After a lifelong dedication to competitive swimming, Kim Childs decided she needed a change. In her first year at Dalhousie, she bought a $50 board and a winter suit and paddled out into the surf. It seems her progression from swimming to surfing was inevitable, and this year she’s taken the top spot at several contests on the East Coast, including the Billabong Women’s Surf Jam  and the September Storm Classic. But her success at the national level was just a warm-up for her first international competition this October, when she competed as a member of Team Canada at the ISA World Surfing Games in Portugal. We got a hold of Childs, now back home in Nova Scotia, to get some insight into her love of surfing and her experience at the Games.

What were some of your first impressions of Portugal?

It’s a beautiful place. The language and the people are absolutely lovely. I love traveling so much, so when I found out that I was going to be able to go to Portugal I was so excited. I can’t wait to go back. I want to rent a van and travel down the coast—I was only in Costa da Caparica, so I didn’t get to explore and surf other breaks. Don’t get me wrong, it was awesome waking up on the beach and surfing every day, but it was really crowded with people and amazingly talented surfers.

How were the Games different for you from the other competitions you’ve been a part of?

The Games bring surfers from around the world together. All these men and women from different cultures, speaking different languages, are all thrown together in one place. It’s really cool. It’s pretty intense as well, but I loved every minute of it. Having the chance to watch women surf at that skill level is inspiring. It makes me want to work harder so I can complete some of the maneuvers they were doing. Some of the women were pulling airs—it was crazy.

Could you describe the general mood there?

It didn’t matter where you were from or what language you spoke, everyone was just happy to be there. At the opening ceremonies, all the teams were hanging out and just having a great time together. The Sands of the World Ceremony was an amazing emblem for global solidarity, and it was also my favourite moment from the entire trip. Each team brings some sand from a favorite beach in their country, and one by one each country’s sand is poured into a glass bin. It was really cool because it just brought everyone together. All these different types of sand—dark, white, fine, rocky—mixing together beautifully. I wouldn’t change a thing about my experience at the Games, so trying to translate it into words is a challenge for me. But it was truly fantastic.

Do you have any strategies or rituals before heading into the water for a competition?

One thing I do before every surf session is some stretching. It helps me to loosen up and gives me time to focus on what I need to do to improve my surfing.

You had the chance to watch some heats in your division before paddling out; can you remember what was going through your head waiting for your turn?
 
Oh my. I get really nervous before every heat, whether it’s at home or at an international competition. I remember thinking that I wanted to do well and that I really wanted to move onto the next set of heats.

Who are some of the people that inspire you?

For surfing, it’s Bethany Hamilton. She’s absolutely amazing. Anyone who can be attacked by a shark, lose an arm and still have the will to get back into the ocean is so courageous. And for life, it’s my boyfriend because he makes me want to be a better person. He’s fantastic and thinks about everyone else before ever thinking of himself.

And what motivates you as a surfer?

I think it’s that feeling you get when you’re the only surfer in the water on a calm day, getting consistent head-high waves. It feels like you’re alone in the world and one with the ocean.

What’s your favorite memory from the competitions you’ve been in so far?

My favorite memory has to be the One Life Surf competition. It’s an all-women event that promotes women’s surfing here in Nova Scotia. It’s all about having fun, surfing, and getting as many girls and women out in the water as possible. Every year there are about twenty competitors, and the mood is super chill. The heats are always fun and the surf has always been good.