Yes thanks for having me onboard for so long, I think going on 6 years now! It's been an amazing time, at the same time as being taken on as an ambassador. I went freelance with my business and have worked with lots of interesting clients over the years, spent lots of time travelling and surfing. Thanks to SRFACE’s wetsuits for keeping me warm throughout the years both surfing and shooting in-water. Although this past year or so has looked a little different as I had my daughter so was heavily pregnant but I was still determined to continue getting in the sea although it was winter.

It has been a wild learning curve with very little sleep, but loving it as she is the smiliest, sunniest little soul. I enjoy seeing the world through her eyes, taking her to the beach, she loves swimming (in a pool) and I can’t wait to take her into the sea next year once it warms up again. Still managing to get in the sea, swimming, surfing and shooting and am back to work taking on shoots now which is lovely.

The ocean has always been a reset for me ever since I was little. Its importance has grown since having a little one. It is a perfect escape and break from the demands of looking after someone so young and dependent and when it all gets too much I take a dip and then I am ready to continue. So I feel like my connection has deepened since having a child and I have become more dependent on the ocean for my sanity than normal. 

Surfing was always a way in which I escaped the stresses of life and helped me relax and even more so now. I might not be in the water quite as much as I used to but still getting in regularly and it feels even more special and important now as I get an hour to myself doing what I love.

I definitely feel like I have become more content, I used to get itchy feet after being in one place for two long, always looking for the next adventure. This still happens but I am enjoying having a home base and don’t get so stressed if I haven’t been away for a while.

Yes, it has made me slow down (partly because of the exhaustion, haha) and also because it's difficult to do anything quickly with a little one. Still handle challenges in the same way, getting in the sea to think them over.

Definitely, just go with the flow, don't put too much pressure on either, they are meant to be enjoyable and special and too much pressure will ruin that. 

I have really enjoyed my journey with SRFACE, it coincided with when I went freelance with my photography and film and it has been amazing to see SRFACE grow as a company, the range of products has increased considerably without compromising on the quality. Such a wonderful team to be part of and really look forward to seeing what the coming years bring.

That’s a good question, I don’t feel any different but I think when you become a mum people do see you differently, less carefree, and more responsible. Whereas the reality is you're just surviving and muddling along. I might be less of a presence in the lineup at the moment but hopefully people don’t forget me and as Anna gets older my surfs should get longer and more frequent. 

It still plays a huge role in my life and I try and get in as much as possible, luckily I have my partner and mum around who are great at looking after her, allowing me to surf fairly regularly.

I definitely do. I hope the ocean plays a huge role in our lives as she grows. I started taking her swimming in the local pool at around 2/3 months and she really loves the water! This summer she dipped her toes in a couple of warm rock pools and watched me swim and surf a lot. She already spent many months surfing whilst she was in my tummy as I surfed up until 7 months and swam and hand planed up until birth which was special. Once the water has warmed up next summer, if she wants to she can splash in the ocean and I look forward to introducing her to surfing one day :) 

If you want it enough you will make time for it, both through pregnancy and having a new baby. It is important to make time for the things you love for your sanity. 

To keep me in the water whilst pregnant I went up a wetsuit size, as it was the winter I went for the 5mm Remix wetsuit to house the growing bump. The flexibility of the suit and how comfortable it is allowed me to get in the water right up until a couple of weeks before giving birth! 

Surfing whilst pregnant feels different for everyone, the most important thing is to stay in your comfort zone and it is something that you should only do if you feel comfortable in the water. I wouldn’t start it as a new hobby or if you have only started surfing maybe don’t push it, make sure you know your limits as you don’t want to risk anything. 

I have been surfing for over 16 years now so it feels like second nature to me, so I kept surfing fairly normally until about 7 months, which is when the bump really started to show making it difficult to lie on the board, balance, paddle and pop up safely. I also started to worry about impact as the baby is less protected the bigger they get and it was the middle of winter so I chose to stop then. Although I kept getting in the sea for swims and hand plane sessions. Every one's pregnancy is unique so just listen to your body the waves will always be there after your precious cargo is born.

The first surf back after getting the all clear was special. It was so lovely to be back in the water without a big bump in the way! It was very freeing and I felt so lucky to have a beautiful baby girl and still able to get in the sea.

I feel like myself really but with a little bit more patience, I used to get really frustrated if I hadn’t surfed in a couple of days whereas now I don’t get so frustrated but just appreciate the time that I do get in the sea.

I am looking forward to sharing my love of the sea with Anna. My partner and I are about to start converting a Van over this winter and planning on going on a big trip, a couple of months, hopefully next spring with Anna to show her some of the waves and places that we love. Perhaps to Scotland or Ireland looking forward to this next adventure and all that it brings…