#11: Kirsty Furbank - Carving Out Space in the Line-Up, Resilience, Community & Women in the Waves

Today we’re joined by Kirsty, founder of Camel Rock Surf School — a business that’s not just teaching people to surf, but creating space for women in the lineup.After landing on the Far South Coast in 2018, Kirsty built her surf school in Bermagui from the ground up. But her journey hasn’t been all sunshine and salty hair.In this episode, Kirsty opens up about the darker side of breaking into a traditionally male-dominated surf culture — including facing bullying, territorial behaviour, and even nasty posters being put up around town. Instead of backing down, the local community rallied around her in a powerful show of support that helped strengthen the business even further.We also talk about the realities of running a surf school — the early mornings, the constant watching of wind and swell charts, and the unpredictability of building a business that’s entirely dependent on weather and ocean conditions. It’s a far cry from the “spending every day at the beach” lifestyle people often imagine.Kirsty shares how her Surf & Stretch women’s retreats came to life — bringing together surf lessons, yoga and connection — and why the demand for women-only sessions continues to grow. Through her popular Waves for Womenclasses, she’s creating a space where women can step outside their comfort zones and support each other in an environment that feels welcoming, empowering and fun.And throughout the conversation, one thing becomes clear — the genuine joy she gets from teaching first-timers and watching someone stand up on their very first wave.This episode is about resilience, community, and carving out space where there wasn’t one before.In this episode we talk about:The reality of running a surf school and building a business around weather and ocean conditionsFacing bullying and territorial behaviour within surf cultureThe local community support that helped Camel Rock Surf School grow strongerCreating safe and supportive spaces for women in the oceanSurf & Stretch retreats combining surfing, yoga and connectionThe rising demand for women-only lessons and retreatsThe joy of teaching first-time surfers and watching confidence grow in the water----------------------LINKS: Camel Rock Surf Schoolhttps://www.camelrocksurfschool.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/camelrocksurfschool/Follow For Founder’s SakeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/for.founders.sake/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForFoundersSake