Salt & Sisterhood: Women’s Surf Spaces

Chelsea Ross — The Pioneer

When Chelsea Ross founded Goddess Retreats in Bali in 2003, creating a women's surf and yoga retreat was unheard of. The landscape was dominated by male-focused surf camps that catered almost exclusively to the physical mechanics and the social scene of the sport.

She wanted to approach surfing differently — as a beautiful, external manifestation of an internal journey. To help each guest awaken the goddess within through the power of the ocean. Two decades on, her vision has well and truly made waves.

A luxury women-only Bali retreat combining surfing, wellness, and cultural adventures — from Mount Batur sunrise treks to temple ceremonies. Guests leave empowered, refreshed, and deeply connected to themselves.

Katrien Kegels — The Community Builder

Katrien has been watching women's surfing evolve since she began surfing twenty years ago — back when she was often the only woman in the lineup. That loneliness and quiet pressure eventually became the foundation of Chicks on Waves.

"It's actually very common that women arrive with nerves — whether it's about surfing for the first time or simply travelling alone. What I love most is seeing how fast those nerves dissolve once they meet the group. There's this instant recognition: 'Oh, she feels the same as me.'"

In the Algarve, Chicks on Waves brings together an all-female team who know exactly how to coach and elevate women in the sea. Confidence meets community, with a chic ocean-view villa, fresh Portuguese food and salty laughs.

Lulu Agan — The Soul of the Sea

SwellWomen has been running for 23 years, with retreats across the globe from Hawaii to Indo. "Many women arrive feeling disconnected from their bodies," says Lulu, "carrying years of stress and the weight of putting everyone else first."

What she's witnessed, over and over, is a shift — somewhere between paddling out for the first time and sitting around a dinner table with women they just met, who somehow feel like lifelong friends. The ocean, she's found, is the perfect teacher.

Retreats blend ancient wisdom with modern practices — from the serene shores of Lahaina in Hawaii to the remote beauty of the Mentawais. Retreats run in Hawaii in April, July and September, and the Mentawais in October.

Sam Hall — Barefoot Luxury

Set on a hillside overlooking Kuta Bay Lombok, Xanadu blends barefoot luxury with a relaxed surf lifestyle. "As soon as you bring a group of women together, something shifts. They connect quickly, cheer each other on. It becomes this really special, encouraging space."

Progression isn't left to chance — it's structured and deliberate. Each week blends focused surf sessions with in-depth theory, breaking down positioning, timing, and wave reading. The Surfer's Mindset Workshop unpacks fear, hesitation, and confidence in the lineup. Recovery completes the cycle: yoga, ice bath, infrared sauna, and nourishing food.

Miki — Island Life & Freedom

In Fuerteventura, Miki followed her dream to share the slow island life she'd fallen in love with. "Female empowerment is about confidence, support, and freedom. It's about lifting each other up, celebrating wins — big or small — and creating a space where women feel safe to try, fail, and try again without judgment."

Women-only retreats in intimate groups of 6–8, led by an all-female team. Daily surf, yoga, skate sessions and island adventures in a supportive, no-pressure environment.

Becs Coley — Confidence Beyond the Shore

In Jersey, Becs Coley built Drift Retreat around surf, food and yoga — and a deep belief that carving out time for yourself, properly, makes everything else possible. "Mindset and confidence are a big part of it," she says.

New for 2026: the Drift Collective — a 6-month immersive programme with 1:1 coaching, surf etiquette, ocean literacy and more. Join the Between Breaths retreat, 18–22 October at the Atlantic Hotel, Jersey.