Meet the Founder: Helen's Surf Journey
Helen's Life Path
What's your story? Could you share a bit about your background and what drew you to the ocean and starting a non-profit?
My name is Helen Lin and I am the founder of Waves of Color. I grew up near the ocean at an early age off the coastlines of Southern Taiwan, but never discovered surfing there. I moved to the U.S. when I was three years old with my family. I spent most of my childhood in Texas, living in both Dallas and then Austin for college.
After college, I moved out to the West Coast to work in the film industry. During my time in Los Angeles I developed a love for the outdoors. I spent the next 4 years discovering camping, hiking, backpacking, and surfing. I was living next to the beach at the time, so I knew I had to give surfing a shot.
I moved back to Texas for a few years to purse a Masters in Public Health to help bridge my background in film, communications, and desire to learn more about community health.
My time back in Texas and stuck inland, I really missed being near the mountains and especially the ocean, so I moved to Portland, Oregon where I could surf again, but in very very cold waters. It was a 2 hour drive each way!
In Portland, I worked at a health research institute to help scientists communicate and spread their research programs in communities around Oregon and beyond. Though, I enjoyed my job, I found a need and a desire to support WOC to discover the outdoors and surfing during my free time. I began hosting surf meet-ups and retreats for Women of Color (WOC) as a Trail Mixed Community Leader.
After 7 years in Portland, I decided to take a career break and decided to put everything in storage to travel the world for 2 years focusing on hiking and surfing. That was when I realized the world was beginning to see more women in our surf line-ups, but there were not enough women surf coaches in the different areas of the world I visited.
Starting a non-profit to help promote physical activity, improve well-being, create community connections, and to tell stories through Waves of Color is a unique lens and creative outlet that felt like such a natural fit.
Finding Surfing
How did you first get into surfing? What was it that sparked your love for the sport?
I first discovered surfing in 2011, so about 14 years ago. I remember taking my first lesson in Santa Monica, California. I bought one of those Groupon coupons. Living in Venice Beach, I always saw people in the water (no women at the time!) and thought I had to try it.
I sat in a Venice Beach parking lot waiting for my first surf coach—an hour late. I nearly left, but something told me to stay. That day, I caught my first wave just off the shore of Santa Monica, and it changed the course of my life.
I was always drawn to the water, but I never thought surfing was something I would do. It wasn’t until I tried it for the first time that I realized I was hooked. It felt like I had found something that was made for me.
I didn’t have many role models in the surfing and other adventure sports. I wanted to show others that just because there isn’t someone who looks like you in a space, it doesn’t mean you don’t belong there.
Surfing has a wonderful way of bringing people together. It truly is a community oriented sport and I hope Waves of Color can provide that as an outlet to help people find belonging.
Overcoming the Odds
What challenges have you overcome in surfing? How did you work through those experiences?
Two things come to mind. The first one is feeling like I belong in the line up and also trying to overcome the fear of larger waves in the ocean. I have been able to work on those fears through breath work and meditation. I have been trying to create a more positive inner narrative that I do belong and that I can overcome larger waves. I have started saying the mantra with deep breathes in the water, "you are calm and you are strong."
Sometimes it’s hard to be in the line-up and not feel intimidated by the others especially when it is crowded, but I learned to lean in to discomfort and smile and small connections of saying hello or starting a small conversation can go a long way.
Photo Credit: Last Swell Photography
Connection to the Ocean
What keeps you drawn to the ocean? What does surfing mean to you on a deeper level?
That everyday is different and that I discover something about myself after every surf session. It really brings me a lot of joy to connect with nature and feel the grounding and energy of the ocean. It reminds me a lot of life…that there are always going to be obstacles among some of the most beautiful moments. The ocean inspires me because it is a place that keeps giving back.
Giving Back to the Community
What is your role at Waves of Color?
I am Waves of Color's Founder and Director. My role is to support the operations and business development for Waves of Color. I spent the last few years brainstorming and figuring out what is needed in the surf community and what can make an impact. With my background in public health specifically working in community health and health communications, I hope to bridge my experiences to build capacity to create change in our communities through all aspects of physical and mental well-being to interconnect with surf.
How do you stay connected with your surf community? Are there particular moments or traditions that are especially meaningful?
I really enjoy attending surf meet-ups and beach clean ups in my local community. I moved to San Diego in early 2025 after traveling I have found many local groups and organizations in San Diego like Un Mares de Colores, Radical Movement Collective, Groundswell, Apres Surf.
Surfing naturally brings people together and it’s a common and connecting sport. With that also comes a level of responsibility to take care of the ocean. I don't want to just help support the next generation of surfers, but I want to help create a supportive community that cares for the environment and where these women can feel empowered to pursue their dreams—whether in the surf or in life.
Surfing is more than a sport for me. It’s a way to connect with my mother nature and to show other women and girls that they can start their surf journey as a hobby or profession at any age. It’s really about breaking barriers and finding your place in spaces you’re told you don’t belong.
The Ripple Effect
Why is doing this type of work and running a surf organization important to you?
We each have the power and responsibility to create change in this world that will transcend generations. There is a domino effect in what we do. The importance of representation in surfing as a sport and changing the narrative of who belongs in the surf is an important area to focus on especially in the next decade as surfing industry continues to grow.
If we can each support one another to be part of this wave of change, imagine the impact and how far it can go?
There are many organizations paving the waves to help make surfing more inclusive for women, especially for BIPOC women. These organizations include Textured Waves, Intrsxtn Surf, Black Girls Surf, Surfear Negra, Salted Roots, and Brown Girls Surf.
