We love to hear stories from our surf community, and were delighted to have Mimmo, share their latest photography project. The projects focus is on female surfers, and why they surf. Summary below…

Contributed by Cosimo Campagna

Sisters of the Sea: portraits of female surfers

The primary goal of this project is to focus on a range of women of all ages and skill levels who love the sea and have a passion for surfing. It also aims to offer them the opportunity to express themselves in a predominantly male-dominated sport. This photographic project is set in South Devon and Cornwall, and 12 women were photographed and then were asked to write down their thoughts about the sport, which offered them the opportunity to speak with a direct and unfiltered voice.

The ages of the women range are between 19 and 77 and while their reasons for surfing vary, so do the emotions they experience whilst in the water. The fundamental root of their passion is to have an immersive and challenging experience of the natural world which is both physically and psychologically enriching. The women speak of the freedom they experience, not only as pioneers of the sport itself but also a more profound freedom that comes from engaging with nature as well as battling with the greatness and force of the ocean.

Many of the women feel that surfing adds layers to their selfhood; when surfing they are individuals, not just wives, mothers, employees, etc. The water gives them a sense of their own identity and an equality that they may not experience elsewhere. However, concerns about safety are not only related to the power of the sea; intimidation and other challenges often confront women from within the male surfing community. Sometimes male surfers have been unhelpful and, on some occasions, rude and aggressive, seeing women’s’ participation as a threat or a hindrance, or even guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute.

Fortunately, these outdated opinions are fading, and the younger surfing community welcomes women surfers with an open-mindedness and willingness to share skills as well as applaud successes (and failures) with an ease and friendliness that overlooks gender. All the participants in the project speak passionately about initiatives that encourage other women of all ages and backgrounds to begin their surfing journey.

You can check out Mimmo on instagram @CosimoCampagna