Boards, Bruises, and Belonging: The Importance of Friendship in Surfing & Skateboarding

Siren Section was built on friendship - what does that mean?

When Amber and Bo first met at the surf shop, then later again out surfing, they began spending more time together helping one another improve their skills. Lake surfing can be incredibly challenging. Surfers have to coordinate with the weather, the landscape, the powerful waves... let alone your own surfing ability. However, when Amber and Bo faced the lake together, they created a safe space for themselves and others to grow. 

For the two gals, friendship always comes first. 

Like strong waves on the lake, life always feels like a battle. When you have extra pressure to succeed, improve, or challenge yourself, it feels more stressful than enjoyable. In a friendship, you're never alone. Amber and Bo, with the trust they've developed over the years, lean on one another no matter how difficult something may feel at the moment. 

At Siren, we emphasize the importance of friendship. Surfers and skaters understand the persistence required for each sport. It's hard to learn a new trick. It's painful taking a board to the shin or the head. Sometimes we enjoy the machine washing of a wave, or humbling ourselves with cement. People who've experienced similar moments can empathize and lift you back up onto your feet. 

Doing the sports alone is absolutely attainable, but the people you surf or skate with become an extended support system - a community. 

So, what's next?

At each event, our co-founders encourage participants to meet someone new and exchange contact information to venture out together. To grow our friendship muscle, it takes time, investment, and new memories. Therefore, we begin to see new comfort in our community. 

Finally, friendship takes patience. We may not click with all those we meet. That's okay. We encounter our best of friends at odd times like when they're being fitted for a wetsuit.