Helena Richardson - Women's Soulful Surf
Britt JamesIf you’ve ever stood at the edge of the ocean and felt something shift inside you Helena Richardson gets it.
The founder of Women Soulful Surf, Helena created more than a surf school or retreat business. She built a sanctuary. One where women come to remember who they are, laugh loudly, wipe out, rise again, and feel safe doing it all.
From Poland to Caves Beach, her journey is filled with courage, kindness, and community spirit. Since 2020, she’s held space for thousands of women to move through waves and self-doubt, turning nervous first-timers into ocean lovers and surf sisters.
In this Sista Talks we dive into how surfing became Helena’s soul work, what healing/ empowerment looks like in motion, and why creating space for other women to rise is her life’s biggest wave yet.
Helena, can you take us back to the moment Soulful Surf was born? What sparked the idea?
Women Soulful Surf was born out of my own surfing journey. I learned to surf in Bali, where I lived for a year back in 2015–2016. I started as an adult, at 30 years old, and it completely changed my life.
When I moved to Australia and began surfing again after having my son, I was struck by how male-dominated the surf culture was - especially living in a small coastal town. I knew I wanted to see more women in the water.
At the end of 2019, I created a Facebook group called *Women Soulful Surf* to connect with other female surfers in the area. Many of them were really keen to surf but didn’t have much experience or support.
A few months later, I planned a Surf & Yoga Retreat - a more structured way to help women start or return to surfing. As a yoga teacher, I teamed up with a female surf coach who was meant to lead the surfing side. We planned it for April 2020, and when I shared the event online, the response was overwhelming. It was clear there were so many women who wanted to surf, but lacked a safe, supportive space to learn.
That first retreat sold out quickly - but it never happened, as we went into lockdown. During those months, I kept working behind the scenes to find a way to make it more accessible and local. I eventually connected with two incredible local female surf coaches, and when restrictions eased in August 2020, we launched our first Mini Retreats, classes, and programs.
From there, it grew into something much bigger than I ever imagined.
You’ve welcomed thousands of women into your programs and retreats - what’s one transformation that really stuck with you?
It’s so hard to choose just one. The most powerful transformations are always the ones where I see women move through deep self-doubt and start to truly shine - in the surf and in their everyday lives. I’ve been lucky to witness that many times, and each one feels just as awe-inspiring as the first.
What role did the ocean play in your own personal growth?
When I first decided to learn to surf, I was actually terrified of waves. Growing up in Poland, I only saw the ocean every few years - small, wind-blown waves that never made me feel confident in the water.
So learning to surf was a huge step in facing my fears - but also, something about it just captivated me.
Surfing has taught me so much: how to be patient, kind to myself, how to stop comparing, and how to trust the process. It helped me realise that I’m capable of achieving anything I dream of - both in and out of the water.
You talk about community spirit a lot - what does that mean to you, especially in surf culture?
I believe that everything we love becomes even more meaningful when we share it with others. Surfing is often seen as a solo pursuit - just you and the wave - but when you open your heart and your space to others, something magical happens.
To me, community spirit means lifting each other up, sharing joy and challenges, and creating a space where everyone feels welcome and supported. That’s the true heart of Women Soulful Surf.
How do you help women move through fear - whether it’s fear of waves or fear of being seen?
We all want to feel safe, and deep down, we all want to be seen and celebrated. But that can only happen when we give ourselves permission to feel it all.
Fear in surfing can come from many places - and it’s important to understand where it's coming from. If you’re scared of big waves, that might be a very real and valid fear. Maybe you don’t yet have the skills or experience for those conditions - and that’s okay. I never encourage pushing through fear just for the sake of it.
But if your fear is about not looking good enough or being judged - that’s where I’ll help you rewrite the story. I’ll be right there cheering you on, reminding you that you are perfect as you are, right now.
How has your experience as an immigrant shaped your approach to leadership and building inclusive spaces?
I moved to Australia for love and never plan to stay long-term - but life has a beautiful way of surprising us. I’ve been here since 2016, and I feel so lucky to call this place home.
When I started Soulful Surf five years ago, there weren’t many surf lessons, events, or retreats just for women. Opening a female-only surf school in a small town felt like a radical move at the time - it was almost an act of rebellion. But I knew how important it was to give women permission to take up space in the ocean, to rewrite the roles and reclaim their joy.
Coming from a different background - without that ingrained surf culture - actually helped. I had fresh eyes, a different perspective, and the freedom to bring all my “crazy” ideas to life.
What does a truly supportive surf space feel like?
A supportive space is one where you can be fully yourself - no judgment, no expectations. It’s a place where you’re welcomed and celebrated no matter your age, background, skin colour, or experience level.
What’s your go-to way to reset your own energy after a big retreat or a full week of holding space?
If I’m honest - I don’t really have one! And I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone, haha. It’s something I’m still working on. I find it hard to fully disconnect from work, and having a family means I often go straight from a retreat back into mum-mode with my son.
Is there a mantra or reminder you find yourself repeating often - to yourself or to the women you coach?
There are two that are really close to my heart:
“All the answers lie within yourself” - a beautiful reminder that we already hold the wisdom we need.
“Everything is as it’s meant to be” - especially during tough times, this helps me trust the process, even when things don’t make sense in the moment.
What’s your vision for the next chapter of Soulful Surf?
Our Caves Beach Surf School and our Retreats are the heart of what we do - and they’ll always be there for our local community and for women from all over the world.
The next chapter is all about bringing that same empowerment and transformation to even more women - wherever they are. I recently launched my first online course focused on surf progression and mindset.
Over the past five years, I’ve learned that mindset plays such a huge role in surfing. You can have all the techniques in the world, but if you’re held back by fear or doubt, you’ll stay stuck. The only way to move forward is to move through those mental blocks.
I’m so excited to share everything I’ve learned and help more women feel confident, strong, and empowered - both in the ocean and in life. Because we all deserve to live boldly and make our dreams real.