HEALTH HERO
SARAH BUCKLEY, 47
When Sarah first tried surfing, it ended with a dramatic rescue. Undaunted, paddling out into the waves is now her source of health and emotional balance.
What happened that first time? I was so excited that I grabbed my board and paddled out, thinking I was a pro, but I hadn’t realised how dangerous Bronte Beach [in Sydney] can be. Within minutes, I was drifting towards New Zealand! One of the other surfers came and rescued me. Ironically, on our way back to shore, I caught a wave and stood up!
What kept you going back? At the time, I had two tween-age kids and a new baby. I had a girlfriend who surfed and we were both in that post-baby phase of going, “I’m at home,
I’m exhausted, I’m grumpy, I need to do something here!” So each morning she would just show up and say, “Right, let’s get in the water!” – rain, hail or shine. Having her there gave me a routine. And that was the start of my surfing adventures. Having the guts to actually do it made me feel so excited. It was the tonic that gave me pep in my step every day and filled me with energy, and I thought, I want to share this!
So you started surfing holidays for women? Yes, I’d heard about men going on surf trips and I thought: We girls have got to do this for ourselves. I started what’s become The Sun Tribe (thesuntribe.com.au). But on our trips, we’re not going out on a boat with beers, we’re going to a lovely resort, having massages and sleeping in beautiful sheets.
How has surfing impacted your health? Surfing is a type of meditation. Sitting out there on the ocean, there are no kids, no washing, no dramas; it’s just you, looking out onto the horizon and seeing the odd whale pop up, and feeling very at peace. That’s why I want to share it with others, because I’m a huge advocate for mental health for women. We tend to put ourselves last but my message is: Take care of yourself first; put your oxygen mask on first and the rest will follow.