Surf Squad Guidelines

These guidelines are just that — guidelines. There are no hard and fast rules…. yet.

Who We Are

Our community is open to any surfer who identifies as female and/or who doesn’t identify as male. Surf Squad and Santa Cruz Surfer Girls is intended as a safe and supportive space for all it’s members.

Chat Guidelines

The heart of our community is our WhatsApp community. If you’re not a part of our WhatsApp community, message Melissa on Facebook (Melissa Shimmin) or Instagram (@melisurfs) for access.

Our chat guidelines are pretty simple.

  • Be kind
  • Be respectful
  • Be supportive
  • Stick to surfing or surf-related topics (or surf adjacent topics in their specific chats)

Meetup Guidelines

COMMUNICATE: 
  • Check in / check out with your surf buddy and/or group — you don’t need to head back in with your buddy if you want to surf longer, just make sure everyone is on the same page.
  • Ask for help if you need it.
  • If you’re the meetup organizer, share with newbies what you know about the break — hazards, best spot to catch a wave,, where to park/meet, etc.
  • Be specific — you’re more likely to make a connection if you can provide a specific time and place to meet. 

WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER
  • Be sure to let everyone know if a meetup isn’t beginner-friendly
  • Be aware of localism
  • Be mindful of ‘overly-friendly’ male surfers (most are genuinely friendly, but sometimes there’s that one guy…)

FAQ

Q: I’m a newbie. What board should I get?

A: Check out our my first surfboard post.

Q: Can I bring my boyfriend / husband / male friend?

A: Sure. The ocean is open to all. That said, this guy should be supportive of female surfers and/or in touch with his feminine side.

NOTE: Surfing with just women is a different experience than surfing with a mixed group. We hope you’ll take time to surf with just the girls at least some of the time.