Kia ora. My name is Marama Pou. I was born in Invercargill and grew up in a surfing family in Riverton, Southland. I have been surfing for 36 years and started out at a young age. My Dad first taught me to surf when I was 2 years old. I have early memories of my Dad pushing my brothers and I into knee deep waves at Taramea and Mitchell’s Bay.  As I got older I would skate tandem with my brothers on an old school longboard down the hills carrying a surfboard under each arm and surf home. I started surfing competitively at the age of 14yrs doing local comps then gained sponsorship from So Fresh milk where my brothers and I became the ‘Primo kids’, the faces for Primo flavoured milk . 

I am a former Otago Southland Junior development squad member and New Zealand Reserve Team Rep. Surfing in Southland was always very male dominated there was not much competition. Very few girls surfed so my parents joined up with The South Coast Board riders. I still casually compete in the South Island circuit for fun to show my 11 year old daughter she can do anything and to support her in her passion for competitive  surfing.

My family now has 3 generations of female surfers: my Mum  who’s in her early 60’s, younger sister, 2 nieces, my 11 year old daughter and I. We are all a part of the Southland Board riders association and my Daughter and I also the Southern Wahine. I am passionate about women’s surfing and so glad to be a part of the AWSA . There is a growing population of female surfers in the deep south and a lot of young talent in which I look forward to helping create a network of support for the future. If you are ever  in our part of the South Island and want to share a wave and some southern surfing hospitality look us up.