Stoke over Stigmas

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Stoke over Stigmas

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26/02/2023

Hey guys, remember me?

Sorry I've been MIA, I've actually been out of the UK for five months now.

I started off in the French Alps learning to snowboard and then swapped the snow for sand in Mexico!

As I write this from Mexico I remember the couple of events I was involved in and loved last year.

I still feel forever grateful for these events, they were wholesome, fulfilling and fun.

The good news is I'll be back in the UK permanently (wow scary) from April so I'll have even more opportunities to create community events & to bring people together.
(All be it in a different location)

Until then, my personal account is if you want to follow along my personal journey & I'll be back in the summer with some fun get togethers.

All my love, Zo x

31/10/2022

I'm currently up in Scotland for a month and wanted to say a HUGE thank you to you all for these stoke filled moments over the summer:

Every message, video and bit of feedback you've sent me since I started Stoke back in March has kept me filled with energy, enthusiasm and passion to create a safe space we can all enjoy.
I feel more passionate than ever about bringing people together because it's been working, we've been having the best time.. together ❤️

I'm still forever grateful to for running the dreamiest of beach yoga sessions and for the epic sunset we witnessed as we swam in the ocean!

Through a year that's been so challenging for me personally I want you to know that meeting some of you for the loveliest of conversations, has at times been an absolute saving grace and I feel so fortunate to of met such lovely and genuine people.

I feel so content that after years of dreaming, I've been able to create something that gives us all a safe space to encourage us to enjoy new things and explore our inner adventurers without fear of judgement.

The biggest thing I want you to remember as I venture away is that it was never me that made you try those new things this year.
It was YOU who took a leap into the unknown and pushed yourself out of your comfort zone.

Please keep going, keep encouraging yourself to try something new every so often and when you get nervous remember how invigorating it felt to do something for the hell of it.

Don't forget to tag me in your adventures too and I'll share some moments from mine.

23/10/2022

Sorry I've been quiet, life here has not been all rosy and it's hard to post when you feel like crap it just feels too fake you know?

So here's a little update for you.. I have swapped my swimming costume for hiking boots lately.
Anyone else feel like we've gone summer, summer BAM winter? So I've been trying to enjoy the crunchy orange and brown leaves under my feet whilst they linger on our forest floors.

I'm still dizzy with pride when I look back at all the event photos from the start of this month and gutted that having Covid killed all my motivation to plan another one before the month ended because here we are at the end of October🥴

I have had to swap our dreamy Morocco surf trip for November for a hiking tour of Scotland because post brexit visa processes for work permits can be long winded and I'm waiting for my passport (with official French work permit in it) to return to me.

So expect lots of outdoors therapy, cold water loch swims and a healthy dose of Scotland scenery to take us into November.

Not complaining, I know it will still be beautiful and I'm luckier than most, I've just been trying to get to Morocco for 10 years and keep failing 🤣

Any recommendations whilst in Scotland, we are doing Edinburgh, Aviemore, Inverness and then the West coast? If any of you are there and fancy dipping into the cold waters with me or joining me for a stroll let me know! 👣

09/10/2022

The water is still plenty warm for a swim!

Who wants to join us next time we go for a dip?

I can guarantee smiles, laughter & an invigorating time with nature 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♂️

08/10/2022

Whatever you're doing this weekend don't forget to take a moment out to breathe and unwind.

Don't be so caught up in daily stresses that you neglect yourself.

I wish we were all back here, on the beach, doing exactly that🧘🏻‍♀️

05/10/2022

Hands up if being outdoors helps you clear your mind 🙌

03/10/2022

There is something special about the gathering of like minded people, taking time out of their busy lives to reconnect with their bodies, their minds & with each other.

These photos were captured during the sunset stretch & swim event I held last weekend where we were blessed with beautiful skies, rainbows & a lava looking sunset.

Most importantly so much laughter & smiles from everyone there🧡

Next event will be held near Margate, so if you fancy joining the Stoke family keep your eyes peeled, details to follow.

🧘🏻‍♀️ by
📸 by

20/05/2022

Chasing waves whether on my surfboard or kiteboard gives me so many "hell yes!" moments.

But don't be fooled by the pictures, my mind wins far too often.

I head out to the water & the minute something goes wrong, maybe I don't catch a wave I thought I could catch or I don't ride it as nicely as I know I can and my god my head is screaming at me. Sound familiar?

My insecurities give me a brutal beating and it goes something like this:

"You absolute amateur, why are you even out here"

"Everyone else thinks you look so stupid"

"You're so crap at this why are you even trying"

AND IT HURTS.

I'm so mean to myself that sometimes I cry with frustration at not being able to get out of my own head.

THEN

I find just a moments peace, and in that moment I usually ride my best waves or try something new and it works. I find my mojo and the adrenaline carries me through the session leaving the water high on life.

If I could give you all advice it would be don't be so hard on yourselves but you will be, as am I, we are conditioned to always put ourselves down and underplay our abilities.

So next session, get out onto the water and tell yourselves you're awesome.

You're awesome for trying, for just taking time out of your busy ass schedule to do something fun for your own wellbeing.

Be silly, laugh at yourself for letting your inner critic spoil your fun and if all else fails, take a minute out and repeat 5x "F**k this, I'm awesome"
and watch the magic happen.

See you out there 🤙🌊

02/05/2022

~~ Monday thoughts ~~

You are ready to take that plunge into whatever sport you've been wanting to try for ages but have put off, don't be afraid to go for it... Read that again.

I am starting to put my first meet up together for the June 🙌

This one will be a UK meet up (in the South East) and the aim is to meet some of you & get you into something really fun, and just have a good time💃🌊☀️ (and of course it's completely free)

So if you're interested in finding out more, let me know in the comments & tag your friends who might want to try something new & I'll add you to my close friends list to share more details as they develop 💙

23/04/2022

It seems that some of you have misunderstood the message and community I'm trying to create.

Of course these shallow minded people have not messaged me directly but several of you, my friends, that have shared my posts have recieved responses like:

"Just get on with it"
"Just send it"
"Why so sensitive"
"Maybe if she was better at the sports she wouldn't have to moan"

And THIS is EXACTLY why I've created such a movement.

All of these comments have come from people within the extreme sports industry that are incredibly good at what they do.

Well done to them of course for training so hard, mostly from a young age and mostly having parents who could afford to support them into such expensive hobbies.
There's a reason it's called privilege.

How different the world is when you can't.

My message is not about creating the next round of world class athletes (although if that's what you want to be, go for it) nor is it about creating 1000's of competitive as****es that make statements like the above.

It's about giving the diverse range of people we share this planet with an equal opportunity to try, in a place that is safe for them to do so.

To encourage those that are nervous, anxious and scared to step out of their comfort zone to just give it a go.

For those who have not tried something new for years because life has been hectic, chaotic and overwhelming to find a new sport that provides escapism.

It's to open the minds of the media that portrays these sports and show them that they are excluding a massive % of the population ALL THE TIME from the sport by not being more friendly, encouraging & welcoming.

And if we can stand together to do that, we can do wonderful things for the sports we love.

Oh & to the guy in the last statement.. I am actually pretty damn good at my sports, the progression is mine to measure. Not yours.

20/04/2022

THE WEBSITE IS LIVE!!!!

Proud right now is an understatement, I have poured hours into building this site (thanks for making it easy for a first timer) & learnt so many cool things along the way.

What do you think?

www.stokeoverstigmas.squarespace.com

I now need your help🙏 please tag/share accounts that have helped you push your fears aside & made you feel confident & ready to face the world of sports.

I want those amazing people/schools/organisations to be a part of this epic movement of inclusivity & with the next section of my website dedicated to featuring such positive influences I need to know from you who they are, so others just like you can find them too 🥰

I want to get every single person who has ever thought about trying sports but was too nervous for ... reason to give it a go!

19/04/2022

Where the journey into creating SOS started:

Game face on.

You know what, surfing is a funny old culture & I'm not sure I like it.

No matter where I surf in the world I am always prejudged about my abilities because I don't have the "surfer girl body"

Most of you know I've lost over 50kg now in my weight loss journey but I'm still not "slim" and for this reason I encounter the following ALL the bloody time:

"You need to use a bigger board, you're not a slim girl" 🙄

"You can surf?! What beginner level, you can't be any good?" 😴

"You are not fit enough" 😑

Or the worst ones are that people won't even smile or talk to me when I'm out there until I catch a wave and "prove" myself as "worthy" 🤔

I've been held back in my progression by instructors because I struggle sometimes (we all have bad sessions you know)

I've been laughed at on the beach in my swimwear & I've had awful comments made by photographers/videographers recording my sessions on lessons & you know what I'm fu***ng sick of it, because how nice it would be to fit in & not deal with this every.single.time I want to surf..

Yes I have only been surfing one year, yes I've got wobbly bits, yes I've got a lot to learn but if you think this curvy ass is leaving the line up because of your shallow minds your wrong.

It's about time we made surfing all inclusive I think, don't you?!

Now watch me ride this wave past you haters & smile sweetly whilst enjoying the look on your faces.

Address

New Lydd Road
Rye
TN31 7QS

Website

http://www.stokeoverstigmas.squarespace.com/

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