Waves of Inspiration is a series of conversations with Rise Up guests, staff and volunteers. In each episode, we explore the exciting, interesting and sometimes challenging journeys of our surf and yoga community. Send an email to hello@riseup.com if you feel like you’ve got a story to tell.

Meet Shazia. She splits her life between city energy and salty village calm and still manages to squeeze global travel into the mix.

She discovered surfing on the Great Lakes then found her stride with Rise Up and never looked back. Every trip she shows up determined, curious and full of stoke… ready for whatever the ocean offers.

Shazia is the kind of guest who turns sessions into stories and strangers into friends and somehow makes the whole experience feel even more alive. We love her passionate, big-hearted nature at Rise Up, so we decided to ask her a few questions.

Enjoy our recent chat with the queen of the Great Lakes, Shazia Mazhar.

Shazia… for anyone who has not met you yet, can you share a little about who you are and how surfing first found its way into your life?

People know me as someone who’s always moving and always starting something new. I split my time between Toronto and a tiny fishing village on the Atlantic called Musquodoboit Harbour.

I’ve traveled to 78 countries and lived in a few. I grew up with parents who were always on the move too.

I work full time and spend my spare moments renovating our old ocean house, hanging with my partner and our cats, traveling, giving back to the community and surfing. I also have alopecia so no hair… but plenty of tattoos instead.

Surfing arrived later for me. I started with SUP in Toronto, then SUP surfing and after my first Rise Up retreat, I ditched the paddle and went all in.

Since I lived in Toronto, I learned to surf on the Great Lakes. Wind swell is no joke.

You travel from Canada to surf with us a few times each year. What pulls you back to Rise Up again and again?

Warm water for sure. But really I fell in love with Aserradores and the people I met there. I return and see the same familiar faces. I also helped a friend start a local nonprofit for women in the village, which rooted me even more.

Rise Up feels like home. Phil and Corina are the best and I trust the whole crew to make every trip count. My progress from 2016 to now says a lot about them.

Many of our guests are busy professionals who want an easy all-inclusive surf experience. How does a Rise Up retreat fit into your life back home?

I’ve surfed everywhere from full DIY road trips to high-level retreats like Rise Up.

For me, Rise Up guarantees a smooth week. At home, I juggle work life and the unpredictable Atlantic. On retreat, I get to unplug, stop chasing the forecast and forget about squeezing into a 5/4mm wetsuit.

What does a perfect surf day look like for you when you are on retreat?

Surf surf surf. First in, last out as many sessions as possible. And a party wave with Francisco seals the deal.

Female surfer bottom turning on a left-breaking wave

You surf with so much heart. What have the coaches or the community here helped you unlock in your surfing?

I played competitive sports for years and sometimes lost the joy by focusing too much on performance. Surfing can slip into that same trap. If I overthink or go too deep into video critique, I lose the magic.

The coaches here really listen. They know how to push me without letting me tip into that old mindset. They meet me where I am and help me grow without losing the fun.

You have made friends on retreats over the years. What is it about the Rise Up vibe that makes people connect so quickly?

It’s the gift of being present. No work. No distractions. Just you and a group of people who love the same things. Some of my closest friends came from Rise Up retreats.

I even brought ten friends for a private retreat in Nicaragua for my 50th birthday so they could feel that same magic.

When you think about your life outside the water, how does surfing help you reset or stay grounded?

Surfing forces me to unplug. I love those sunrise sessions in the cold Atlantic before my work day begins. No matter how wild the day gets, I can always go back to that moment with a friend or two, maybe a seal and the sun coming up.

Surfer wearing a blue rashvest squatting down on their board while riding a wave

What do you wish more women and professionals knew about taking a surf retreat in Central America?

That we deserve it. And it’s never too late. I’m bringing two friends to the Luxury Villas retreat in Costa Rica in March. They’re both in their 60s and learning to surf for the first time.

You have seen different locations and seasons. Do you have a spot or moment that still makes you smile every time you think about it?

So many. But my 50th birthday stands out. We boated to my favorite point break and no one else was out. Just me, Anne Jen, Francisco and Vendela.

We wore shiny dragon capes because my birthday is on Halloween. We laughed and rode waves pretending to be dragons. Zero pressure. Pure joy.

If someone is on the fence about booking their first surf retreat, what would you tell them?

Ask every question you want. Then ask yourself why not.

A friend came last year, planning to skip surfing and just chill by the pool. She tried one lesson on day one, surfed every day after and now she surfs with me in the freezing Atlantic too.

Grainy image of a surfer cross-stepping on their longboard

And looking ahead what are you dreaming about in your surf journey and where do you hope the next Rise Up adventure will take you?

Chicama’s one of my favorite waves on the planet and I’d love to experience it again with the Rise Up crew. And I’m still chasing that clean vision through a barrel.

I’ve been close so many times. Maybe the next trip will be the one.

Stay tuned.

Follow Shazia’s adventures via her Instagram account.