How it started!

Meet Jess Laing – Founder & Head Coach

Hi! I’m Jess Laing, founder of Girls On Board. Growing up on Phillip Island, I fell in love with the ocean, surfing, and the lifestyle that comes with it. I caught my first wave at age four in Byron Bay, and I’ve never looked back.

Surfing became a big part of my life early on. Inspired by my dad and older brother’s competitive surfing, I decided at eight years old that I wanted to compete too. I spent the next 10 years training, surfing, and balancing school -despite being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue at age 12. Surfing wasn’t just a sport for me; it was my therapy and my happy place.

In 2008, I was part of a lifestyle documentary called ‘First Love’, which toured Australia and screened internationally. After a shoulder injury and reconstruction during filming, I returned to surfing with a renewed perspective - focused on fun and the love of the waves rather than competition.

Surfing has taken me around the world and given me so much, and I wanted to share that passion with others. Watching women’s surfing grow, I realised there still wasn’t enough support for girls starting out. I wanted to create a surf school that focused on empowering girls, while still welcoming guys.

In 2012, I turned this dream into reality with Girls On Board. My hope is that, if you give it a go, surfing will give you as much as it’s given me!