Saltwater therapy for the paddock

Farmers don’t equipment or experience to join Surfing for Farmers- they just need to show up. Supplied.

When Stephen Thomson first had the idea for Surfing for Farmers, he never imagined it would grow into one of New Zealand’s most celebrated grassroots wellbeing initiatives. What began with a handful of Gisborne farmers hitting the surf in 2018 has now evolved into 25 beach locations nationwide, with farmers ditching Swanndris for wetsuits and hitting the water 8,000 times in the last seven years.

Thomson, who works in rural real estate and has a background in farm consultancy, says the inspiration came in the most unlikely way: a rainy Saturday, a new Netflix subscription, and a documentary called ‘Resurface’.

The film followed American soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who found healing through surfing.

“One soldier said, ‘Every day I wanted to wake up and kill myself. Now every day I wake up wanting to go surfing.’ That was a real penny-drop moment for me,” Thomson says.

“I thought, why don’t we take farmers surfing? Get them off the farm, give them a breather, and make them happier people.”

A few months later he partnered with the Gisborne Boardriders, raised $12,000 in just over a day, and launched the first session.

Twenty-five farmers showed up.

“From that day, we’ve never looked back.”

   The documentary ‘Resurface’ inspired Stephen Thomson to launch Surfing for Farmers in 2018. Supplied.

More than surfing

As a rural professional, Thomson saw firsthand how challenging farming can be and how important it was for farmers to step away, reset, and connect.

“We see farmers turn up grumpy and worn out. But they get in the water, and when they come back up the beach it’s all teeth and smiles. It’s a game-changer,” he says.

The concept is simple: Surfing for Farmers provides the boards, wetsuits, and coaching, followed by a barbecue and refreshments.

It’s free of charge, thanks to the support of premier sponsors Rabobank, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Bayleys, and Fonterra.

“There are no excuses,” Thomson says.

“You don’t need gear, you don’t need to know how to surf, and you don’t even need to cook tea that night. Just throw your neighbour in the ute and come along.”

Building community

While surfing is the focus, the true magic often happens on the beach afterwards. Gathered around the barbecue, farmers chat, decompress, and share advice.

“We see farmers turn up stressed and grumpy, put on a wetsuit, and then come out of the water grinning from ear to ear.

“It’s saltwater therapy, but it’s also community. The barbecues afterward are just as important - that’s where people decompress, share experiences, and swap advice.”

“Surfing puts people back in a good mindset. They talk, they listen, and they actually retain information. That’s when little golden nuggets of advice get passed around,” says Thomson.

For Thomson, the measure of success isn’t the number of beaches involved, but the growing turnout at each location.

“We don’t want to just add dots to the map, we want to see more farmers participating. That’s where the real impact lies.”

  The initiative now has 25 beach locations nationwide. Supplied.

Looking ahead

This season sessions will begin in late November, run through December, pause for Christmas, and then continue into March and April.

Most events are held on Tuesdays or Thursdays, though times vary by region.

Grassroots at heart, Thomson is determined to keep the initiative simple, inclusive, and community-driven.

“As long as farmers keep turning up with a smile, we’ll keep doing it.”

For more information and to find your nearest session, visit surfingforfarmers.com.

INFO

South Island Surfing for Farmers locations

Southland: Riverton Rocks / Monkey Island – Tom Slee (021 225 7067), Katrina Thomas (027 485 4395)

Dunedin: Brighton / Ocean View – Emma Townsend (022 698 3910)

Greymouth: North Tip Road, Cobden – Paul Clement (027 646 4677)

Kaka Point: Kaka Point – Paul Richardson (027 477 4106)

Gore Bay: Gore Bay – Will Rutherford (wrjrutherford@hotmail.com)

North Otago (Oamaru): Kakanui, Campbell Bay – Hannah Green (027 447 2041)

Christchurch: Sumner Beach (by “The Rock”) – Kate Butterfield (021 184 0673)

Marlborough / Kaikōura: Okiwi Bay (Kaikōura) – Sam Wilson (027 873 5328)

Banks Peninsula: Hickory Bay – Kristin (kristin@hickorybay.co.nz)