Safety

Before coming to any Surfing Moms meetup, all participants are required to have read, understood, and agreed to abide by our our Safety Rules for Meetups. This ensures that we are all on the same page about how to ensure safety of participants, both parents/carers and children. Below is a bit more detail on key safety issues.

How is childrens’ safety managed?

In addition to following the Safety Rules for Meetups, we require that our members follow these guidelines when looking after children: 

1. Repeat: Children are not allowed in the water at any time during Surfing Moms meetups. Once a parent/caregiver has completed their surf swap (and is therefore no longer part of the official meetup), they may choose to take their own children into the water

2. Make sure smaller children have been to the toilet or had a diaper change prior to the meetup

3. Ensure you understand any dietary or first aid requirements of the children you are caring for, and clearly communicate your own childrens’ needs to your Swap Partner

4. Ensure that your children are adequately protected from the sun (with hats, sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, etc.) before you head out for your surf

5. Never smoke during meetups (obviously, alcohol is not allowed, either)

Can dogs come to meetups?

As much as many of us love our furry friends, unfortunately we cannot allow dogs to be part of our meetups — even if dogs are allowed at the beach where the meetup is held. This is for the safety and protection of both meetup participants (especially children) and pets…children can be very unpredictable and dogs may not enjoy having their tail pulled!

Surfing Moms Annual Subscription

Who can participate in Surfing Moms?

To become part of Surfing Moms, you need to be two things:

1. A mom, dad, or carer

2. A surfer! (which includes bodyboarders, SUPers, etc.)

How do I sign up?

To join Surfing Moms, just pay the annual subscription fee of $52. That’s just one dollar per week for a year of babysitting, surf time, and community-building! As well as being able to surf every week with friends-as-babysitters, you receive an annual Surfing Moms gift, sponsor vouchers and/or discounts for surf products, and an invitation to our annual AGM (annual general meeting) / surf getaway weekend.

What does the annual subscription fee go towards?

Annual Subscription fees help to pay for public liability and accident insurance, maintaining our 501c3 (non-profit) status, promotional materials (to help us reach more mamas like you!), the website, group first aid kits, CPR/first aid training for our Group Coordinators, and our small annual gift (sent in the first half of every year for everyone who signed up during the *previous* calendar year). We also donate 5% of every subscription to a non-profit focused on ocean and/or maternal health.

Every cent of your subscription goes back into the organization. More details about the benefits are below and info about becoming a Surfing Mom can be found here.

Is there a Surfing Moms group near me?

You can find an up-to-date list of all of our current groups on our Find a Group page.

Surfing Moms is consistently growing and adding new groups. If you do not see a group in your area and would like to start one we are happy to help you make that happen.

What if I don’t want to sign up - can I come along to a meetup anyway?

You don’t need to pay for an annual subscription to come and meet the group. However, only official dues paying Surfing Moms, who are covered by our insurance policies, can leave their children and go for a surf. If you’re unsure, feel free to come to your local meetup, meet the group, and then decide if you’d like to join. Then, once you’ve joined, come surf with us!

Do I have to be an awesome surfer to be a Surfing Mom?

Absolutely not! We have moms who have only been surfing a short time all the way to moms who grew up surfing. While we don’t teach surfing, we use a buddy system so that you are almost always surfing with someone else. If you’re not comfortable surfing, you can always just take a swim or a precious solo beach walk. If you’ve never surfed before, we strongly encourage you to take at least a few lessons before you come surf with us so that you feel more comfortable. Occasionally, we arrange lessons (including learn-to-surf lessons) for our groups with professional surf instructors, but this is not our focus. Once you’ve joined, you’re welcome to work with your Group Coordinator to see if there might be others in the group wanting to do beginner lesson(s) together.

And it’s not only surfers (although that’s the majority) - our moms surf, SUP, body board...and some even choose to snorkel or swim. We also have surfing aunties, dads, grandparents, etc.!

How old do my children need to be?

Any age! Some moms bring children along from one month old, others wait until their kids are older. At various times throughout the school year, we might have a range all the way from newborns to middle schoolers who come along. Some things to think about for your children: sun protection, food and snacks, sleep times, and what will work for your child(ren)’s schedule. It really just depends on your comfort level. Some children cry the first time their mom leaves to go catch some waves, and then they get used to it (and eventually, never want to leave!). Exposing kids to the idea that moms need to take care of themselves will teach them to take care of themselves, too. Plus, kids love to see their moms happy, post-surf. Over time we find that kids benefit from the surf meet-ups as much as the moms! When you’re new to Surfing Moms, it's a good idea to go along and say hi to the group without planning to surf that first time so you can figure out what will work best for you and your family.

What are the benefits to being a Surfing Moms?

Being a Surfing Mom means that you are a mom/caregiver, but cooler. :) Youʻll be part of one of the best moms groups in the country and likely make lifelong friendships for you and your kids. You’ll also be supporting our non-profit so that we can continue reaching moms (and dads, and other caregivers) who share the same passion as you. In addition to these, there are other great tangible benefits to becoming a Surfing Mom.

Surfing Mom benefits include:

• The opportunity to surf without needing to arrange childcare

• Babysitting (while surf swapping) for a year for only $1 per week (!!)

• Coverage by public liability and accident insurance while attending scheduled Surfing Moms meetups

• Full access to our network (our app) of friendly surf groups around the US that you can join up with if you’re traveling

• An invitation to attend social and other events (including our annual weekend surf getaway / annual general meeting)

• Discounts from our sponsors, and

• A small Surfing Moms gift each year - distributed once a year (sent in the first half of every year for everyone who signed up during the *previous* calendar year)

You also have the opportunity to surf with a friendly and supportive group if you’re a surfer with less experience, and to improve your surfing at all levels. Weekly surfing, even when the conditions aren’t great, will undoubtedly make you a better surfer over time. However, the greatest benefit of all is the community and connection with other like-minded folks who love surfing, ocean stewardship, and children.

Do Surfing Moms really get a gift every year?

The Surfing Moms gift has been a wonderful and much-loved tradition adopted from the group in Australia that we grew from (Surfing Mums). Gifts come from our amazing sponsors and partners and change every year. Gift pack examples might include a Surfing Moms sticker, local eco-friendly sunscreen, or a surfing moms hat, etc. If it’s a lucky year, we might even raffle off something bigger at our AGM (a.k.a., our annual surf getaway weekend). The Surfing Mom annual gift is distributed once a year (sent in the first half of every year for everyone who signed up during the *previous* calendar year)

Once I sign up, how do I find out about meet ups?

As of July 21, 2023 we have fully migrted to our own app. In there you’ll have access to ALL groups, where/when they meet and full access to everything Surfing Moms! If you are an annual subscriber and not yet joined our app, please click HERE. The app is both web and mobile based. To download the mobile app, please click HERE for Apple Store and HERE for Google Play

How do I cancel my Surfing Moms annual subscription?

You can cancel your Surfing Moms annual subscription at anytime by logging into the website to manage your account.

To login: In the upper right hand corner of each page on our website, you will find “Login.” Click it and login.

If you have issues with this please email us at help@surfingmoms.org. This will not refund your original annual payment but will ensure that you are not charged for the following year.

Do you offer refunds if I don’t cancel my annual subscription before my renewal date?

No, we do NOT offer refunds if you do not cancel before your renewal date. As a loving reminder, when you sign up, you agree to auto renewal every 12 months. To avoid being charged in the future, please follow the instructions above on how to cancel. Mahalo!

Coordinating a group

There’s no group where I live. How do I set up a new Surfing Moms group?

We would love to help you start a new group!  New Surfing Moms groups are starting up in different locations, and we can help you do that in your own area if you’re interested. To get the ball rolling, fill out our Community Involvement Form and let us know where you live and when/where you’d like to schedule your group meetups.

To set up a new group, here’s what you’ll need to do: 

1. Join Surfing Moms

2. Decide which day / time your group will meet up each week

3. Decide if your group will meet at the same spot each week or will rotate spots, based on the conditions

4. Get the word out in your local area that the group will be starting! (we help with this)

5. Show up every week at your chosen time. If you can’t make it, find another person to cover for you and act as Group Coordinator for the day. The consistency of the weekly group, even when conditions are junk, is important. Occasionally, groups end up just meeting for coffee on days with really terrible weather and absolutely no surf, but it’s still part of the fun and helps you build your group. 

Remember that while it does take some effort, coordinating a group is incredibly rewarding - even beyond the surf itself! Coordinators often end up learning leadership skills on the go and inspiring moms to get back in the water, in the process improving moms’ mental health and that of their families. Starting a new group can also give passion and purpose to your week. And, best of all, you’ll end up with a tribe of like-minded friends and a permanent set of surf-buddies!

What are the responsibilities of Group Coordinators?

1. Setting up the group’s infrastructure and getting the word out. You’ll want to let your community know that a new group is starting. This often takes the form of letting friends and other community members know, posting on social media, distributing flyers to local spots that parents and/or surfers frequent (cafes, libraries, preschools/schools, surf shops, etc.), possibly getting in touch with local media, etc. We will give you a press release to get you started. We’ll also set up your group in our app. Your group in our app will be your ‘dashboard’ for coordinating the group and how you’ll connect and communicate with everyone.

2. Coordinating meetups. Each week (usually 1-2 days before the meetup day), you’ll need to check the surf report and post the meetup plan in your group’s pace via our app. If plans change (e.g., there’s a thunderstorm!), you’ll need to post an update in time for people to plan accordingly (the app has a chat feature within your group). You’ll also be responsible for making sure that everyone who comes to the meetups is an official Surfing Mom (and are therefore covered by insurance). Individuals who have not officially joined with an annual subscription can come along to check out the group, but they can’t leave their children while they surf.

3. Welcoming new Surfing Moms and kids to the group. When a new Surfing Mom comes to a meetup for the first time, your job is to introduce them to the other moms and kids and make sure they understand the rules for meetups (such as the 1:1 partner swap, and other rules). It’s also nice if you can help them find a swap partner the first few times they come.

4. Ensuring safety. It’s the coordinator’s responsibility to ensure the safety of all children and Surfing Moms by moving to a safer location or calling off the meet (e.g., moving meetup to a local coffee shop or park) if surf or other environmental conditions put Surfing Moms’ safety or well-being at risk. 

5. Managing the group in general. You’ll need to moderate your group’s page in our app, respond to new Surfing Moms inquiries, ensure that social media guidelines are followed (see below), and occasionally help with fundraising efforts on behalf of the organization.

The day my local group meetups are doesn't fit my schedule. Can I add a new day?

Please first discuss this option with the current Group Coordinator, then contact us.

I’m already a Group Coordinator and want to host an event outside of our regular meetups — is this possible?

We love the idea of local groups holding events beyond their regular surf-swaps! However, any events falling under the banner of Surfing Moms must first be approved by the Surfing Moms Board. This is to ensure that that safety standards are met and the organization is covered for liability. This also applies to events co-hosted by local Surfing Moms groups and other organizations. Please reach out if you have an idea!

Social media

What is allowed on Surfing Moms social media?

Local Group Coordinators will each be set up with a Surfing Moms page via our app to coordinate their local group. As an ambassador for the organization, it’s important that Group Coordinators ensure that these spaces are used mindfully. Specifically, these platforms are to be used only for posts that fit one or more of the following topics:

• Group events and activities (including fundraising)

• Surfing

• Parenting

• Ocean-related issues

Surfing Moms has one main account on Instagram. This is and will be the only Surfing Moms account. No other social media account can be created.

Insurance

Who is insured under this policy?

Surfing Moms, Inc. and all of its dues-paying participants – and their attending children – are covered during official Surfing Moms events (meetups, etc.) for losses or damage a third party claims to have suffered as a result of the activities of Surfing Moms, Inc. (under our General Liability policy) and for non-surfing accidents to parents or children that occur during scheduled meetups and events (under our Accidents policy). The accidents policy, which covers Surfing Moms and their attending children, does not include accidents that occur while surfing.

What is the scope of cover?

Our public liability policy provides protection for dues-paying Surfing Moms and office bearers that are held liable for a negligent act that results in property damage or bodily injury anywhere in the United States to a 3rd party. 

What are the Insured Activities? 

This insurance premium covers the running of our normal Surfing Moms group meetups, social activities and official events involving dues-paying Surfing Moms and their children. 

Where are you Covered? 

Surfing Moms, Inc. is covered whilst operating at beaches and parks where weekly Surfing Moms meetups occur, as well as at any official Surfing Moms events.