City to Coast - Meet Queenie

This is an exciting one - we are welcoming Queenie to the club! From growing up in the city to chasing her dreams on the coast, she’s bringing power to the women’s surf scene. Her story is nothing short of inspiring. Here’s a bit about Queenie, in her own words.

I’m from Taiwan. I was born in Taipei, the capital city. About seven years ago, I decided to move to a small surf town called Toucheng in Yilan County, which is the closest surf town to Taipei. Surfing is the reason I chose to move there.

I’m currently based in Toucheng, a small coastal town in Yilan. It’s a quiet place compared to Taipei, but it has waves and a strong connection to the ocean, which is exactly why I love living there. I started surfing about ten years ago in the same town where I live now.

Before I started surfing, I was like many typical city girls - I was afraid of getting tanned and didn’t enjoy outdoor activities. The most ironic part is that I didn’t even know how to swim and I was actually very afraid of water. In traditional Taiwanese culture, the ocean is often seen as something dangerous. Older generations constantly warn us to stay away from the sea. At that time, I had made a personal challenge list for myself for the year, and surfing was one of the things I wanted to try. I never expected that trying surfing once would turn into something that would stay with me for the rest of my life.

The meaning of surfing to me has changed as I’ve grown over the years. At the very beginning, surfing was a completely new experience for someone who grew up in a big city. In many Asian cultures, we’re raised with the idea that we must become successful, so our lives often revolve around chasing achievements and recognition.

When I first started surfing, I realized how vast the ocean is and how small we are as humans. Standing in front of the ocean, I felt a kind of spiritual release and transformation. The ocean doesn’t judge you. You don’t need to become someone else - you can simply be yourself. A few years later, I started competing. At that time, surfing became a way for me to prove my ability.

When I first started surfing, there weren’t many female surfers in Taiwan. Young women in surfing were often questioned. Sometimes, when we were in the water, more experienced male surfers would drop in on us because people often assumed female surfers were just “kooks” or girls holding surfboards for photos without real ability.

So back then, I wanted to prove through my actions that women can do the things that men do - and sometimes even do them better. I didn’t want those deeply rooted stereotypes to define us. Female surfers are not just girls posing with surfboards.

Now, when people ask me what surfing means to me, I don’t think there’s a single clear answer anymore. It’s a much bigger feeling than that.

Sometimes surfing is a way for me to connect with nature.
Sometimes it’s the reason I begin a journey.
Sometimes it brings people with the same energy and resonance into my life.
Sometimes it shares my happiness, sadness, and life’s ups and downs.
Sometimes it even guides me toward answers in my life.

If I had to describe it in one word, surfing means freedom to me.

Freedom of the body.
Freedom of the mind.
Freedom of the soul.

And that kind of freedom is priceless.

My favorite surf spot is the reef point in Batu Karas, Indonesia. But the reason I love that place isn’t only because it has world-class longboard waves. What truly makes it special is the people and the culture there. If you ever visit Batu Karas, you’ll probably be touched by the genuine smiles and kind hearts of the people who live there.

Outside of surfing, one of my favorite things to do is take my dogs to a seaside park near my home and play fetch with them. It’s a simple moment, but it’s our happy time together.

Queenie is currently surfing a 9'3" Pony and a 6'10" Albert.