From travels flowing to a community: NorthSeaSurfSisters
picture by @daanverstrepenPriority number ONE in life
It all started when I took the decision to make surfing the number one priority in life. Everything changed from that moment. I lived so close to the Sea, which directly connects me to my own inner Sea and to the flow of life.
When I was studying for my bachelor’s degree, I went surfing during the periods before the examens. Surfing was ‘my way out’ and as I am not a person who can sit still at a desk - I had to be outdoors, in nature. Studying while sitting on a rock with the waves crashing in front of me or driving with a friend from surfspot to surfspot, then I was the one who was reading and studying the books about health and wellbeing with the beautiful landscapes around me.
Men-dominated line-ups & Inner judgements
While traveling from surfspot to surfspot from France to Portugal, I confronted the same experience…. Men-dominated line-ups with a maximum of 2 or 3 girls. Including at my homebreak Ostend. I have to say this was confronting... I surf because I like the flow, I like to be in nature. Surfing brings me totally in the here and now, and I feel so free! It felt so intimidating to be surrounded by so many male surfers.. I had a lot of inner judgements and I was insecure. I said to myself, “I wasn't good enough” and I thought I had to show off and prove myself to the men to earn a wave. And surfing... is a one-human sport (I didn't want to use men or women here), one wave, one person; all eyes on you… There are so many expectations, so many explications how to surf, the rules and all the knowledge. A lot you need to know before you paddle out! With all those thoughts I became even more and more insecure.
Empty Peaks
Luckily I had friends who knew a lot about surfing and took me to a lot of unknown spots. Here I had the chance to improve my surfing skills, from riding the waves to reading the waves. I had no inner judgements and no eyes on me, I was in a safe place with myself where I could enjoy the feeling of freedom, nature and go with my own flow of surfing. The more I got in the water, the more secure I became!
Picture by @mathiasvanoverbekeI have to be honest, now 10 years later. I realize I had so many expectations of myself. I was surfing with my ego, the testosterone made it worse. The inner judgements and the “imagined” eyes on me didn’t help at all.
This was a big mirror for myself, my thoughts while surfing were the same thoughts in life. Luckily I didn’t quit surfing, I continued on with exploring the world, and made a lot of inner travels!
In this blog, I would like to share with you these travels, which have eventually led me to build the ‘North Sea Surf Sisters Tribe’.
Picture by @PeterDemaerelVan trips
From my 18 years old till my 24th I traveled by van along the coastline of France, Spain and Portugal. I became connected with nature, became at ease with silence, making cairns, living with sunrise and sunset, reading and surfing whenever I wanted to. On places where the peaks were empty.
South Africa
During my studies of Applied Health Science I decided to go abroad, to go to SAVE FOUNDATIONS in Capetown, Tableview. A big house next to a hostel called Salty Crax with more than 50 international volunteers, all to help kids in slums. Living and working together gives so much power to the environment, there is always someone to help you out.
Another family, another community! Here is where my nickname started: Yuka :D my roomie Georgie called me Yuki but everyone else called me Yuka!
Teaching surfing to teens from run-down-neighborhoods gave me a new way to see surfing, more going with the flow, less ego and playing and cheering around!
Pine Beach Paradise Montalivet FRANCE, BoardX
I taught 4 summers of yoga to families who came for a surf trip! Teaching yoga under the pine trees and with the background of the sounds of the sea. Teaching yoga to parents and their childeren is something amazing! On holidays, most of us have a more open attitude and this makes it easy to connect easily within. The playfullness of children, made me more playfull in the sea!
Picture by @audettedbAnd then you have the lovely vibe with all the volunteers, a family, a community where you can walk up to someone and talk about life. So blessed for everyone I met in Montalivet!
I had to teach 2 times a day so I had a lot of time to surf in between the classes, talk with the volunteers and families. I took my van with me so I had a place to connect with my inner Self. Doing yoga, teaching yoga, surfing and reading the Yoga Sutra's of Patanjali (a practical textbook to guide your spiritual journey of remembering who you really are).
I have to say, Montalivet is a place that I call HOME!
INDIA
picture by @filipjedraI did my 500 hrs Hatha Yoga Teacher Training in Goa, Patnem beach. A journey of 3 months, where I got all the time for Me, Myself and My Path. Here I met another family, not only with the other students but also with the teachers, nature and the Arabic Sea.
The teacher training helped me to get out of my head, to go within, to connect with my heart.
At first I didn’t think I would be able to surf, but when I arrived waves were rolling in. I had to master my thoughts and said to myself: “You are here to do yoga, not for surfing”! Every seventh day we had a free day, of course I was already searching for a place where I could surf. A 2-hours ride with a tuk-tuk brought me to Agonda, looking for Aloho Surf India. A place where I got to know Velu; the first surfer of India (in his eyes;)) He explained to me what a Yucca is…. A flower who blooms near the oceans, here I decided to rewrite my name; YUCCA. He gave me a board that I could borrow for the rest of my stay in Patnem. Bless you Velu!
My meditation teacher Vishu told me, after I was sleeping during meditation class, that I can come to the class for a half an hour and when I fall a sleep I can go surfing. Your surfing is your meditation, he said :D.
Yoga & Surfing? I felt after the first week of yoga that the feeling of standing on my board was totally different, I was more balanced, had more focus and felt a new experience of inner joy!
MOROCCO
picture by @frankbyreneeMy first experience in Morocco, Imsouane was with the Fieldwork, a surf trip for everyone who wants to learn how to surf, learn to become more conscious and take time for themselves. I was lucky to have the opportunity to go with Kim Hertogs on here first 4 trips, to teach yoga.
Staying in the BoardX appartement with the view on the bay, endless rolling waves from the little fisherman harbor all the way to the cliffs. Every day sunrise & sunset… and the MOON :D. AMAZING! Here I felt the biggest connection with nature and female surfers. The fun we had in the ocean, cheering, helping each other and sitting together for meditation and doing yoga.
picture by @frankbyreneeGratefull
All of this, an abundance of beautifull experiences, made me think about starting a community in Belgium for female surfers - when I was talking with female friends, they told me they had the same feelings in the Sea. So that was for me a BIG WAKE UP CALL to go for the idea!
North Sea Surf Sisters a community where everyone helps each other where it’s needed. To transform those uncertainties.
It’s a place where I love to share my experiences in surfing. (but you have to know, I don’t know everything). I am here to inspire you: to play in the waves, without judgements, expectations and resistance. No pulling nor pushing, but flowing on the waves!
Connecting with your inner child, building up your confidence and making you ready to ride the wave (of your life) in your own style!
A big community for all female surfers for all levels, ages & cultures!
Picture by @mathiasvanoverbekeSo… Get to know the NSSS-tribe, on instagram or join our WhatsApp-groups.
See you in the Belgian Line-up!
Big love!
Yucca/Joke
Ps. Listen @the_swell_podcast to know everything about the start of the NorthSeaSurfSisters ;)