Founder and President

Founding Board Member

Elizabeth Madin is a mother of three, the founder of Surfing Moms, and an Assistant Professor of marine biology in Hawaiʻi. She started surfing in her 20s - first in Hawaiʻi, then in California, and most recently in Australia. She took an unintended surfing hiatus after her first two children were born, which might have continued indefinitely had she not found Surfing Mums. Getting back into surfing - regularly, and with an amazing group of supportive and fun mothers - was such a game-changer for her that when she moved permanently to Hawai‘i, she knew she had to start a Surfing “Moms” group there. Elizabeth’s research focuses on ocean health. Likewise, she sees Surfing Moms as a way to help moms keep themselves happy and healthy (and catch some awesome waves at the same time!).

Vice President

Amanda holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and provided group and individual therapy before shifting to offering surfing/relationship building workshops for mothers and daughters through Blue Zone Marin. Amanda lives with her husband and three kids in West Marin, where they raise animals and grow food. After having a deep love of the ocean her whole life, she learned to surf in her 40’s, and embraces being a beginner with a beginner’s mind. Amanda joined Surfing Moms as a coordinator for Marin, and enjoys the community and opportunities for connection that moms are able to have at the beach.

Communications Director

Founding Board Member

Candace Stalder has over twenty years of experience as a graphic designer, director, writer, cinematographer, editor, motion graphics artist, branding, marketing and communications specialist, and more. She is a full-time Digital Media & Visual Design Specialist currently at the University of Southern California. She also mentors work-study students in digital media and coaches surfing. Her passion lies with powerful storytelling and offering new perspectives on social issues. Candace is an avid surfer. Growing up in the ocean, she appreciates the connection the ocean holds in our lives and draws that energy to her passions and creativeness. Outside of creating and surfing, she spends her time volunteering for various children’s cancer organizations. She has volunteered with Camp Ānuenue, a children’s cancer camp in Hawaiʻi, as the camp videographer/photographer/editor. She also volunteers at Sunshine Kids, a children’s cancer program, as a videographer/photographer/editor. She shot, edited, and produced the fundraising trailer for Surfing Moms.

Treasurer

Lainy is a senior financial analyst for a global consulting firm primarily supporting the Department of Defense. Lainy learned of Surfing Moms after meeting one of the founders at a beach workout in Kailua. Not being a surfer, Lainy was intimidated to join a surfing group. After following along on social media, Lainy felt a calling to join after watching the Surfing Moms Instagram Live session held by the founders, which celebrated Surfing Moms officially becoming a non-profit. Lainy got hooked after attending her first surf swap and witnessing firsthand the overwhelming number of benefits for both mamas/caretakers and their keiki. She loves the feeling of being on the water and knowing her daughter is having fun on the beach with other Moms and new friends. Lainy stands behind the Surfing Moms mission and vision and is excited to contribute to the non-profit as a member of the board. She is also excited to catch some waves with all of the other Surfing Moms out there!

Secretary

Holly is a mama to three little girls, a wife to her high school sweetheart, a middle school teacher, and a long-time runner. Holly moved from Chicago to Hawaii in 2020 and found out about Surfing Moms via social media. Hoping to connect, Holly took a chance and reached out to join the first ever AGM weekend of sun and surf in Waikiki. She spent the whole weekend getting to know some of the original Surfing Moms and was inspired to learn more about surfing and the budding Surfing Moms community. Three years later, Holly has taken her little girls to countless surf swaps around Oahu; she’s learned to surf, helped coordinate Honolulu’s chapter, participated in Dr. Borofsky’s Surf Therapy workshop, traveled with other Surfing Moms, and made life-long friends. Holly is so excited to help Surfing Moms continue to promote its mission and grow its community!

Strategy and Development

Michelle Gorham Dasic is a community benefit leader with experience building, developing, and guiding high performing teams and organizations. For more than 15 years she has worked with NGOs, start-ups, government organizations and impact investors to create structure and programs for optimized performance. She is a non-profit founder, seasoned facilitator, and volunteer for regional and national boards. This experience informs her work shaping teams to deliver social impact from strategy and implementation; fund development and management; research and evaluation; thought leadership and partnership development.

Michelle finds home on Oahu's shores and cresting waves and the rolling hills of her family's farm in Vermont. She currently lives in Zurich, Switzerland where she enjoys exploring the region's many waters, hiking, and mushrooming with her family.

Emeritus Board Member & Founding Board Member

Anna Shoemaker is a founding member of Surfing Moms in Hawaiʻi. Surfing Moms is a way for Anna to care for herself on a regular basis as well as provide postpartum support to like minded moms in the community. Anna was posting for the Surfing Moms' Instagram and from there did much of the organization’s community outreach. In the Summer of 2020 she learned how to pilot a drone to film our Surfing Moms Documentary. This is a new skill that she loves to work on!

Former Vice President & Founding Board Member

Amelia Borofsky holds a doctorate in clinical and community psychology. She knows that Surfing Moms works because it has all the key ingredients of positive psychology: support, community, play, passion, purpose, giving, gratitude, friendship, and more. As a struggling new mother, she reached out to mom groups but none supported her to do what she loves. On a whim, she googled surfing moms and luckily found that such a group existed! Amelia grew up in Hawai‘i but didn’t start surfing until her late twenties. Girls didn’t surf back then! Now, she is obsessed. Even as a solo working mother of two young girls, she manages to surf 1-2 times a week. She is passionate about helping new mothers professionally and personally. Check her out here.s here

Former Secretary and Web Design Officer

KC is a family photographer now based in Missoula, Montana who joined Surfing Moms after her third daughter was born while living in Hawaii. Getting in the water, learning a new skill, and connecting with other moms was integral for her with two toddlers and a colicky baby. She so looked forward to her Thursday morning surf swaps and was bit by the surfing bug. When given the opportunity to help with the non-profit and help grow the movement to spread the joys of Surfing Moms beyond the beaches of Kailua, she jumped on board (pun intended). You can check out her photography work here.

Former Groups and Membership Officer

Mei-Li Restani is a surf and lifestyle photographer based in San Francisco, CA. While Mei grew up around the ocean and regularly visited extended family in Hawai’i, she didn’t start surfing until after she had kids. Surfing saved her soul, and the love of being in the water and the joy of photography drew her to begin shooting in the water to capture all the stoke. Mei connected with Surfing Mom’s on O’ahu while vacationing with her family. After hanging with the awesome mamas, she was hooked and knew that she wanted to bring Surfing Moms to the Mainland. Mei now runs the San Francisco chapter of Surfing Mom’s and is excited to be a part of an amazing group of women.