How It Works!
Go home happy, wash the sand off your children, and start looking forward to next week’s meetup
How Meetups Work
How Our Meetups Work
Each local group meets for about two hours at a set day and time each week at a beach or park near a local surf break. Some groups gather at the same location each week, while others choose their spot based on surf and weather conditions.
Your group coordinator will post meetup details in the Surfing Moms app a day or so beforehand. Be sure to check your group page the morning of the meetup in case plans change due to conditions.
When Surfing Moms arrive at the beach, they pair up with another mom to look after each other’s children. While one mom surfs, the other watches both sets of kids, and then they switch. The first hour is for one mom and the second hour is for the other. This time includes getting ready—waxing boards, applying sunscreen, and setting children up with snacks and toys—so most surfers get about 30–45 minutes of time in the water.
The system works best when everyone arrives close to the meetup start time so each mom gets a full hour and a fair chance to surf. Pairing up is essential so that each Surfing Mom is responsible only for her own children and one other mom’s children, keeping things manageable and safe.
The safety of our children and our community is always the top priority.
Safety Rules for Meetups
Our commitment to safety
Safety is our first priority at Surfing Moms, both for children on the beach and moms in the surf. We require that all participants and Group Coordinators understand and agree to the Safety Rules for Meetups below. In addition, we strongly recommend that everyone affiliated with Surfing Moms look through the links and videos about ocean safety that we have compiled here (coming soon).
Children’s safety (on the beach)
Ensure that, in all circumstances, a 1:4 parent to child ratio is adhered to (for children 5 and under).
Participate in a 1:1 Partner Swap where even numbers are present. In the case of an odd number of moms at a given meetup, a 1:1 Parter Swap will still occur, but one swap group will have three moms and their two hours will be divided into three, 40-minute (rather than 60) swap sessions. In other words, Mom 1 surfs while Mom 2 babysits (first 40 minutes), Mom 2 surfs while Mom 3 babysits (second 40 minutes), and Mom 3 surfs while Mom 1 babysits (third 40 minutes).
Do NOT take any children into the water during a Surfing Moms meetup. Children are ONLY allowed in the water with their own parent/caregiver once the parent has completed their surf-swap, because at that time they are no longer officially participating in the meetup.
Ensure ALL children are diligently supervised at ALL times during Surfing Moms meetups. Be aware that while you are participating in the surf-swap, your one and only job is to supervise children. While it may sometimes be possible to chat with other moms during your child-minding hour, you should not expect to socialize during this time - there’s plenty of time for that while you surf and after the surf-swap!
Notify your Swap Partner of any allergies or sensitivities for their child prior to going for a surf.
Discuss any sleep, feeding and/or play requirements with your Swap Partner prior to going for a surf.
Only moms/dads/carers who have paid their annual subscription (and therefore are covered by our liability insurance) may participate in the surf-swap and look after children. This means that spouses, babysitters, and other family members that accompany a dues-paying Surfing Mom may look after their own children, but not other children.
Conduct yourself in a respectful, inclusive and kind manner.
Do NOT smoke or use tobacco or alcohol products during a Surfing Moms meetup.
Moms’ safety (in the surf)
Beginners are welcome to be part of Surfing Moms, but we are not a surf school and we strongly encourage everyone to take at least a few lessons with a professional surf instructor before coming to our meetups.
All Surfing Moms, regardless of their experience level, must know and surf within their limits. If in doubt, stay out.
Always use the ‘buddy system’, i.e., pair up with another mom when heading into the surf, stay together, and communicate with each other about plans (eg, if heading in, moving to a nearby break, etc.).
Whenever possible, beginner surfers should pair up with more experienced surfers.
Local groups are encouraged to plan their meetups at locations near lifeguard stations (or at least at lifeguard-patrolled beaches).
Group Coordinators are required to become CPR/First Aid certified if they are not already (paid for by Surfing Moms).
All participants are strongly encouraged to read the information and watch the videos provided on our (soon-to-be-created) Commitment to Safety page.
