"We fall down, but we get back up": Maldivian girls rewrite surfing's gender rules

Surfing now holds an iconic place in the Maldives, helping to draw international attention to yet another aspect of what the archipelago's reefs and breaks have to offer. Yet for women, stepping onto a board has a long and difficult history in a society with patriarchal views about gender roles. The Maldives Surf Association only agreed to include a women's category at their events in 2021. 

The first time Sedrah felt her board lift under the swell and stood up without toppling over, she discovered something that gave her a sense of confidence. And she was surrounded by other girls who were experiencing the same thing.

"I made a lot of friends, and we liked it when we got to try the bigger waves. Actually, I don't like it, but I LOVE it!" she said afterwards, beaming with the kind of pride that comes from achieving a new skill.

Next to her, eight-year-old Aana nodded enthusiastically. "I surfed! We always fall down, but we get back up. I want to do more!" she declared, salty hair plastered across her face, still dripping from the sea. "And seeing the reef is so cool!"

Moments like this are exactly what Surf Her Story set out to create when they formed their collective earlier this year. The female surfers running the initiative aim to introduce girls to a sport long dominated by men, seeking to carve out a safe space where they can learn new skills, enjoy shared experiences with other girls their age, and have fun.

Beyond simply teaching them to ride waves, Surf Her Story is about building confidence, fostering friendships, and cultivating a love for the ocean. The timing is significant. As conversations around women's sport grow louder in the Maldives and worldwide, Surf Her Story is part of a cultural shift towards greater visibility, equality, and representation.

By running women-led classes, Surf Her Story is not only teaching young girls to ride the waves, but also that this athletic sport can belong to them too, without stigma or shame.

It was against this backdrop that surfer Maju Freitas decided to act. She came up with the idea for Surf Her Story and reached out to local female surfers, wanting to make the sport more accessible to girls. By June, the idea had become a reality, with their first event taking place in Thulusdhoo in July.

The collective is powered by a team of passionate and determined women: Maju, Aya Naseem, Saazu Saeed, Raufa Ahmed, Thaanees Shiran, Rishtha Suja, Aishath Aleesha Hassan, and Uyoon Naeem. Each brought their own vast experience as surfers. Many of them have also been instrumental in making the sport an inclusive one for women and have represented the country on an international level as professional surfers.

They are the perfect role models. They hope that one day, the young girls who begin their surfing journey at these events may become the next generation of guides, instructors, or even professional athletes themselves.

For now, their focus is on continuity and keeping the momentum going on this growing movement. To get more girls surfing is the main goal. But they also want to give them the chance to improve, rather than just having a single experience at one of their events.

"I want to do this forever for them," explained Saazu, who hosted the series of four events over two weekends at her Aloha Ufaa surf centre in Hulhumalé. "Whenever they want, the girls can use this centre as their own place – it is a space for them."

For parents, the transformation in their children has been wonderful. Shifa described the change in her daughter after just a couple of sessions: "She was very scared at first, but after these classes, she's asking if she could do this every Saturday. It makes me so happy to see her becoming so confident."

Her daughter, 10-year-old Yul, added: "It was very fun. It's my second time with it, and I can do more waves! I really like catching the waves."

The journey from nervous beginner to eager surfer-in-training reflects what the organisers see as the real power of the project: girls gaining confidence. Beyond a sport, surfing builds patience, resilience, and balance. For girls in the Maldives, where opportunities to participate in sports that are seen as gendered can be limited, it offers not only physical fitness but also a chance to redefine what girls are capable of.

At a time when conversations around gender equality in sports, such as football, are increasing worldwide, this carries a particular symbolic weight. Beyond the classes, Surf Her Story is creating a safe and supportive network for the next generation of surfers.

On a local scale, the surf camp was a fun day at the sea – trying something new in the sun and surf, and making new friends. Parents gathered on the shore, taking photos and videos of their children managing to stand upright on their boards, smiling at their squeals of laughter, and slathering them with sunscreen during the breaks.

For mothers like Lily Gressl, the experience has been as rewarding for the parents as it has been for the children. "My kids are really happy to be a part of something that is just for girls, and to meet new friends who also all love the ocean," she reflected. "But as a parent, it is also amazing to have an outdoor experience to take them to, away from being glued to their screens and tablets."

Surf Her Story's team was ecstatic at how the events turned out. One of their most rewarding moments was seeing a girl who had attended the first event return for her third session and finally ride a wave entirely on her own. "That independence is the highlight," said Maju. "Not just assisting them, but teaching them to use the skills on their own and build confidence. When they say they love it, and they come back again, that's the real success."

"And when they start catching a wave for the first time, and start to get the feeling of being able to surf," Aya added. "Just being on the board, swimming out there, with the joy on their faces – even when they fall off the board."

As eight-year-old Aana had said, capturing both the spirit of surfing and the essence of Surf Her Story, "We always fall down, but we get back up." For these young surfers, the waves are only the beginning.