Amiga Kate Herrin joined us at the Nicaragua Tube Riding Clinic this fall feeling a mix of first retreat jitters and underlying stoke. Like many surfers, Kate acknowledges that the biggest barrier to progress and confidence, both in and out of the water, is directly linked to negative self-talk and the narratives we tell ourselves. What Kate discovered in Nicaragua underscored just how powerful uplifting, supportive community can be, especially in the surfing world. What follows is a recount of her first ever retreat experience in Nicaragua and a few of her biggest takeaways. 

Here’s Kate-

Like most sports, the thing that has the greatest impact on your surf game is your mental state. It’s a deeply personal experience. Everyone progresses differently, paddles out for a different reason, has varying goals, styles, and ideas of where they are in the broad spectrum of skill. Our surf life is as nuanced as our personal life and our mentality as impactful. If you paddle out lacking confidence, there’s a good chance you’ll have more wipeouts, missed waves, and end up having a negative experience. And just like on land, it can be tempting to get hypercritical in the water.

That tendency is often worsened by our constant access to other people’s carefully curated lives on the internet and social media. It’s easy to be convinced that their highlight reels are our new standard. Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to watch someone catch a beautiful ride. But, when we stack ourselves against those moments, the comparisons and heightened expectations turn into the ultimate thieves of joy. It’s important for us not to lose focus on that radiant, loving feeling that brought us to the water in the first place – to remember that our place in the lifelong journey of surfing is evolving perfectly along with us.

When I first came across the Surf With Amigas Instagram page several years ago, I felt an immediate pull. There was something intensely authentic about it. Every retreat option looked like a dream trip I’d envisioned when I was a bright-eyed teen paddling out for the first time. I could imagine myself just soaking it all in someplace warm and beautiful, surrounded by echoes of laughter and joy. After a lot of deliberation and narrowing down, I landed on a retreat in Nicaragua, set for intermediate to advanced riders. Regardless of how buzzed I was to be going, I still wondered if I’d somehow embarrass myself or if maybe I was less deserving of flinging myself after this dream. I almost felt phoney to say I was an intermediate surfer. Surely, there would be women a lot more experienced and dedicated than me… more deserving of the designation and the trip in general.

After arriving in Nicaragua, it didn’t take long to overcome those thoughts. Within 24 hours of being there, any fears I had of not being enough had faded into oblivion. The imposter was gone and the bright-eyed, stoked grom stood in her place. I can’t think of a time I’ve ever met a more welcoming, jazzed, and genuinely supportive group of people in my life. It felt like I had lucked into finding this beautiful, matriarchal enigma overflowing with mindfulness, love, and encouragement. It catapulted any feelings of inadequacy I had into space. 

There were specific ingredients that combined to make this trip so uniquely transformative. Below are some of the things I considered the most impactful. These are takeaways that I carried away with me, that helped me get over any negativity and swept me into a new sense of belonging and confidence in both my internal and surfing worlds: 

1. The Amiga Agreement – Be fully present, ground yourself in the now, be kind to and respect yourself and others, and be willing to send and receive lots of waves of love. It was so important to be open to letting these core intentions set the tone for the entire trip and honestly, life in general. They are gentle yet powerful reminders that how we approach ourselves and each other shapes our entire experience in the surf and in “the real world.”

2. Nourish your mind, body, and soul everyday – Each day is thoughtfully designed with compassionate surf coaching, restorative yoga, wholesome meals, and shared activities that feed your energy, focus, and nourish a sense of belonging. It’s curated to lift you up and it’s important to let it. Mental nourishment is also imperative. Negative self-talk is poison for the mind. It can be so tempting to try to diminish ourselves and self-deprecate but learning to rephrase in those moments and approach ourselves with kindness and positivity is truly life-changing.

3. Set micro-goals – Whether you’re learning to ride the line or gearing up for your first overhead barrel, remember that progress happens one step at a time. Listening to your coaches and trying one new maneuver or improvement per session keeps you present and allows progress to feel exciting rather than overwhelming and pressured.

4. Let fear inform you, not control you – Fear is acknowledged, honored, and when approached correctly, can be wholly transformative. Allow your fears to become a guide. Don’t be afraid to open yourself up about what fears are holding you back with your coaches, your fellow amigas, or even just yourself. Expansion is gently encouraged but never forced and being willing to explore these feelings may just lead you to discover something new and beautiful about yourself.

5. Waves of love and tangible stoke – There’s always someone sending you waves of love, cheering for you, celebrating every small win, and lifting you back up after every wipeout. That genuine enthusiasm is contagious – accept it, share it with the people around you and watch the world around and inside of you flourish. Sharing your kindness, love, and your stoke freely as well as being willing to accept it from others will nurture your perception of yourself and the people around you in a way that nothing else can. Allow it to become a practice in and out of the water.

By the end of my trip, I felt lighter, braver, more confident, and full of love. I made life-long friends, grew more in a week than I ever knew possible, and shared moments I’ll never forget. I learned that surfing is much less about how well I’m performing and so much more about sharing in the bliss and enjoying the ride. If you’re hesitating or second-guessing yourself, I hope you take the leap – paddle out with confidence, embrace the waves of love, and send it.

No matter your surfing level, Surf With Amigas offers unique experiences that meet you wherever you’re at. Want to experience it for yourself? Check out our all-levels surf retreats in Nicaragua!