things to the fullest of my abilities, not to push it to the limit, and devote myself to my craft. When I came back to surfing, I naturally did just that. Slowly but surely, small aches turned into extreme pains from unresolved past injuries. At first I thought if I ignored it, took a day off, stretched more, it would resolve itself, but after weeks of pain, I’ve been forced to confront the reality of extremely difficult injuries and damage within my body. It has all made me slow down, and find outlets that allow my body to heal while also giving my mind the peace and clarity the ocean has provided for me.

No Pressure. Just Presence.

One of the most liberating parts of this journey has been releasing expectations — especially the ones imposed by others. Indeed, there is no timeline, no standard, and no comparison.

Surfing now is about presence. For example, feeling the salt on my skin or hearing the rhythm of the waves. As a result, I am remembering why I fell in love with the ocean in the first place. It’s no longer about catching as many waves as I can, but about finding time to completely immerse myself in nature, distraction free, and find the joy within stillness. Learning to surf in Costa Rica is the perfect place to become comfortable with the ocean, at your own pace. For me, it has brought me a community and stillness that has been life changing.

This return has been joyful, emotional, healing, and empowering.

A Message for Women of All Ages

If there’s one thing I hope this journey inspires, it’s this: You are allowed to begin again — at any age.

Whether you’re younger, older, or right where I am, don’t let anyone pressure you into being or doing more than what feels right for you. So, listen to your body and trust your intuition. Try the thing that’s calling you — gently, respectfully, in your own time. Come experience the magic of learning to surf in Costa Rica.

The ocean doesn’t ask who you were before. It meets you exactly where you are.

And that, to me, is the real magic.

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