Professional freediver Ruth Osborn reflects on how Surf Sistas’ White to Green course helped her reset her surfing, wipe out bad habits and fall in love with the sport all over again
After more than four years out of the water, I had a choice: paddle back out and pick up where I’d left off, or take the opportunity to start again – properly. I’d surfed around the world, logged plenty of time in the ocean and built up a lot of experience … along with a lot of bad habits. This time, instead of pushing straight for “where I thought I should be,” I stepped back. I went back to the white water, back to basics, back onto a soft board – and onto Surf Sistas’ White to Green course. What I didn’t expect was that this step back would be the thing that finally unlocked my surfing
Going back to basics didn’t set me back – it gave me my love of surfing back
RUTH OSBORN
The first time I went to surf was at the end of 2011 in Morocco, I was in my early 30’s. I thought by the end of the week I’d be surfing, just like in the pictures – ha, how wrong could I be?! Even though I was mostly smashed by the ocean in the white water for the whole week (there was a massive swell – ‘worst conditions ever for learning’ my instructor said) I was hooked, I loved it.
From then on, until the end of 2019 my time was spent working in the summer and travelling and surfing in the winter. I surfed and lived in the places surfing dreams are made of – Morocco, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Bali, Maldives, Mexico, Baja California… During that time I picked up a lot of knowledge, skills and experience, did some surf retreats and had a bit of coaching here and there. Surfing a lot solo I also picked up A LOT of bad habits and became pretty stuck in my surfing.
In 2020 my focus went fully into freediving, which I’d started in 2015, and until now all my energy, time and money went into freediving. But my love for surfing remained and I’ve really missed it. Finally June 2025 presented me with the opportunity to surf again and rather than go back in the water by myself and carry on doing what I’d always done, I decided to get some coaching with Surf Sistas.
First I jumped on Surf Sistas White to Green week.
In all my surfing to date I hadn’t really spent much time in the white water. Now, coming back to surfing after a long break, I saw an opportunity to start anew. My mindset and approach this time was different and I was open and receptive to listen and to learn (in the past I hadn’t been). So hello beach pop-ups, wave formation theory, how to paddle, where to take the wave… a foam board, Surf Sistas signature striped rash vest and white water practices.
I learnt SO much, and had a great time as well. Ego was well and firmly pushed aside, I was here to learn, to improve and to have fun and I did all those things thanks to the brilliance of Surf Sistas coaches and team.
Surfing a beach break is way harder than reef or points, and my lack of skill in reading messy waves gave me some frustration. All those surfers you see that can catch and ride any bit of mush on any board – they have serious skills.
Learning anything can have its moments of frustration and in those moments I reminded myself it’s ok to be a learner, that I’m here to improve and it’s ok to not get it right instantly or all the time so long as there’s progress at the end of each session.
The result after five days of surfing, theory, video analysis and in water feedback – I had improved massively, and I was stoked for surfing all over again. I was loving being a beginner and the things I was learning made total sense as to why I was stuck in my surfing before. Sometimes the perceived ‘step-back’ is the best step we can take for our progression.
White to Green wasn’t about starting again – it was about finally understanding what I’d missed
Ruth Osborn
From White to Green I jumped straight onto a Surf Sistas Surf & Yoga Weekend and continued to implement what I’d been learning on the White to Green week.
Learning is not always easy or fun, and on one session I didn’t even catch any waves. I reminded myself that I was progressing in many other areas and that there is a lot more to surfing than ‘just’ the catching of waves. Also it was great being with a group of women in the water, I really enjoyed the group environment rather than going out to surf by myself.
While I didn’t join the Yoga over the weekend, I had done a drop in class at the Zen Den the previous week and the setting there is stunning – yoga in a yurt overlooking the spectacular Watergate Bay was a much needed treat for body and mind after all the work in the water.
The Surf and Yoga weekend came to an end and for my second week in Newquay I opted for a few private coaching sessions. With one on one coaching we dialled in the things I needed to focus on and with video analysis I could clearly see both where I was improving and the things that still needed work.
Surf Sistas coaches are top of their game. As a coach myself I LOVE when I experience (or see) other coaches so passionate, invested and stoked for their students progress.
Will I be back for more? You bet! My time with Surf Sistas has been THE BEST. I feel like I’ve returned to surfing wiser and with a better tool kit for learning, progression and for fun!! I’m excited for how my surfing is going to progress now, and for sure it needs to be a regular part of my year and I hope to be mixing up surf trips with Surf Sistas coaching.
Some things I have learnt during my time with Surf Sistas…
- My pop up feels totally different
- I’m taking waves in a calmer more controlled manner
- I’m able to read waves as they form better (thanks to being on a beach break) and also pick waves in less than perfect conditions
- My paddling has better technique
- My positioning on the board is better
- I have better knowledge of how to take waves in different conditions.
- And as a result I’m taking more waves which = more fun!!
If any of this sounds familiar – feeling stuck, frustrated, or like your surfing should be better than it is – White to Green might be the step back you didn’t know you needed. It’s not about starting from scratch; it’s about rebuilding the foundations that make everything else easier, calmer and more fun. For me, it completely changed how I surf and how I learn. And the result? More waves, more confidence, and a genuine excitement to get back in the water – every single time.
A huge thank you to Ruth Osborn for trusting us with her surfing journey this Summer and for kindly sharing her experiences with us for this blog. When she is not surfing Ruth is a professional free-diver and 4 times UK national record holder. You can follow her inspiring adventures on instagram here.
