More Women Surf: Miranda Rico

Today I have with me in the studio Miranda Rico, who is the media director for More Women's Surf. Thanks for coming in today. Yeah, thank you so much for having me, Lisa. So I'm interested in more women's surf because it's an organization that seems to have evolved over time. It seems like it was initially main women surf. Yes. And you've now broadened out the the mission by starting with a title, actually. Yes. So tell me a little bit about that. Yeah, absolutely. So, um, so originally Maine Women's Surf sort of began as the brainchild of one of our co-founders, Pam Pamela Chavez, and her, along with our other co-founder Brit Dahlberg, um, sort of took this idea of an inclusive, um, Maine centered space for female surfers. And, uh, quickly realized that it sort of needed to span, um, sort of a demographic that is larger than Maine. And so thus Maine Women's Surf was sort of reinvented to become more women's surf. Um, so as not to, you know, pigeonhole ourselves into not being able to reach a broader audience just simply because of the title. My understanding is it's, it's people who identify as women and it's people who are, um, you're trying to be very inclusive sort of across the board, not just Maine and elsewhere, but also really anybody who would like to be part of this, um, organization. Yes, yes, that is correct. Um, and you know, so when we were first sort of figuring out how this surf coalition collective, uh, was going to look like our demographic was, uh, women and anyone that identified as a woman or any non-binary folk that wanted to be a part of this collective, um, and we quickly realized that although our target audience was women and specifically women of color, um, just because of the historical marginalization of that particular group, um, we then decided to take a look back and say, okay, you know, we are trying to reach this target audience, but can we reach more people and are there more groups that need, um, access to these safe spaces that we are essentially putting into place? Um, so it originated as reaching women, reaching women of color, and then we took a look at, okay, let's look at the black indigenous people of color demographic as a whole and not necessarily just women. Let's look at the refugee demographic, not necessarily just women. Um, and even recently we've been having a lot of conversations of, you know, what is, what is uh, the Ally's place in all of this. And so even just over the course of the last six months, we've sort of been changing our language, um, so that even, you know, if it's a cis white male but who's supportive and wants to be a part and support the mission, we are absolutely not turning anyone down, um, simply because of their gender or expression. As long as they help us continue to cultivate the safe space that we are creating, everyone is welcome. And how are people finding you? How are people learning about your organization and the work that you're doing? Originally, I think it was social media, um, and I know that that still plays a large role. Um, Instagram of course, you know, creates such a wide access point for advertising and everything like that. Um, but as time has gone on, we've realized that it's become a lot more word of mouth. Um, and we also host, um, meetups where members of the community can come together and actually meet each other face to face. Um, and so a lot of it has become through community building, um, activities and things like that. And, um, it was actually funny. So today is National Donut Day, if you do not know. And um, my mom texted me this morning and asked if I could pick up HiFi Donuts. And so I called in my order, um, and I was on my way in from a surf lesson this morning and I was like, Hey, do you mind if I pay, uh, over the phone cuz I'm gonna be coming in my wetsuit? And she was like, oh, did you just get out of the water? I said, yeah, I surfed this morning. And she said, are you with that group More women surf? And I was like, actually I am. That's so funny. And so I think, you know, it's really cool to see how wide the reach has become, um, just over the course of the last year and I think it's even bigger than any of us sort of realize. Um, but that reach is growing and that bodes well for us being able to access and reach our target audiences more and more. What Kind of donuts did you get? I did Dealer's Choice and I let them pick a dozen donuts. So, um, I'm actually not sure I dropped it off at my family's and I hope, hope they're happy with the choices. , you have a large family that you come from? Yes, I do. I am the oldest of six kids. Um, which, you know, saying out loud, I think I've become a little bit jaded to the number six and I'm like, oh, it's not that much. But you know, to kind of the average Joe if you will, that's kind of a lot of kids. Um, and so I think, um, yeah, people are usually like, oh my god, that's crazy. But to me it's just, it's normal. That's life and it's a lot of fun. I definitely wouldn't have had it any other way. And um, I think like my siblings, uh, contributed largely to a lot of like who I am and sort of like my natural, uh, leadership tendencies. Um, and yeah, it's a lot of fun. It's never, there's never a dull moment at the house . So one of the reasons why I'm, uh, I'm interested in the large family aspect. As you probably know, I'm the oldest of 10 children and so for our family, um, growing up in, in the suburb of Portland that we grew up in Yarmouth, I know you grew up in North Yarmouth, it was a little unusual I think once you get above four, right? Let's just say Yep. As a random number. Um, and it does, it creates a really interesting dynamic and there is, you called it leadership. I think at some point in my experience it was more like herding . I dunno if it was leading so much. Yes. But, um, do your brothers and sisters get out on the water? They don't get out on the water a ton and they've been bugging me for like the past few seasons now they're like, please take me out surfing. Please take me out surfing. And so I've promised a lot of my siblings that I would take them out this year. And I think that there is a certain skillset that you need to be able to actually teach someone how to surf. Um, you know, you can sort of give them a board and give them the general idea and be like, good luck. But then it's an entirely different experience to actually be able to explain like, you know, this is the physics of a wave and this is, um, you know, like this is what you wanna watch out for, this is what you want to be mindful of. And so in my experience with more women's surf over the last year with all of our surf clinics that we've given, I have been in the water taking photos, um, of these lessons. And so it's sort of afforded me the experience and the knowledge to feel comfortable taking someone out surfing. Um, and actually, excuse me, sort of teaching someone, um, how to surf, which has been Fun. And sometimes being a a teacher of someone in your own family can be a little more challenging than trying to be a teacher or someone not in your own family. Yes, absolutely. Um, I think with, you know, the comfortability, especially of being in a loud family as all bigger families, I think tend to be, you know, um, people are quick to talk back, which can kind of be a fun dynamic sometimes. But I think also as the oldest sibling, especially towards my younger siblings, I'm sort of like a, and you know, it's, it's all jokes. I've sort of become like a third parent almost. And so I think that there is a certain amount of respect that I've certain like just kind of commandeered without even meaning to just based on my rank. And I certainly don't try to abuse that anymore. I think I used to when I was younger and I would get, you know, you're so bossy and all that fun stuff, but yeah, it's Fun. Do you think that the leadership that you engaged in, in your family helped you feel more confident as far as joining a new or newish organization and being the media director and trying to get the word out and trying to bring something to fruition that hadn't really existed the same way previously? You know, I would say that those leadership skills definitely, uh, translate and follow through and sort of what I'm now doing with more women's surf. I think, you know, initially when I joined I had heard of more women's surf on Instagram and I was really intrigued because, uh, to my knowledge there was not this type of organization, um, specifically catered to women in underrepresented communities, um, in Maine. And so I was sort of, you know, nervous to, I ordered a t-shirt, um, from them and I went to go pick it up and I met Pam, one of the co-founders, and she was like, Hey, you're, um, you're mi and Rico, like you're, you're that photographer. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, I am. And so she was like, I, I have a job for you if, if you want. And so that was sort of the inception. And I think since then I have worn a lot of different hats just because we're so new in the organization that it's sort of that we're still trying to really define all of our roles. And so recently, um, we landed on the role for me of media director, but you know, alongside that I'm still helping out wherever I can, I'm still helping out with events, um, and with lessons and um, what's really cool about our organization is that our board is essentially a working board. And so we don't necessarily have any chairs in our board with specific, you know, hats or seats necessarily. And um, our board and our staff sort of just pitches in wherever needs to have help. So I think in, you know, going back to your original question, I think being in the mix of six siblings almost, you know, my entire life has definitely allowed me to be, uh, a team player and also a leader where it needs to be. But um, I think also, you know, being told, especially when I was younger, you know, Hey don't be bossy. Don't be bossy, don't be bossy like that also really resonated with me. So yeah, definitely bringing over a lot of, um, big family dynamics into the more women's surf organization, which is nice. Well I find in our family one of the nice things about a big family is that it kind of, it diffuses the energy. So, and I think you still have somewhat youngish kids in in your household, in your parents' household. Yes. My, all of my brothers and sisters are now grown up, but what's really nice is that we've come to a place where, you know, if we have a disagreement, if a couple of us over here don't exactly get along, then we just let it cool off we go talk to a different sibling over here. Yes, . And so, uh, I think that that actually is a really nice thing that not everybody who um, maybe just grows up in a two sibling household has the advantage of, you know, that you're always kind of continually with each other. For sure. And you know, I think, um, also in a big family you tend to get a lot of different personalities and you know, I look at myself and my siblings and I think, you know, no two of us are alike in that regard. And I think that's also an invaluable skill to be able to translate over to real life is being able to deal with people from all walks of life and all types of different personalities. Um, and I see that a lot with more women's surf. Um, as I mentioned before, sort of our target demographic is marginalized communities. So the Bipo community, the LGBTQ plus community, the refugee community, um, and a lot of the time in those groups and in those settings you get people that are maybe a little bit timid or a little bit shy to join a new space that they don't know is safe yet. And so I think that all of us have tried to do a lot of work and, you know, discussing just, okay, how do we reach these people that we want to be reaching, but how do we do it in a way that isn't going to intimidate them and isn't going to give us the sort of savior complex? And we have realized in sort of that regard and with those concerns that the way to do that, and it seems so obvious, but is to just let people be themselves and come around on their own time, um, and respect, you know, different beliefs and different opinions. And I think being able to hold space for so many different younger siblings who are all very opinionated and who are all growing up, you know, sort of in different, or not even necessarily growing up in different ways cuz we have the same parents but everyone, you know, starts to have new experiences and new interests and everything like that. So I think that's yet another skill of being in a big family that has really helped with my work in more women's serve. Yeah, I mean I I actually think you probably hid it when you first said growing up in different ways. I mean I know that I grew up in a different way than, you know, the 10th child in the family grew up, right? Oh yes. My parent, my parents were different. They were, there was a different context. In fact we have different generations within our family. Yes. So I mean, I mean it is a completely different sort of, um, response to the world around you cuz the world has really changed Oh for sure. From the beginning to the end of the family. So that's also really valuable is that you actually hang out with your brothers and sisters and they're representing, um, people who are growing up in a different time and space. And then maybe that gives you a little bit of insight as to people that you're working with. Yes. And more women serve. Yes, absolutely. And I see such a huge, um, like cultural generational growth between even me and the sister right underneath me who's four and a half years younger. And I think that there's a lot more, um, there's a lot better language nowadays just, you know, and for lack of a better term, for being politically correct. Um, but then also for being able to hold space and using language as a, um, as a tool to be able to help marginalized communities feel safer. Um, and so, you know, especially when you get people who are in different, um, races, genders, ethnicities, but socioeconomic backgrounds, um, all of that language comes into play And I've actually learned so much from my younger siblings about, you know, hey, this is sort of a dead term or we don't say this anymore. And um, even though it's, you know, it's sort of hard to be able to keep up on my own with the terms that you should or should not say or the language that you should use. And so it is really nice to have sort of a younger generation sounding board, um, not at my disposal but for my use whenever I need it. And that's been really helpful too. Well I'm, I'm glad you're able to learn from your younger brothers and sisters and, and not be irritated by them telling you what the right things are, . Cause I know that's not always, um, easy for all of us older Siblings. Yes, I think that there was definitely a time where it would have bothered me, but I think once I just accepted that, you know, we come from slightly different generations and there's so much to be learned on both ends, I think that it becomes, um, the information that you can learn from people who are younger than you, and particularly your longer younger siblings if you let them, is invaluable. So Growing up, um, in North Yarmouth and then going to Greeley, uh, were, was there a lot of support for people who wanted to go into photography as a profession? I was definitely an outlier I think in my grade. Um, I think about it now and there were only a handful of people who maybe even talked about going into the arts. Um, and you know, previously in my background, so I grew up dancing. Um, I had danced since from age eight up and through until college. Um, and so that was sort of my first real passion. I was like, I want to become a professional dancer and I wanna go to school for dance and I wanna dance in companies. And I sort of realized as time went on I was like, you know, that this isn't necessarily super feasible or isn't, not even necessarily it isn't a smart career choice cuz that was never really on my radar. But, um, I never wanted my passion to start to become like a chore. And I, I wondered if it would with dance. And so I discovered photography, um, my freshman year of high school and I really, really fell in love with it. And I was like, you know what? There's so many different components within the realm of photography that I was like, I don't think I'll ever get bored with it. And I don't think that, you know, it's like even if shooting weddings or sometimes portraits for me starts to feel like a job, I have other creative outlets within my passion that sort of allow me to be able to take little breaks and be able to take steps back when I need to. Um, and so there wasn't a ton of community support, um, when making that career decision. Um, and again, I think that's sort of a generational thing. You know, I think that even just over the course of the last 10 years, the generations coming up have sort of changed the dialogue surrounding what it means to go into the arts as a career, uh, which is really, really cool to see. But it definitely was not always that way. Um, and I just feel really fortunate that I had the support of my family when making that decision and it definitely was the right decision. So What type of photography do you like to Um, so my passion lies in creative portraiture. So I love working with, um, other artists. So I love working with dancers, with musicians, um, with even, you know, fellow photographers, um, sort of any small businesses or artists that are looking to get sort of like branding work, um, done for them. Like that is the bread and butter of what I do. Um, and so when I fell into this opportunity with more movement surf, I knew that it would be right up my alley because it's me getting to utilize my creative lens through which to sort of showcase this collective. Um, and it's also afforded me so many cool opportunities that I may not have had otherwise. And so I'm, you know, I have waterproof housing for my camera and I'm in the water every single surf lesson. And um, yeah, it's been a, a really cool experience thus far. I know that there are some surfers who will be out year round in Maine despite the weather. Yes. Uh, is that more women surf or are you a little more selective as far as the Climate? So all of, or I I should say most of the staff members and also a lot of people in, um, the community surf year round, um, we do not host lessons in the winter for obvious reasons. It becomes, uh, liability, it becomes dangerous. Um, so our surf clinics run from June through either August or September usually. Um, but then the rest of us will keep surfing year round. Um, and you know, I enjoy surfing up through maybe December and then after that it gets really, really cold and I'll still go out if there are gonna be good waves. But it's like I have to talk myself up. It's a whole thing, it's an ordeal. It takes, you know, 15 minutes to get on your winter wetsuit and don't even get me started about getting out of it. Like it's a whole multiple hour excursion. Um, and you know, you have to think about things like safety and staying warm enough and it's not even necessarily when you're in the water, that's the danger. It's when you get out of the water and you have to quickly get dry, get to warmth. Um, so it's a whole different beast for sure. I definitely don't blame people who don't want to do that because it's just, yeah, it's a completely different world and it can be kind of scary for sure. So what do you think the appeal is for those who are out there most days, even in the winter? So waves are definitely better in Maine in the winter. Um, Maine is unique in that we get storms swell. Um, so all of our waves come from storms. Um, and in the winter and also in the fall, especially with hurricane season, we get a lot better swell. Um, and so the waves are definitely better in the winter is the appeal. Um, but also I think it's one of those things that sort of aligns with the hardened manor quality of life, uh, in Maine. And so I think people really enjoy the, the entire process of it. You know, it's sort of like hot yoga is kind of miserable if you break it down, but people do it for the experience and it's, it's good for the soul. I think , Yeah, as you're talking I'm thinking about, I would, I don't think I would go surfing cause that seems cold. I don't think I, I don't really like the idea of hot yoga and yet I go running most days in the winter outside. Yes. So I guess we all have things that we're willing to do or maybe don't seem that fun to us, but for some reason we engage in them, whatever that reason is. Absolutely. And I think that there is a lot to be said for staying happy in the dark long winters in Maine. And so surfing for some, running for some hot yoga for some, it's um, you know, it's survival a little bit at a certain point. Yes, I would agree with that. Yeah. I know that we've been surfing in Maine for quite a while. Certainly we don't have quite the same um, I think surf culture that other states do. But are you feeling that we are ever going to get to a place of, I'll use the word saturation I think, but maybe over over utilization of beaches? Um, when I look at California for example, and I know that my son serves out there, I mean it seems like they're very careful about kind of almost population management. Everybody's very respectful of who's riding what rate wave when, and they're all kind of, there's, it seems like there's a hierarchy and who gets to go out. Yes. And who gets to do this? Do you think we're gonna be heading in that direction with the increased interest in the sport? So I do think so. Um, and I think we're sort of already heading in that direction. Um, I think that summer of 2020 when people needed new outdoor activities to try, I think we saw a lot of new surfers in the lineup. Um, and it is sort of the general opinion of the surfing public that um, you know, they say like, oh, we don't want more people in the lineup because it's becoming oversaturated. And I think more women's surf's viewpoint on that is quite the opposite where we are trying to get anyone who wants to get into the lineup, we're trying to get them that access, but also the education that you need to be able to enter the lineup safely. I think a lot of people end up starting to surf and don't understand surf etiquette, don't understand board management, don't understand even just like what to look for in the wave conditions to make sure that you're gonna be doing it safely. And so all of our surf clinics go through, um, you know, what to look for in a forecast, uh, board management etiquette, safety, um, and essentially just we are hoping to be able to create very aware and educated surfers so that if the saturation does indeed happen and I believe that we're headed in that direction, that we'll be able to do it in a safe way. Um, and I also think that historically the groups of people that are saying, oh, our lineups are getting too saturated and have sort of like this territorial, um, mindset on surfing tend to be, and I'm not gonna make a generalization and say that this is for certain, but it does tend to be sort of the, um, aggressive white male population. Um, and not always for sure, but I think that that is also something that we are trying to change by getting, um, different and underrepresented communities and the water so that we can have a more, um, equal lineup and more equality in the lineup in general. Yeah. That, so that's an interesting thing to think about is if you have, and whether it's white male or whether it's whoever it is that's out there that's already out there and they've already kind of created a culture that we, people who wanna enter that culture have to understand, but also simultaneously think about trying to, um, maybe even potentially change, which it sounds like more women serve is is respectful of the current culture, but also wanting to evolve the culture, which is a tricky balance, I would think. Yes, yes, it definitely is. Cuz you know, we're not, we are not trying to enter the lineup and say, oh, you know, we're here everyone make way kind of thing. Um, we are definitely being respectful and mindful of our fellow surfers because at the end of the day, we're all in it for the same reason. We love being out on the water, we love surfing. It's, it's a beautiful experience and I think a lot of the time with the territorial mindset that comes into play, it's become this, um, this uh, sort of aggressive space and it definitely does not need to be that way. And so I think that by creating safe spaces and access where people who want to join the lineup can join the lineup, um, in a safe way that we're hoping to exactly like you said, change the lineup without, without leading with aggression or without leading with a know-it-all attitude. Cuz we certainly don't know it all. Um, and I think, you know, also just with our community meetups and the other events that we hold out of the water, it's giving people the space to be even in, you know, the lineup if you will, but in a non-intimidating space. And so there's that community building, there's that comradery so that when you see that face again in the water, there's no immediate competition. It sort of diffuses all of the tension. And so, you know, with more women's surf, we're trying to get more people in the lineup. We're trying to create wider access and more quality in the lineup, but also we are just giving, surfing is almost a tool that we use to give people those safe and equal spaces to exist in. So whether it be in the water or out of the water, um, community is our number one, um, motive essentially As you were talking about the number of people who started surfing in um, 2020 and people who kind of, there were a lot more people, uh, for example, out here running the trails on cousins and Littlejohn Island and there are a lot more people out walking and there are a lot more people out boating in Casco Bay, which I personally think is great. I think anytime we get anybody outside, I'm very supportive. I don't mind the crowds. It really doesn't bother me. Um, and also in addition to the kind of cultural and um, community impact, we also just have to be aware of the ecological impact. Yes. That anytime you have more people on a trail, then you're, you have to be aware of, you know, tree roots and ground cover and anytime you have set people on the water, you have to be aware of what's going into the water and how you care for that ecological system because I think it is a lot more delicate than we realize. So with more women's surf, is there an approach towards sort of ecological awareness that you've also taken on? So I do know that all of our board members and all of our staff members definitely lead with that ecological awareness. Um, and I do know that in Maine there have been with, in Maine and also New Hampshire, um, there have been different groups, um, that have led beach cleanups and things like that. And I know that that's definitely on our horizon and that that's something that's very important to us, um, definitely to host these kinds of events into the future. But we are all being very mindful of, you know, especially the resources that end up going back into the ocean and just being very aware of how that circle comes back. For Sure. Yeah, I mean it's a, it's an interesting question because I think some people will say, well we wanna be protective so we, we don't want as many people utilizing it. But at the same time, I think if you can cause people to care about the resource, then if you can utilize it in a way that is respectful and is more kind of nurturing and generative, then you probably are being more protective of the environment than if you just say, everybody stay away. Right? Yes. And I think that education definitely comes first. Um, and also a lot of our approaches, um, as an organization tend towards very green and being very resourceful and, you know, reduced, reuse, recycle. And actually all of our merch that we have made is all secondhand upcycled clothing. Um, and we also take in a lot of used wetsuits, a lot of used boards that would otherwise be thrown out or put to, you know, other use. And so we're trying to be very mindful of all of those things because we do realize at the end of the day we are bringing in a lot of people. And so how to manage, um, certainly yes the crowds, but what can we be doing to make a larger environmental impact as well? I believe your family is originally from Arizona. Yeah. How did, how did your family end up in Maine? Um, so it has been a lifelong dream of my mom's to live somewhere in New England. And so as she tells the story, she was so sick and tired of living in the desert and having to deal with 115 degree heat from May through October. And she was flipping through one of her, um, one of her medical journals that comes in the mail every month. And as she describes it, it sort of landed open on a advertisement of Maine, essentially like a tourism advertisement for Maine. And she was like, there, I want to go there. And so within almost a month or two she had, um, called around at several of the hospitals and Maine general in, uh, Augusta was hiring and she got the position and next thing you know, we knew we were making plans to move all the way across the country. So it really was sort of serendipitous and everything fell into place. And I of course was a freshman in high school and was so angry and kicking and screaming. But it ended up being, um, definitely one of the best things to ever happen to me and to our family. So This is actually really good for me to know. I mean, you know that I work with your mom. Yes. So of course it's, uh, it is interesting to think I hadn't really put together the idea that you were, you know, you were a freshman in high school, you were old enough to kind of rebel Yes. Against this notion. And yet she's like, no, I don't care. We're doing it anyway. Yeah. Yep. And I think it, you know, at a certain point it was for the greater good of our family. She also was like, you know, we needed to switch things up like we were falling into a pattern and life was not headed in the direction that I wanted it to. You know, she was like, I never envisioned us in Arizona as a family and um, we had spent 13 years there. And so she was like, it was time for a change and um, she was willing to take the risk and which I really admire cuz I can only imagine, you know, how hard that would've been and, and how much it would've sucked seeing your freshman in high school be upset about that. So yeah, I think it, everything happens for a reason and our move to Maine was definitely for a reason. So, I mean, I should say to you, I think that your mother is, is a very bold woman and, um, as a fellow female physician and also in a leadership role myself, it is not an easy thing that your mother is doing. Yeah. That, um, and, and sometimes I'm not sure that we always know, you know, what, what our parents' lives are alike. So I give your, your parents, both of them, but particularly your mom, so much credit for being like, we're, we're gonna be self-determined here. We're actually gonna make this step. And not only that, but to uproot her entire professional career and kin