Surfing as a Mum | Corinne Evans Jones

Local professional surfer, lifestyle model and now Mum Corinne Evans Jones talks to us about her journey from having the freedom to take to the waves whenever she fancied, to having a new love of her life enter the world as she started a family. She’s had to adapt to a life as a mother and sharing her time between her family and the waves. Discover Corinne’s tips on how she manages to and keep her love story with the surf alive, alongside being a Mum to her beautiful baby boy.

Last year, on August 30th, I became a mother, and like all new mums I entered a new chapter of my life. A chapter that meant I was no longer number one and the priorities and commitments I had before giving birth had to change. I would be lying if I said it hadn’t been a major adjustment for me both mentally and physically, especially after spending nearly 10 years of my life as a professional free surfer. Travelling the world, surfing every day - if the waves allowed. Now I surf at weekends, soon to be some evenings, or the odd occasion my husband has a day off in the week, but it’s not a patch on the amount I used to surf.

For the first couple of months, I didn’t even think about surfing, I didn’t feel ready to surf, I felt weak and overwhelmed by the major life change and exercising wasn’t top of my life of priorities. However, when I reached three months, I started to feel a little more like myself and ready to get back on my board. I still didn’t feel particularly fit and strong but I felt ready to give surfing a go. It’s not easy juggling being a mum, especially when work, seeing your friends, spending time with your partner, family, attending baby groups, let alone trying to fit surfing into the mix. It’s hard work and something that requires a lot of adjustment, but recently I have realised that parents become amazing and learning how to juggle multiple things. Life may time a lot more organisation, pre planning and motivation but once the dust has settled over those first couple of months, life starts to gain some normality and most start to find the time to surf. I certainly did, all be it every now and again, I still found the time and now try and make the time to surf.

I am going to share some of the things I do and try to do to keep my water time up. By no means do I surf as much as I did pre motherhood, but it’s enough to keep me happy and isn’t that the main reason why we all surf?

Watch the swell

First up keep your eyes on the swell charts. When the surf looks good, try to arrange some childcare in advance. Even just a couple of hours on the day let looks best for you.
Take it in turns

If your other half surfs or if you’re solo parenting get another friend with kids to help out. The idea is that one of you surfs first, while the other looks after the child/children, then when their surf time is time, it’s time to switch around and the other person surfs. For example my husband likes to surf at low, where as I am happier with mid tide, so we tend to share the surf that way.
Join a club

Join a surf club that hit the waves once a week or if there isn’t one in your area, make one! Giving yourself that regular, weekly surf time will ensure you get in whatever the conditions.
Surf Holidays

Find the right location, that is child friendly with waves on the doorstep and book a holiday or weekend get away. This was you can surf as much or as little as you want and your children can enjoy the beach, while you enjoy the surf.

One thing I have learned to do since having my son, is to remove the pressure I used to put on myself to surf all the time. I now enjoy the waves when I can and that’s enough for me. If I can surf once a week that’s been the dream week, if it’s only once a month, that’s better than no surfing for a month in my eyes. So try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Your life is meant to change but you’re also not meant to stop doing the things you love. So find the time, make the time, and enjoy the things your did pre baby. In my opinion the more mothers in particular do this, the happier we become as mothers. I have found, it’s all about having balance, and not forgetting who you used to be before you had kids.

Keep up to date with Corinne at @CORINNEEVANS | @RADMUMCLUB

Photos by Ben Battell.

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