Water Is Our Blood

Figuring out a place in the line up helped three New York City surfers discover their place in the world.

This film is the story of a special sisterhood built on a love of water and waves. Three young surfers living in Rockaway Beach, New York City take a closer look at women building up and supporting other women while creating a community that shuts out all the noise and encourages a flow of freedom and positivity. These are the interviews we did before shooting anything. When we put them all together and read them as one, we knew at once we had something special.

How long have you been friends? Where and how did you all meet?

Farmy: I’ve been friends with Cyn for about 4 years and Autumn for about a year. I can't really remember the first time I met Cyn. I just remember her being at the beach with us all the time when Laru Beya first started and there was only a small crew of us. She was pushing us into waves, surfing with us, and also teaching us how to swim. Fun fact: when I first started surfing, I didn't really know how to swim. I could float and understood that my board was always there with me if anything happened. Cyn was the first person to really teach me how to move in the water. I remember going to the YMCA with her and 2 of the other mentees and she literally worked us to death between the workout and swim practice haha. 

I met autumn randomly one day at the beach with Laru Beya in 2021. She came with Kwame and we never really spoke too much, just exchanged hellos. But in June, out of nowhere, we all randomly planned a last minute trip to Cali. Cyn, Autumn, our friend Elisabeth, and I all went and spent the weekend surfing as many places as we could, meeting up with friends, and just having a bunch of fun. After that trip we were stuck to each other's hips and got so much closer.

How does surfing play a role in your lives and in your friendship?

Cyn: Surfing was absolutely the glue that bonded us together. We met through Laru Beya, teaching the love of the water and surf to the youth beginning their own personal love for both. To be honest when we initially met we primarily worked together and rarely hung out outside of being on the beach. We had rough times just getting acclimated with the surf culture in Rockaway due to us being persons of color and then on top of that women. We definitely found solace in the fact that we could feel safer together out there in the water and just talk about it with each, not just because we were friends, but because we could each relate and be each other’s safe space to speak about it. We also used those same reasons to turn uncomfortable feelings to learning and teaching experiences as well as further motivation to not feel discouraged or stop what we knew belonged to us. Our love for the water, our love for the surf.

In what ways are the three of you alike?

Autumn: Our connection to surfing is something that really connects us all together. We all have a love for the ocean. We are all incredibly passionate about creating representation in the surf culture for the black community. Encouraging youth to get out in the water and making sure they know that they can participate in the sport of surf. Outside of water, I think we all love the idea of building community that is fun, vibrant and without bias.

In what ways are the three of you different?

We are incredibly different. I tend to be a bit more reserved compared to Cyn and Farmy. I love connecting one on one with people. Farmy is a great networker; she is so good at socializing and making friends. Cyn is so comfortable within herself and so outward in expression—it’s so beautiful. We all process and deal with things really differently. I’m always trying to process things in the moment and figure things out.

How does surfing play a role in your lives and in your friendship?

Everything good has stemmed from surfing. My life is centered around surfing, it is my life line. My life’s mirror. Surf is just like life. It can be hard, beautiful, and sad. Surfing is what brought us together. It’s what we do. It’s the heart.

As you look at your two friends, what would you say is their best quality?

Farmy: Cyn’s smile and her gap are her best features. To me it's my favorite, because it's what makes her so unique. Growing up i've met and seen so many people in my life feel insecure about their gaps or smiles. and the love Cyn has for hers shifted the way I think about my own personal beauty standards. Autumn’s best personality is her eyes. She can tell you thousands of stories without saying a single word. They're kinda like cats, I think, but always shining!! They say the eyes are the gates to the soul and if that's true hers is glowing bright :)

It’s really important to focus on the women in your lives, but it’s also important to acknowledge the men that support and mentor you. Who are some of these people and how do they support you and celebrate your wins?

Farmy: My parents have always inspired me. My father was a refugee who worked hard and moved our entire family over to the states. He's worked so many jobs, been an entrepreneur, and to this day is still working to build both the life that he wants and a legacy for our family. Aydon is another male in my life who has impacted me greatly. That’s probably why we call him surf dad. He’s guided me through my entire surf journey. Every step of the way, every new bridge I had to cross, every struggle I’ve endured in the water . . . Aydon was always there to support, to advise, to feed the girls and I, LMAO. I 100% wouldn’t be where I am today without him in my life. 

I think it’s common to be jealous of others, even when they’re our friends. How do you three handle jealousy?

Autumn: When it comes to being friends with young women, there is a sense of competition that people are dealing with, and I feel like it ruins a lot of friendships. But with this, there's no competition. It's really support. Like we all just support every single win. But there is jealousy for sure. You know, like if someone is doing something amazing, I think it's a natural feeling to feel jealous, right? But we, me and Farmy talk about it a bunch, it’s like jealousy doesn't have to be this horrible thing. Our feelings are indicators and jealousy is an indication that someone is doing something that you would also like to do. You're receiving more information about yourself and then you can be like, wait, I'm friends with someone who's doing the coolest thing ever. So it's I'm supporting you, and also I'm inspired by you. You're doing things that I aspire to do.

What is it like to live in Rockaway?

Cyn: Ten years? This is crazy. I'm in Rockaway for ten years. That's wild. But just coming from the Bronx to here it was such a culture shock, where I literally would be in my house, like having to look at my face in the mirror before I left. Like, all right, let me make sure that I have a good attitude because I would just walk through with my normal Bronx gameface on. People that didn't look like me, most of them, you know, not black and brown people, were asking me, “Are you okay? “ And I'm like, What do you mean by that? Mind you, you know, I interact at restaurants, you know, local places, and I would feel comfortable. I'm like, what's wrong? And they would say I just looked really angry. So I started adjusting like, this is a real community. You see the same exact faces every day. They're asking you about your family. Walking from corner to corner, you say hi to at least five people. I love that everyone's smiling, and that for me, before even in the surf, like just being able to go to the water, have fun with the people that literally live up and down the street. I don't have to worry about anything else. That was big for me. That was the best culture shock that I could say at this point that I ever had, that I needed because I was just so tough and hard. And it's like, Oh, everyone's still here. I know because the water is here. But now , you know, we have more than water.

What is it like to grow up in Rockaway?

Farmy: I’ve been in Rockaway for most of my life now. I hated it growing up, because I felt like there was never anything for me here. Once I started surfing, my own backyard became my playground and everything did a complete 180. 

Who are some of the people that support you and celebrate your wins?

Cyn: Personally, I would start with the person that helped give me life, my father. I also feel Aydon, who is the founder of the organization Laru Beya I work with, has been pivotal in my growth, as well as I call him my ‘surf dad’ since I’ve been living in Rockaway. I also have my peers that I have met through surfing and the community in Rockaway. My dad has always, since I can remember; done everything in his power to ensure that I had access. As a young woman of color, a black girl growing up, that support and motivation was immensely powerful for me. I don’t know where I would be without him. Aydon, from the time I met him through teaching his children at the YMCA and him seeing something in me and allowing me to join Laru Beya and helping me pursue passion and dreams. Lastly my peers that I met through surfing have also encouraged me, and we’ve built long friendships thus far.

What’s the most inspiring thing someone has either said to you or done for you?

Farmy: During the Laru Beya shoot with Teen Vogue, Aydon said something along the lines of, “This is your break. You have every right to be in this water as much as anyone else. So take all your waves, paddle out where you want, and take up all the space that is yours.” and that’s been my mindset since. 

What’s the best advice you’d give to other young females?

Autumn: Be exactly who you are in the moment. Celebrate who you are. Have goals. Work toward them. Build a community of women who support you in the life you want to live. But most importantly, be unapologetically you.

What’s the most valuable part of this sisterhood?

Cyn: We feel safe with each other. So when we go out into the water, even though there can be that, you know, attitude when people see these beautiful Afrocentric Black women pop out, we're not as afraid or feeling like we have to prove ourselves anymore. Having that trust, it definitely translates into the water. And having a safe space with each other. Also just relaxing on the beach, just being around each other. Honestly, sometimes we can hang out and not chat much, just in our own thoughts and check in like, Hey, you okay? Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. All right. The water is like, I don't know, our blood.  

Life Is Good

Jamie Song

Age 33

Fitness Trainer, Surfer

New York

If I remember right, you’ve talked about starting to surf, leaving it, and then starting again years later. Can you give some details on that?

In 2017 I took a few lessons in Rockaway. Had a lot of fun but back then I was working anywhere from 50-90hrs a week as a tax accountant and didn’t have time or mental capacity to commit to surfing. In 2018 I took a 4-weeks vacation in Hawaii, where living felt so good. I was so taken by surfing and hiking and just being surrounded by loving nature, I decided to quit my job, ha! Fast forward to 2021, with a lot more time and flexibility on my hand as a personal trainer, I picked up surfing again in Rockaway. After a few lessons with Chris (@surfwithchris), I was hooked this time, thoroughly.  

Surfing is not easy. It’s intimidating for a lot of people. You share inspiration and photos/videos via Instagram often where you talk about not having the perfect surf day. Yet every surf post is so positive: “One surf session stronger!” What encourages you to keep going as you’re learning?

It really is so hard!! isn’t it? Haha. My experienced surfer friends tell me that surfing becomes more and more fun, the better you get. So… if I’m already having this much fun, how exciting is it that it’s only going to get better? That’s what makes me go surfing whether it’s a scary big waves day or a flat day that doesn’t seem worth the trip. The more I wipe out, fight relentless currents, paddle hard only to miss waves after waves, tumble under the water for what feels like 15 seconds when it was probably like 3 seconds, the better surfer I become. And the better surfer I become, the more fun I’ll have :) 

Jamie riding the waves in Rockaway Beach, New York

What advice would you give to someone considering surf lessons?

Do it already! If you’re on the fence, sign up with your friends, so even if you end up hating surfing (which I doubt), you’ll have made it a fun beach day :)  I enjoyed taking my first few lessons with the same teacher @surfwithchris and then surfing as often as possible with my friend Offer so they could see my progress, explain to me how each session’s going to feel different depending on the surf condition of that day, and they’d know how much to push me out of my comfort zone as I progress. Also take at least 3-4 lessons before you decide whether surfing is for you or not! Surf conditions change so dramatically each day (and sometimes within hours), so your first lesson could be ‘meh’ but the next lesson could be amazing!

How has surfing changed you? What does surfing add to your life? Can you put into words the feeling you have out in the water, riding a wave?

It sounds funny/cheesy, but I adore the person I become when I’m surfing. Giddy the night before surfing. Giving big hugs and smiles to everyone I remotely know at the beach. Cracking up at everything and nothing. Amused by the ever-changing shapes of clouds, the cutest Piping Plover chicks running down the beach, the sands under my nails. It’s like regaining the long-lost curiosity/sensitivity of a happy child. My life seems ever so full and new and colorful since I started surfing. When I’m having a bad day I go surf. When I’m having a great day I go surf. The ocean never fails to remind me everything is temporary, bad or good. It puts me back into the current moment, to just be, and be okay. Riding a wave, still to me as a beginner, feels like “Is this really happening??” haha. It’s magical. 

As a fitness trainer, you know the importance of being physically and mentally fit. How does that figure into your workout routine and daily lifestyle?

Honestly it hasn’t been easy, introducing surfing into my routine. Surfing 1-3x/week, lifting 2-3x/week, and training clients all over lower Manhattan, it’s definitely physically taxing to my body. But I wouldn’t want it any other way. Surfing is a great cardio and upper body training, lifting is the best physical activity you can do for your overall health, and training clients is a rewarding job I’m lucky to have. All three nourish me physically and mentally.

What board are you riding? 

I just bought a 7’8” Torq board. I’ve moved from a 9’ foamie to an 8’4” NSP hardtop to a 7’6” board I got off Craigslist, which I realized was too difficult for me. I wasn’t catching as many waves on that board.  So I got a 7’8” Torq with a ton more volume. I’m having a lot of fun on this one.  

What’s an interesting fact about you that would surprise most people?

I had scoliosis surgery when I was 13 and my spine is fused with 14 long surgical pins and rods. I can’t curl or twist my spine. Who knew I’d become a personal trainer in my 30s with this robot back! Oh and I can lift 415lbs with my butt! 

Jamie, what are 2 or 3 things you know for sure?

One thing I’ve learned at this point in my life is to be at ease with the turbulence and uncertainties that either I’m going through or are imminent. When I was younger, I let myself get anxious, worry, and suffer from the “what ifs”, but now I’ve learned to be okay in the middle of turbulence. Kind of like on my surfboard on a choppy but still beautiful day out in the water. 

Everything is temporary - what seems grand and what seems awful, the aching wants and pressing needs. Things that used to matter a lot to my younger-self don’t carry much weight anymore. And then there are things that bring immeasurable happiness to me now that I never knew was possible. Being as fully present as possible, experiencing and riding it out until it lasts, and then being at ease with the next changes is what I’m trying to practice. 

Life is so good! Surfing makes it even better! I love it so much!