Surf Getaways women: Kate Sauna

Kate is one of our Sunshine Coast monthly Surf Clinics participants, and she happens to be a great human too. She has been with us for a while, and we love her attitude and light, bringing good vibes to the group on every session. In this interview, you'll get to know Kate a bit better and learn how and why she is connected with surfing and the ocean. She also has a couple of pieces of advice for anyone thinking about getting into surfing.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Sydney, but saw the light in my early 20’s and moved to Sunny QLD. I live on the northside outskirts of Brisbane away from the hustle and bustle.

What do you do when you’re not in the water?

Mostly think about being in the water! I work in a gym, and I’m studying a nutrition and wellbeing course at the moment. I like to be outside as much as possible.

How long have you been surfing?

Since December 2020. It was my first ever surfing lesson and I was 45!

Why did you take up surfing?

A good friend of mine is a surfer, the way she used to explain how she felt when she was in the water was what got me interested. I was pretty scared to try it but I'm so glad I did.

Apart from the joy of surfing the waves, what else has surfing given you?

It’s given me something that I feel like I belong to, the connection with the water and the women I’m now friends with from our community is such a gift. It’s also given me the confidence to try hard things again.

What would you say to a woman of any age considering trying surfing for the first time?

Get yourself a good surfing coach, someone who understands your goals and just get out there and give it a go. Being a woman (of any age), should never be seen as a barrier.

If you're new to surfing, make sure you download our FREE beginners guide to surfing today!

Tell us about an empowering female in your life and how they influenced your life/career/surfing?

My friend who got me into surfing in the first place has empowered me by encouraging me to try surfing. She also challenges me by getting me to think about things more deeply and shown me that giving some time back to myself it’s not being selfish, it’s necessary.

Tell us a fun fact about you, something non-surfing related?

I lived in the USA and was a Cub Scout Leader to 7-year-old American boys. I also had a mullet when I was in Year 7.

Are you ready to join? We have locations around Australia so check out our Surf Programs and join our community today. Our monthly Surf Clinics run every week for 4 weeks to ensure you improve and get more confident in the water.