BlueBound Women is the first global community celebrating and empowering diverse girls and women who love the water.
We connect women across borders - online and in real life - to build confidence, visibility, and belonging in watersports.
Hi, I'm Char!
It's 2004. Destiny's Child is on the radio and the iPod Nano has just come out. I'm a teenager discovering windsurfing, wakeboarding and kitesurfing. I'm often one of the only girls there, and I wonder if I'll ever be any good.
I still remember flicking through watersports magazines on the way to the beach, wondering where all the women were. There were almost none, apart from the occasional bikini advert at the back.
Fifteen years later in 2019, after an injury I was slowly finding my way back into the water with paddleboarding. But I realised very little had changed, and honestly felt pretty fed up.
After one conversation with a friend, I stopped asking why someone else wasn't representing diverse women in the water, and decided to build it myself.
It was at this moment that BlueBound Women was born!
Why it matters
Getting into watersports isn't only about learning a skill.
For many women, it's navigating spaces where they don't see themselves represented, wondering if they belong.
Too often, the images we see don't reflect the reality of beginners, different bodies, different ages and different lives.
So we're building the community we wished already existed.
Today
BlueBound is only just getting started.
What started as one idea has grown into a global community of more than 4,000 women, with an online membership, meetups around Barcelona, BlueBound Buddies, inspiring Conversations, and interviews with women including six-time Para Surfing World Champion Victoria Feige and South Africa's first Black female freediving instructor, Zandile Ndhlovu.
Along the way, we've met incredible women who have inspired us, and watched others form friendships and cheer each other on.
We are so excited for what the future holds, and can't wait to meet you, too!
Our mission is to empower girls and women to get in the water, feel confident, and belong - no matter their age, background, body, identity, or experience.
Meet our Ambassadors
Meet the women doing their thing in the water, breaking barriers simply by showing up and being themselves.
Ivia
Australia
Ivia is happiest on the water, whether she's teaching windsurfing, getting smashed wakeboarding or out surfing. She is full of energy, smiles and loves encouraging more women to have fun in the water.
Coralie
UK
Coralie is an outdoor swimmer who loves being immersed in nature. Through cold water, open spaces and pushing through discomfort, she's learnt to appreciate her body for what it can do. She's currently taking on the English Channel, and we're all cheering her on!
Thea
Australia
Thea is a passionate surfer who's currently learning her first cross steps. More than a sport, surfing has helped her build confidence, push beyond fear and find connection - and she's passionate about helping others feel the same.
Partners
