When Katie Pahlow turned 60 in July 2023, she decided to finally bite the bullet and book herself in for some surf lessons.

It might have been 43 years since she'd last caught a wave, but the dream had never left her.

"When I was literally 17, living in Melbourne in the western suburbs, I bought myself a surfboard in the paper second-hand for $50," she recalls.

"But I didn't have a licence and I had no-one to take me to the beach. And then uni and jobs and kids came along and so I just never got to it, but it had always been my dream."

Katie Pahlow enjoys the warm waves of Waikiki. (Supplied.)

Pahlow, a lifelong swimmer, says she felt fit enough to give it a go, with her milestone birthday providing extra impetus.

Plus she had been listening to a podcast featuring actress, activist and former aerobics queen Jane Fonda, who's now in her late 80s.

"She was just saying, you know, in all theatre or plays or stories, there's the third act where you're meant to become the person you are really meant to be. And that really resonated with me," says Pahlow.

The now 62-year-old Victorian, who retired from work this June, divides her time between Melbourne and the town of Aireys Inlet, along the Great Ocean Road. When she's not having the time of her life surfing in Lombok, or Honolulu, of course.

Pahlow, who draws inspiration from online communities such as Sassy Silver Surfers, is among a growing number of later-in-life surfers either taking it up for the first time or returning to surfing after a long hiatus.

Latest figures from the Australian Sports Commission's AusPlay show that women aged between 25 to 34 make up the biggest percentage of female surfers (25.8 per cent), followed by 35 to 44-year-olds (22.6 per cent).

Surfers at a NSW retreat run by former world champion Pam Burridge.  (Supplied: @_lena.scott_)

Women aged 55 to 64 make up 13.4 per cent of female surfers — slightly higher than the 18 to 24-year-old group (12.8 per cent).

Rediscovering the stoke

On Victoria's Surf Coast, Angela King, a former sponsored longboarder, now teaches other women to surf through the Surfing Victoria program, Surf Her Way.

The 42-year-old has noticed a "massive" increase in the number of older women surfing.

When she was growing up in Byron Bay, she was one of only three girls at her high school who surfed. Now, along with loads more women in the water generally, she often coaches women in their 40s, 50s or 60s or occasionally 70s.

Some grew up on the coast, but might have moved to the city, and are now remembering the joy surfing brought them, says King.

Surf coach Angela King teaches a class at URBNSURF in Melbourne. (Supplied: @angiec.photography)

"They've gotten back in the water, so they've still got the ability past that learning stage ... and progress quickly. There's a big influx of that, which has been really cool to see."

She believes social media, plus more women teaching, has had a huge impact on the number of older women pulling on a wetsuit.

"I think it's people seeing that, and going, 'oh they're doing it, I identify like that too. I feel that way, I reckon I can do it'."

King has found that for older women, the biggest barrier isn't usually the depths of a toe-numbing Victorian winter. 

Rather it's often a struggle with confidence and believing in themselves.

Jacquie plans to surf for decades yet

Some women, such as Phillip Island's Jacquie Chambers, haven't strayed too far from the water as the years have rolled on.

At 51, Chambers, who took up surfing at 17 and never really stopped,  has become something of a role model to other surfers. "People look up to you and they learn from you and I feel like I've got that type of role going on," she says.

Jacquie Chambers claimed her first Australian title, winning the over-50s women's final in July. (Supplied)

In July, she was thrilled to win the over-50s women division of the Australian Longboard Titles on NSW's Tweed Coast.

She says there are only about 10 women over the age of 50 at her local breaks, which tend to be more exposed, and therefore not as forgiving as some other locations.

As she's grown older — though she's still two years younger than Kelly Slater — Chambers believes she has become a wiser surfer.

"Definitely my ocean skills and knowledge is better than it's ever been. But because I love it so much, my body just isn't keeping up with my enthusiasm, unfortunately," she laughs.

Chambers says winning her Australian title, after years of training, was "exhilarating". (Supplied)

However Chambers, who competed in a competition in Noosa called Wrecks and Relics this year, says she has met many super-fit surfers still competing in their 60s and 70s, who she would like to one day emulate.

"They've got so much poise and wisdom about them," she says. "It's just so good to meet older women who have surfed for a long time."

Demographic is shifting, but surf brands not always keeping up

Former professional surfer turned academic Craig Sims sees two main demographic shifts occurring in surfing.

"One of them is an ageing demographic, and the other one is the increase in female participation," says Dr Sims, of Bond University.

He notes there's also a broader social trend of older people with lifestyles that were once the domain of younger people. "It's more a state of mind, and that is another reason why surfing is so appealing."

Currumbin Alley, on the Gold Coast, is a popular point break. (ABC News)

Dr Sims, 61, often surfs Currumbin Alley, a point break on Queensland's Gold Coast, and sees more women in the line-up at such spots.

However, while demographics may be changing, Dr Sims notes that some surf brands have not adjusted to this in their advertising efforts. 

"You don't want to show a 21-year-old doing a massive air, because most of the target market just can't relate to that," he says.

"I think the surf industry is reckoning with all of that now."

Mums in the mix at world champ's surf school

In Mollymook, on the NSW South Coast, 1990 world champion Pam Burridge has never had any shortage of more mature women showing up to her surf lessons or retreats, but says the demographic has grown and grown.

Former world champ Pam Burridge, now 60, in the Mentawais last year. (Instagram: Novali Surf Retreat)

When she opened her surf school more than 20 years ago, Burridge would get loads of women saying they had never had a chance to surf as a teenager, and wanted to try it.

Two decades later, it's a similar story. "But they haven't fully missed it — they are just taking it up a bit later and it hasn't been as much of a taboo (in their younger years)."

At the moment, her lessons and retreats are particularly popular for women between 40 and 50.

A surfer glides down a wave at the Mollymook retreat. (Supplied: @_lena.scott_)

"A really common story is 'my son or daughter is just keen to start surfing. And I can see a future where I actually want to go surfing with them'," says Burridge. 

"Or maybe the dad already surfs, or somebody in the family already surfs, and the mum can see that she's going to get left out unless she gets her act together, or wants to join in on the fun."

Sometimes her students have surfed in the past, then lost confidence after becoming mothers.

Waiting for a wave at one of Pam Burridge's surf retreats in Mollymook, NSW. (Supplied: @_lena.scott_)

Burridge says one of the hardest things about learning to surf at an older age is simply finding the time to dedicate to it, amid work and family life.

For those who get a little addicted to the thrill of catching a wave, Burridge says having friends to surf with usually increases the chances of women sticking with it.

"It's hard work too, so you've got to love it to chase it."

The barriers? It's always the pop-ups and paddling, says physio

Ben Considine, a professional longboarder who is also a surf coach and physiotherapist on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast, has noticed a huge community element when it comes to more women surfing, particularly around Ocean Grove.

"I feel like that’s really taken off probably over the past few years," he says, pointing to groups such as the Saltwater Sisters Surf Club and local women's boardriding groups.

He teaches some older women, and men, and pinpoints two common barriers when it comes to surfing. "It's never once people are on the wave, it’s always the pop-up or paddling."

Ben Considine competed at the Bells Beach Longboard Classic in September. (Facebook: Ben Considine)

He spends about 80 per cent of his time helping surfers with their pop-ups. "It's always either a mobility issue, so mobility through the lumbar spine, knees, hips and ankles that are the big ones, or it can also just be a strength element."

If you're worried about mastering a pop-up, Considine says there are modifications available.

"You can do pop-ups that require more power and then you can do pop-ups that require less power, that may be a bit slower but still get you to your feet," says Considine.

A common goal for beginner surfers is to paddle out the back and surf waves independently, which is "totally possible", he says.

'Are you going to go on tour?'

Angela King often has to remind her surf charges to be patient as they slowly improve.

"It takes time," she says. "That's why I always say, what are you doing this for? Like, are you going to go on tour?"

Surf coach Angela King says the mental barrier can be the hardest thing about taking up surfing later in life. (Supplied: @angiec.photography)

King encourages her students to stay positive and know it's okay to be at the space or stage they're in. 

"And that's when people progress quicker, because they're not second-guessing themselves."

Knowing your limits, particularly if you have any niggling injuries, is also wise, says King.

Sometimes it's quite okay to watch from the car park. (AAP/Supplied by World Surf League via Getty Images: Kelly Cestari)

In that situation, "paddling out at Bells if it's 5 foot is not going to be a good idea," she says. "Even though you know you could probably do it, and it looks amazing."

As for Katie Pahlow, she's taken to surfing like a duck to water, heading out about twice a week, or more often if she's on a surf camp.

Finding a supportive community to surf with, and doing incidental exercise to improve her balance and strength has helped her progress.

Pahlow says her skill level seemingly "goes up and down, and I think that's the journey of someone learning to surf".

"But I think I'm doing pretty well, you know."

Tips for more mature surfers (or anyone) wanting to catch a wave

Ben Considine offers up the following advice:

• Start out with a board in the 8 to 9 foot range, rather than trying to go too small too fast
• Get comfortable by learning some fundamentals in waist to chest deep water
• Go surfing with friends, or join a group to stay safe (and for the party waves).