Surf Girl – July 2019

56 SurfGirl Magazine

S

even years ago, aged 55, I decided to learn to

surf. I was brought up in Pembrokeshire, Wales,

but I’d never ventured onto a surfboard. Not until

I visited Whitesands and took surf lessons with

Ryan Thomas of Ma Simes Surf Shack. However, on my

first attempt I was fearful of getting to my feet and I felt

uncoordinated.

On my return home to Hertford I realised that my core

required strengthening, so engaged the services of 25

year-old personal trainer, Lee Morgan, to prepare for more

surf lessons with Mike Raven in Cornwall. Lee got me to

practice balancing on a Bosu ball – and his professionalism

didn’t desert him when I did an impression of a giraffe on

ice!

After going to the gym regularly for five months, I felt

quite smug and assumed that surfing would now be easy.

Pride comes before a fall. On my first session back in

the water I spent a lot of time getting to my knees, then

tumbling off the board. I was surrounded by the young,

and the not so young, all of who popped to their feet with

little effort. Then, after two days, I actually popped up

and surfed towards the beach. Some passers-by actually

applauded.

Back in Wales, I booked a course of lessons with Pete

Bounds in Pembrokeshire. The weather was glorious and

regular lessons meant that I made progress, tentatively

getting to my feet. Pete has over thirty years’ experience as

a Welsh champion and surf coach. Having a more mature

instructor helps, as an agile eighteen year-old surfing

champion can be rather off putting to an elderly novice.

And Pete is a model of patience.

Surfing has contributed to my overall fitness and health.

Now retired, I attend the gym six days a week with the

focus of surfing during the summer. Lee has devised

programmes aimed at helping me to surf. I also practice

paddling and popping in the gym, imagining that I am on

a board in the sea. I’m now 62 years old and will return to

Wales next month for another series of lessons with Pete

at Masterclass Surf Coaching. Your grandmother might not

like it, but I do!

PETE BOUNDS

SENIOR

SURFER

62 year-old Shobha

Edgell recently learnt

to surf and now

there’s no holding

her back.

60s