Building a surf culture & community rooted in joy, inclusion, & self-empowerment.

Our Mission

Based on unceded Ohlone land, known today as oakland, california, Brown Girl Surf works to cultivate a surf culture rooted in collective power, equity, love, and reverence for the Earth. We do this by deepening community wellbeing, amplifying a narrative of abundance, increasing access to the ocean, and centering the intuitive knowledge of girls, women, and gender expansive people of color.

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Important Announcements!

participants gather around a surfboard on the beach

It’s almost time for our community surf days!

This season, Brown Girl Surf will be offering meetup days on the beach and in the lineup for larger community gatherings. These programs are meant to reflect the bountiful harvests of Fall, and build upon the skills we learned in Spring and Summer.

Learn more

brown girl surfers gather in a circle on the beach with their fists raised

What’s the latest in our journey to surf equity?

Learn more about the most recent happenings in our Pacifica Beach campaign.

As we move further along the path to surf equity, we find ourselves setting the stage for growing beach access along the whole coast of California!

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Culture Creation Through our Programs

BROWN GIRL SURF IS COMITTED TO CREATING A SURF CULTURE WHERE ALL PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, INCLUDED, AND self-EMPOWERED. SOMETIMES THIS LOOKS LIKE HOLDING COMMUNITY SURF EVENTS, OTHER TIMES IT LOOKS LIKE ADVOCATING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES OR FIGHTING FOR EQUITABLE BEACH ACCESS.

Our programs create a path towards a surf culture that celebrates our diverse experience as girls*, women*, and gender-expansive people of color – placing joy, community, and environmental reverence at the center – so that more of us can benefit from engaging in ocean play and connection.

Work with Us

Volunteer with Us

Group of surfers in black wetsuits in ocean with mountains behind

Newbie
Surf Program

OUR GENTLE INTRO PROGRAM!

Soul Surfer
Surf Program

Explore all surf programs

reignited my relationship with water

“In Rising Leaders, I not only reignited my relationship with water and the ocean, but I was able to connect with BGS’s magical community which helped me feel seen, strong, and important.”

Indigo Eatmon

CIT/Rising Leader

Constant positivity, compassion and sisterhood

“Volunteering with BGS has been more rewarding than I could have imagined. Creating an inclusive space in the surf community, with a broad range of women and girls who are committed to and celebrate each other, the environment, and surfing has been such a wonderful part of my life. I am in awe of the constant positivity, compassion and sisterhood of the young women I’ve met through BGS.”

Jamila Hubbard

Volunteer

Brown Girl Surf opened up a whole new world for me

“I never thought I would be in love with the ocean. I grew up around it but for most of my life I didn’t know how to swim so I just avoided it. Brown Girl Surf opened up a whole new world for me, I conquered my fears in ways I didn’t know I could and developed a confidence within myself that can never be taken away. All of this while learning how to surf and meeting such incredible female surfers continues to be one of the greatest experiences of my life.”

Nishan Jones

Intern

A Formative Time

“BGS has been an amazing experience that I think, one day, Sayre will look back on as a formative time. She has met such amazing, wonderful women and also made friends that I think she will grow up with. I wish every young woman could have such incredible and cool role models at this age. Thanks to all of you for your time, energy and wonderfulness.”

Leisha Fry

Mother of a Rising Leader youth

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I register for a private surf lesson?
Do you offer gift cards for surf programs?
I do not identify as a person of color / BIPOC, can I still participate?
Yes! BGS does not exclude anyone on the basis of identity – however, we acknowledge and work to dismantle systems of oppression founded on the idea of race, especially those present in today’s surf culture. We want BGS to be a space for inclusion and allyship! Our space centers the experiences of BIPOC participants and leaders and we uplift and amplify BIPOC voices in our community. If you are curious about how you might show up in this space as a participant and ally, feel free to peruse our POWER & PRIVILEGE community guidelines which all our staff + volunteers are trained with.
I identify as a cis male, can I still participate?
Our space centers the experiences of female identifying, gender-nonconforming, and femme of center participants and leaders. Our staff and volunteer base is 100% female identifying or gender-nonconforming and we facilitate through this lens. BGS does not exclude anyone on the basis of gender identity – however, we do acknowledge the power dynamics between cis males and non cis males, especially those present in surf culture. If you feel like this space will make you feel safe, included, and seen, we welcome you to participate. We expect participants of dominant identities to show up in this space as an ally and participant – please read our POWER & PRIVILEGE community guidelines if you’re curious on how you might be expected to show up.