Waves of Love!
We love a good surfing love story, and this one is special! Long-time Women + Waves guest Emily Davies met her now husband-to-be, Toby, in the surf lineup. From dawn patrols in Wales to surf trips across the world, here’s how it all unfolded.
One of the best things about our coaching weekends is the post-surf chats. Guests connect, share stories, and build lasting friendships. Emily, 35, from The Gower in Wales, has joined us for Secret Morocco, Portugal, and Newquay surf programmes. When she mentioned she met her partner in the water, we had to know more!
How did you meet your partner and what part did surfing play in it?
“My favourite spot to surf is Llangennith on the Gower peninsula. That morning, I paddled out at dawn and there was only one other surfer in the water. Eventually, he paddled over and said, ‘Hi, I’m Toby, how’s it going?’ and that’s where it all began!”
How did he find you after your first meeting?
“We didn’t swap numbers, but he tracked me down through a mutual friend on Instagram and sent me this message: ‘You had a couple of nice ones this morning!’ I guess the surf compliment worked!”
Did surfing help when you were dating?
“Yes! After a coffee on our first official date, all the rest were surf dates. It was relaxed and fun. We shared surf mates, made new friends together, and even booked a holiday to Sri Lanka just four months after meeting. Surfing gave us a mutual understanding and so many shared adventures.”
What are the benefits and negatives of having a surfing fiancé?
“Well, I rinse my wetsuit 50% less now because we take turns! The biggest change is learning flexibility. I used to be a planner, but now if the swell looks good, plans can change. We’ve surfed in Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and Portugal, always chasing waves together. The only downside? Sometimes I’m ready to leave and he wants one more surf – but that’s not the worst thing when you’re at the beach!”
How did he propose?
“He proposed at Llangennith beach, right where we first met. The tide was out, we were walking along the sand, and he dropped to one knee. Instead of a ring, he had a shell he’d found – it was so sweet and so us.”
“Now we’re getting married next week! Friends from my Secret Morocco surf trip will be there too. We’ve stayed in touch and become close friends, so it means the world that they’ll be part of the wedding.”
From Waves to Weddings
All the best to Emily and Toby on their big day – what a beautiful story! We’ve seen it time and time again: the friendships and connections that start on our surf trips are something really special.
If you’re craving some time for yourself, want to meet like-minded women, and have a whole lot of fun in the water, come join us.
Book a coaching weekend, or explore our international surf trips – who knows where it might take you?
