Moms Who Surf: How to Start and Why You’ll Love It
If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about learning to surf in Costa Rica—maybe while packing lunches or scrolling beachy reels between meetings—you’re not alone. Plenty of moms feel the pull of our shores, even from far away. At Iguana Surf, we’re here to help you turn that dream into something real. You can start learning long before your feet even hit the sand—our blog, YouTube channel, and socials are full of down-to-earth advice to help you learn the basics. And being a surf mom? It’s not about having zero fear or nailing every wave, it’s about carving out space (and time) for something that’s just for you.
With Mother’s Day in Costa Rica around the corner, consider this a sign. Isn’t it about time you turned that dream into reality?
Why Surfing Is a Godsend for Moms
There’s a certain shift that happens the moment you feel sand under your feet. Your shoulders relax, your mind slow down, and your worries take a back seat. For the first time in ages, you take a real deep breath. The ocean has that kind of effect. It doesn’t ask anything of you. It just is—steady, endless, alive, therapeutic.
Now, throw a surfboard and some wicked waves into the mix, and the beneficial effect is next level because you’re no longer just near the ocean but a part of it. Ironically, surfing invigorates you not because it just relaxes you but because it fires you up in the best way possible. You feel every muscle at work, your heart beating fast, your mind completely focused, and your soul wide open.
Here’s something many don’t realize: learning to surf as a mom is not about trying to find an escape from life—it’s a way to find your way back to yourself.
Here are just a few reasons surfing is the most mom-activity out there.
1. Surfing Turns Fitness Into Fun
Surfing is the best kind of full-body workout you can do because it doesn’t feel like one. Do it consistently and you’ll build strength in your arms, core, and legs without ever needing to step inside a gym. The best part is that you don’t need to be in top shape to start. Start where you’re at and watch your fitness and strength skyrocket. Surfing is about moving your whole body in a way that feels amazing and does you good.
2. Hit Pause & Reset
Water has a way of clearing out the mental clutter. When you’re surfing, you have no choice but to focus on what you’re doing—on balance, on breath, on the rhythm of the waves. That presence pulls you out of the usually busy mental load and drops you into the here and now.
Even if you’re wiping out more than you’re riding, you still come away feeling lighter. Surfing is akin to active meditation, only with more salt and much more laughter, a break from the pressure to be everywhere, do everything, and solve everyone’s problems. At Iguana Surf, we often say that even just a single surf session is like a year of therapy for your mental wellbeing.
No joke.
3. Confidence? It Starts Here
Learning to surf is incredibly empowering—especially as a mom. You try, you fall, you try again. And then, one day, you catch that wave, and you’ll experience a moment of pure, unfiltered joy. A little bit of proof that you can still learn something new, do something brave, and surprise yourself in the best way.
How to Make Surfing Fit into Mom Life
Finding time to learn something new—especially something like surfing—can feel impossible when your schedule’s already packed. But surfing doesn’t have to be all or nothing: you don’t need to overhaul your entire life. Just carve out a little time and space, and give yourself permission to have at it.
Here is how plenty of surf moms make it work.
1. They Pick a Day and Stick to It
The simplest way to start? Pick a day and make it yours. Not if everything works out—just choose, book, and protect that time like you would any other important appointment. Add it to the family calendar. When you commit to something that feeds your soul, your family notices. Your kids notice. You’re showing them that your wellbeing counts too—and that’s a powerful thing for them to grow up seeing.
2. They Involve the Kids—or Don’t!
Tamarindo is a dream for families. Some moms book lessons while their kids are busy at surf camp themselves (yep, we offer that, too!) Others make it a beach day for everyone and take turns minding kids between surfs. But there are also plenty who crave solo time, and for them, early mornings or late afternoons are the sweet spots—this is when they find peaceful time for themselves.
3. They Are Kind to Themselves
No one expects you to become a pro in a week and you shouldn’t, either. In fact, one of the best aspects of learning to surf is how small the wins can be and how BIG they feel. The first time you paddle out solo, pop up easily, or stay up a millisecond longer than the time before. Maybe you fall a dozen times and still leave grinning; this is really the best win of all.
For surf moms, progress doesn’t mean perfection; showing up does.
4. They Connect with Other Surf Moms
Surfing with other moms makes everything better. You swap stories, cheer each other on, and laugh about the chaos of juggling surfboards, sippy cups, and snack bags. Out here, no one’s pretending to have it all together. There’s a camaraderie in surfing at any given time, and it’s even more felt when shared with people who get where you’re coming from.
Why Tamarindo is the Best Place to Start
If you’re looking for the ideal place to learn, you’ll find Tamarindo checks every box, especially for surf moms.
Our corner of Costa Rica paradise is pure surf-mom perfection.
Gentle Waves, Warm Sea
Tamarindo‘s beach break is known for being mellow, consistent, and welcoming. The water is warm year-round, the sand is soft, and the waves are just right—easy enough for first-timers but still fun once you’ve got the hang of it. With no sharp rocks, icy water, or rough waves, there’s simply no need to ever feel intimidated.
Instructors Who Get It—Who Get You!
At Iguana Surf, we’ve helped thousands of people catch their first wave—including plenty of moms. We totally get that it’s not only about learning the moves or perfecting the skill—surfing is primarily about building confidence, feeling comfortable, and finding that spark in your body and life again. Our instructors are kind, patient, and genuinely stoked to help you fall in love with surfing at your own pace.
A Welcoming Surf Mom Community
Tamarindo boasts a blossoming surf scene of women—and moms—who started out full of trepidation, just like you. Many of them caught their first waves right here and have gone on to inspire countless others. Follow their lead and know you’re stepping into something vibrant, and genuinely supportive.
Everything You Need
You don’t have to rough it to surf here. Tamarindo has comfy beachfront rentals, great coffee shops, family-friendly restaurants, and fun activities for the whole crew. Want to surf, relax, and still be close to your kids? Easy. Want to disappear into the waves for a while and come back refreshed? Also easy.
Tips to Get Started (and Keep Going)
Start with a Lesson: A good instructor will help you skip the frustration and feel safe, confident, and ready. Having a booked lesson also helps you stick to that date you pinned in your diary.
Wear What Works for You: Rash guards, high-waisted leggings, sporty swimsuits—whatever makes you feel comfortable and free to move, wear that.
Listen to Your Body: Stretch, hydrate, rest when you need to. Surfing should fill you up, not drain you.
Celebrate Every Step: Every time you paddle out, stand up, or simply show up—you’re making progress.
It’s NEVER Too Late!
Maybe you’ve watched your kids barrel through the waves from the sidelines and thought, geez, I wish I could do that. Or this might be the first time surfing has ever even crossed your mind. Whatever the case may be, we hope you know by now that it’s not too late, you’re not too old, you’re not too busy. You can start something new and feel more alive than you have in a long time.
So, since Mother’s Day in Costa Rica is coming up, why not forget the flowers and the chocolates and give yourself something that truly fills your soul? A sense of freedom you didn’t even know you needed!
Join us here in Tamarindo for a private surf lesson or one of our surf camps, designed for beginners of all backgrounds—especially moms. Whether it’s your first Mother’s Day in Costa Rica or your tenth, let this be the year you do something for yourself.
Contact us today, and let’s ride some waves!
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