Why I Surf - Winia Tatko

When Sally asked me to share with her and the Yonder community on why I surf, I felt like a fraud – I currently don’t. I am currently pregnant with my first baby and haven’t been in the water for a while now. But then even now, I still watch the surf camera, check the forecast or just go for a stroll to see the rolling, breaking waves and I do feel so much better for it. There are just some habits that are too good to let go of.

My surfing story is perhaps a little unusual. Even I am surprised that I somehow got myself into it. Growing up in the south of Poland, nowhere near the sea, being not the most confident swimmer and with hands and feet that don’t tolerate cold very well – surfing doesn’t seem the most obvious of hobbies. However, I grew up with three brothers who always challenged me and being naturally quite athletic and rather competitive, I threw myself into any sport that I could (with varying degree of success). From volleyball, to handball, to skiing, boxing, or sprinting – there were some sports that I had tried once or twice, and others that I continued. So, when I moved to the North East of England, I tried surfing and loved it, but it was going to be just another sport ‘I tried’ and was going to forget about.

This was until I met my husband. He initially downplayed his obsession with surfing (probably trying not to scare me off), and to be honest I didn’t quite understand how much of his / our lives would become surf centred. I first got ‘hooked’ on becoming a part of the surfing / coastal community in Tynemouth in the summer of 2015. I came to watch and cheer on the contestants of the “Foamie fest” – a fun, charitable event which included a surf competition as well as an assault course. With music blasting and waves rolling in, I was introduced to a lot of people, who I can now proudly call my friends. So, I was intrigued and fascinated by the coastal living – but I was still not a surfer then.

I had been warned at this point that surfing can be all consuming, and even with a new blossoming relationship – if the surf looks good – this will be given the priority. I was tempted to join in and try it out again but felt a little apprehensive about it. I was a complete beginner and there were hardly any girls in the sea… it didn’t feel like I belonged with the male-heavy surfing crew.

As the months went by, we were planning our first big holiday together. It came to my attention that we were mainly looking at places with a good surf scene in Europe and I quickly realised that most of our holidays were going to involve surfing or be to coastal locations ‘in case there is surf’. This is where I decided my new mantra “If you can’t beat them, join them” - I was determined not to become a ‘surf widow’ and started to commit myself to the journey. I am not going to lie, the beginnings were pretty ropey, and include myself underestimating the power of the sea and overestimating my own abilities on a very rippy day in Portugal.. But then I humbled, started to listen to the advice of my new surfing pals and became so hooked, I was soon getting in by myself, before work, after work, whenever I could, and was forever looking into where else in the world we can go and surf.

When I think of what surfing still gives me, in one word it would be ‘joy’. I have never regretted getting in. Even the worst of surfs have some learning points, push my body or humble me. But the best sessions – pure joy. The stoke from catching a wave, learning a new turn, overcoming my own fears and being able to appreciate the world from a different viewpoint – it really is something special.

I have been very lucky that in a relatively short period of time, I have been able to travel and surf. Whether it was exotic Nicaragua, cold Scotland, bustling Spain or green Ireland – being able to soak in the sights of a new coastline from the middle of the sea or the ocean is something magical. To avoid rambling any further and sum it up – I surf because I love the activity as much as I love being in the water, chatting to friends and appreciating nature. I feel like sometimes, it is an escape from my busy job, sometimes it is my social outing, another time it is mainly to get my heart rate going and get my body moving.

And even though I currently don’t surf, I really can’t wait to get back in. I am already dreaming of that excitement of seeing a set and running towards the water and catching a wave. And I can’t wait to show my baby some exciting places as a by-product of our surf escapes, and hopefully one day surfing will bring them joy too!

Winia’s Husband Alex Tatko on a Yonder 7’6 singlefin.