Our Story

Welcome to Surf Proud, a community built on connection, confidence and a love for the ocean.

What started as a grassroots surf community creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ people has grown into something even bigger. Today, Surf Proud is a community where women, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ surfers come together to learn, progress and feel like they truly belong in the lineup.

We’re passionate about creating an environment where surfing isn’t about ego or competition, it’s about building confidence, understanding the ocean and celebrating every step of your journey.

Whether you’re catching your very first wave or refining your technique on green waves, we’re here to help you become a safer, more confident surfer while having a whole lot of fun along the way.

Meet Sez

Hi, I’m Sez, founder and head coach of Surf Proud.

I’ve been surfing since I was seven years old and coaching for over 20 years. The ocean has always been my happy place.

Growing up, I competed in swimming, ocean swimming, Ironwoman events through Surf Life Saving Australia and represented my school in tennis. Sport taught me discipline, resilience and commitment but surfing was different.

Surfing was never about winning.

It was where I felt free.

It became the place where I could escape expectations, quiet my mind and simply be myself.

That feeling is something I want every person who joins Surf Proud to experience.

I grew up with the best of both worlds, life by the ocean and life in the country. Whether I was surfing, horse riding or helping on my granddad's cattle farm during school holidays, I learnt early that nature deserves respect. You can’t force or fight nature; you learn to read it, work with it and trust it. That’s exactly how I approach coaching in the ocean today.

Learning to read conditions, understand your emotions and work with the ocean instead of fighting it is one of the biggest lessons I hope to pass on.

Standing at just 5’1”, I’ve never looked like the stereotypical surfer we all saw in magazines growing up. As a non-binary person, I’ve also experienced what it’s feels like to not quite fit into traditional spaces.

Those experiences shaped Surf Proud.

I wanted to create the kind of community I wish had existed when I was younger—one where people are welcomed exactly as they are, diversity is celebrated and everyone feels they belong.

While Surf Proud has naturally evolved into a community made up largely of women, our values remain the same. We proudly welcome women, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ surfers, and anyone who shares our values of kindness, respect and inclusivity.

Two years ago, my relationship with surfing changed forever.

I broke my back surfing.

Recovery forced me to slow down, reconnect with my purpose and rethink how I coached.

It deepened my understanding of movement, body mechanics and the unique challenges many women face in the water. I invested in further education so I could better support surfers of all abilities, helping them not just catch more waves, but move with greater confidence and less frustration.

Today, I don’t just coach surfing.

I coach confidence.

I help people who are terrified of the ocean become comfortable in it.

I help women realise their bodies are capable of far more than they believe. And I help people build a lifelong relationship with the sea that’s based on knowledge, respect and joy.

At Surf Proud, we believe surfing isn’t about being the best.

It’s about finding your flow, building confidence and discovering a place where you truly belong.

Welcome to the Surf Proud community.