Words Hayley Spurway

A growing collective of female surfers, skateboarders and snowboarders is rewriting the narrative of ageing through board sports. We chat to founder of Board Women, Caroline Keylock.

Women’s surfing communities are booming, and more women than ever are taking up surfing in their forties and beyond. Caroline Keylock took up surfing and skateboarding at 45 years-old, and when she realised how pushing your boundaries and learning ‘extreme’ sports can improve confidence, mindset and success later in life, she founded Board Women – a collective to inspire and empower women through the world of board sports.

Now behind a podcast, regular events and a thriving community of women taking up sideways sports, we caught up with Caroline to chat about Board Women and why no mascara is needed for wholesome, long-term happiness.

Caroline, you always ask guests on your podcast – “when did you last fall?” So, back at you – when did you last fall?

That’s a much more pertinent question than it might have been, as I’m currently loaded up with a cast as I dislocated and fractured my wrist snowboarding. I’m officially the poster child for taking up board sports in mid life! (Not.)

So, what inspired you to set up Board Women?

I had always surfed a bit (I’m a life-long beginner to intermediate) and snowboarded for a while, but skateboarding was never on the cards. One day I was with my kids in a skatepark and my son wanted me and his Dad to go down a ramp on a scooter. Ben (my partner) just leapt on without thinking, while I froze on the spot. But I was incredibly annoyed at myself as I’m super active and like to think I’m someone who just gets stuck in. I decided then and there to not be a parent who was sat on the sidelines, and when my son wanted to learn to skate, I had his first lesson with him. I loved it from the start (although I was terrible), even forcing my family to wait in the car on the way home while I ‘popped in’ to a skate shop to get my first board. The 20 year-old guy in the shop was utterly bemused at my request to just have something ‘without skulls’.

From then on I started going to beginner skateboarding nights, but met very few women of my age. I noticed communities across all three sports springing up online for women who were a little older, but they were quite disparate. So I thought it would be great to bring them together and to inspire women that this time of life can look a little different. And Board Women was born.

How long has it been going and how big is the community now?

We are about 20 months in, and now have 3,000 people in the community, across 20+ countries. It’s growing all the time, which is brilliant to see.

What is your connection to surfing and the ocean?

I grew up next to the sea, but not in a surfing location. Even as a kid I was a little bit in love with the culture, but no-one in my family surfed, and I didn’t have friends who did. I remember trying bodyboarding on a cold, rainy holiday in Devon, but it was later in my 20s when I started trying to learn properly. It’s still something I’ve done on holidays most years, so I feel like I’ve never progressed as much as I would like, but I love it. Within the last year I’ve met more women locally (shout out to the @oceanset surf fit crew in Brighton) and become a little more regular surfing year-round in the UK.

How does surfing make you feel?

Most of the time it’s total freedom. Everything from the paddle out, to being out back, to getting good waves. Sometimes it’s utter frustration because I’d like to be better, but I can honestly say I’ve never had a bad session because I just love being in the water. I genuinely see the sea as my happy place. I’m a coldwater dipper all year round and a big swimmer. It’s my mental health, my freedom – the place where I’d always rather be!

How do you think surfing benefits women, especially from 40+?

I think there are so many benefits. The utter concentration you have on the moment, and the freedom to just leave your to-do list behind. The feeling of being part of a much wider world. A connection to your mind and body. And if you’re lucky enough to have good surf mates, a fantastic community who are all obsessed with something that brings them joy!

Are these the same benefits you get from skateboarding and snowboarding?

There are so many similarities in terms of the benefits. I think surfing and snowboarding have one thing that skateboarding doesn’t and that is the beauty of their surroundings (although the forest-based skateboarding at @theskateretreat comes close). However, skating also has the addictive learning curve because it’s so trick based.

Have you witnessed changes in women within your community who’ve benefitted from  being part of your tribe?

So many of them seem to be going through transitions in life and seeking new connections, so I think there is a huge relief and excitement at finding so many other like-minded women. Our events are just so lovely: people come with a wonderfully open attitude to meeting others from all walks of life, connected by their passion for this new activity.

Has your recent injury changed your approach to board sports at all?

I’m hoping it doesn’t! I don’t plan to give them up anytime soon, but I am also aware that I’m going to feel nervous going back to them. I was always aware that injury is a risk, but I think you put that to the back of your mind. The reality is that breaking your arm (in my case my dominant one) is a total pain and really disruptive to your life. I don’t have the option to take time off work (I work for myself) or to take time off being a mum. But, as someone pointed out to me, ‘you pay to play’, and I guess that’s true. We have a live panel coming up on Board Women about coming back from injury and navigating it mentally because it’s a common challenge.

Is Board Women UK-based or international?

The community is already growing across a number of different countries, because we’ve had a number of international guests on the podcast. We connect like-minded women from around the world through online events around issues they care about. We have events on board sports x injury; board sports x neurodivergence; and board sports x life shifts coming in the next few months. I’m also keen to develop international locations for Board Women retreats, and to work with ambassadors in different markets, so get in touch if you’re interested!

What are the biggest changes you want to see through the making of Board Women?

I want women to believe they can do anything, irrespective of their age. It goes broader than board sports to be honest, it’s about rewriting the narrative of ageing and our own mindset that can sometimes restrict us from doing what we love.

What advice would you give women over 40 who want to get into surfing?

If you can afford to, head to a retreat, because it’s great getting a solid amount of time in the water to kick off learning (and always nice if it’s warm!). Find a community locally if you can; having other people who are heading out will give you so many more opportunities to get into the water, and it’s much more fun with friends.