An Interview With Melissa From Bitches ‘n Barrels

What started as a cheeky group chat turned into one of the most inclusive, joy-filled surf communities on Canada’s West Coast. Meet the Bitches behind the Barrels — building waves, breaking norms, and proving that cold water can have the warmest hearts.

From Group Chat to Surf Movement

It all started with a surf trip to Tofino, a few brave friends, and a lot of laughs. Madison and Melissa — the founding duo of Bitches ’n Barrels — were learning to surf alongside their guy friends, but something didn’t quite click.

“They meant well, but we often found ourselves pushed into situations we weren’t ready for. We wanted a different experience – one focused on learning, progressing, and having fun with like-minded women from our community.”

The trip was organized through a jokingly named group chat, “Bitches ’n Barrels.” Somewhere between the road snacks, wetsuits, and wipeouts, they snapped that classic longboard group photo, boards lined up, grins from ear to ear, and posted it online.

“Almost immediately, our inbox was flooded with messages from people asking how they could join the next trip. That’s when we realized we’d tapped into something really special.”

More Than Just Surf Trips: Building Skills and Sisterhood

Bitches ’n Barrels isn’t just about catching waves, it’s about creating a supportive surf community.

“Learning to surf on southern Vancouver Island can be intimidating, with plenty of barriers to entry. Rental gear can be hard to find, the drive to the break is long, the best surf happens in cold winter conditions, and beginner-friendly waves aren’t always easy to access.”

And then there’s the lineup.

“The local surf scene can feel unwelcoming at times. Lineups are often male-dominated (especially when the waves get big) and elements of macho surf culture still persist, which can make it tough for newcomers to feel welcome.”

This is where BnB starts and why they do what they do:

“We’re more than just surf trips—we focus on helping people build skills and confidence through coaching and lessons, but most importantly, we’re about community. The real magic happens through the connections people make on our trips and at our events.”

Inclusion is the New Lineup Rule

Surfing can be intimidating, but BnB is changing that. Instead of the old-school surf culture that leaves no room for mistakes or “wasting waves”, BnB exists to make everyone feel welcomed.

“We’re working to create a surf community where everyone feels supported to try, learn, and grow without fear of judgment. We want the lineup to be a place of encouragement, not intimidation. Everyone was a beginner once, and fostering that sense of safety and acceptance, where you’re welcome no matter where you are in your surf journey, is at the heart of true inclusivity.”

*“Inclusion starts with feeling safe to show up as your full self.”*

That mindset doesn’t just change individual confidence; it quietly transforms lineup culture. When encouragement becomes the norm, progression follows naturally.

Surf Sisterhood in Action

Working with incredible surf leaders has been key to BnB’s growth:

“It’s such a joy to work alongside so many talented women in the surf industry. Supporting women in surf is always rewarding, but we’re especially lucky to collaborate with partners who are truly exceptional at what they do.”

With Surf Sister, an inclusive surf school in Tofino, and Lydia Ricard, a specialized longboard surf coach, learning to surf is approachable, empowering, and fun.

“The entire Surf Sister team brings a kind of magic to their instruction, an energy that puts participants at ease and makes learning feel both fun and approachable. They have an incredible ability to break down feedback in a way that supports real progression. Our intermediate longboarders always thrive in their coaching sessions with Lydia, who has a unique gift for helping surfers build awareness of their style and technique. She breaks down the steps to noseriding in a way that feels empowering and accessible.”

*Boards, babes, and barrels: it’s not just surfing, it’s sisterhood in action.*

The Community Board: A Judgment-Free Lineup Online

As many founders in Surfpreneurs know, digital spaces can make or break a community. Facebook groups in particular can become powerful incubators — not just for information, but for belonging. Bitches ’n Barrels took that principle and applied it to their local surf scene through the creation of their own Community Board.

“The Community Board was created as a space where people could ask questions and connect without pressure or judgment. If you’ve ever scrolled through the comment sections of surf-focused social media pages, you’ve probably seen how quickly things can get sassy or even downright discouraging. We wanted to offer something different: a supportive space where folks can ask about surfing, gear, travel, or anything else, and know they’ll be met with encouragement and helpful advice from like-minded individuals. We haven’t put a ton of structure around it, it’s grown pretty organically, and it’s been amazing to see the community shape it into such a positive and inclusive space.”

For Melissa, the Facebook Community Board isn’t just a forum, it’s an extension of the lineup philosophy BnB advocates for. It removes gatekeeping, amplifies diverse voices, and turns curiosity into connection.

Behind the Scenes: Organized Chaos with Heart

Like many other entrepreneurs running their own businesses, Melissa has a 9-to-5 job to pay the bills, and runs BnB on the side as her passion project. She is proving that passion and the right team can move mountains.

“Luckily, I’m surrounded by an incredible team who helps bring everything to life. Our Board of Directors does an amazing job guiding the organization and keeping us grounded in our mission, while our behind-the-scenes crew works tirelessly to make each event, trip, and initiative happen. We just wrapped our ninth season, and it finally feels like we’ve found our rhythm, but there’s always room to grow and improve. And of course, we’re constantly dreaming up new ideas (probably more than we can realistically pull off at once!). So who knows what 2026 will bring, but we’re excited to find out.”

Growing Sustainably: Building a Volunteer-Powered Movement

Building BnB hasn’t been without challenges. Melissa emphasizes that sustainability is at the core of their strategy.

“Our biggest challenge has been building Bitches ‘n Barrels in a sustainable way. We rely heavily on volunteer support to keep everything running, and at times it feels like our growth has been limited by volunteer and board capacity. While we haven’t fully solved this yet, we’ve been dedicating significant effort to strategic planning and actively strengthening our team and processes to expand our support network.”

Many surf-based initiatives grow faster than their capacity can support. BnB acknowledges that honestly, and actively works on strategic planning, team building, and systems that can scale. It’s an entrepreneurial truth: passion fuels the spark, but structure sustains the fire.

Advice for Dreamers, Doers, and Surfers

“Just do it. None of us at Bitches ‘n Barrels knew what we were doing and we just figured it out as we went. Having passion about a cause can take you far, so don’t worry about what you don’t know and focus on the purpose, and it will all work out!”

From branding to logistics to volunteer coordination, Melissa’s experience reminds founders everywhere: you don’t need credentials to create impact. You learn by paddling into the set, not watching from shore.

The Heart of It All: Moments That Make You Paddle Back Out

“My favorite moment on every BnB trip is when everyone comes out of the water after their first surf lesson. The smiles are huge, the energy is electric, and the stoke is always sky-high. It’s so fun hearing the excitement, whether it’s someone who just stood up for the first time, caught their first green wave, took a cross step, or nailed their first turn. Those moments of pure joy and accomplishment never get old.”

Those smiles are more than stoke, they’re breakthroughs. Confidence shifts. Fear dissolves. Community forms. And sometimes, a single wave becomes a reason to keep returning to the ocean.

“I also have a “this is why we do this” moment every time I’m surfing on the South Island and spot a group of women who met on one of our trips out surfing together. That’s exactly why we started Bitches ‘n Barrels - to build community and connection through surfing. Seeing that come to life in such a tangible way is incredibly heartwarming.”

*“The smiles are huge, the energy is electric, and the stoke is always sky-high.”*

Dreams on the Horizon

“This bitch has still never been barreled, so on a personal level, that’s definitely on the list!”

Melissa hopes to expand BnB to youth surf camps, ensuring young people feel they belong in the lineup from the start.

“My dream is to be proactive—to reach young people before they ever feel that way, and to help them grow up knowing they do belong here.”

Reaching the next generation means preventing exclusion before it begins. It’s long-term lineup culture work, and it starts with early belonging.

“*In a lot of ways, building Bitches ‘n Barrels came from a place of feeling like I didn’t belong in the surf scene*”

Community Lessons Surfpreneurs Can Learn From BnB

Building a surf community isn’t just about getting people into the water, it’s about shaping the culture they find once they’re there. That’s something every surf entrepreneur can learn from.

BnB’s success didn’t come from a perfectly polished launch, but from listening, iterating, and letting shared values drive decisions.

“The best way to support our organization is to spread the word - tell your friends, join us for an event, or come surf with us! But the best way to support our cause is to live those same values in your own lineup: be kind, be patient, and help make surfing more inclusive for everyone.”

For founders working in surf-adjacent spaces, that translates to:

Let culture grow organically before adding structure
Create low-pressure entry points for newcomers
Empower your community to support each other
Celebrate progression at every level

At Surfpreneurs, we celebrate founders who don’t just chase waves, they create them. Melissa and the Bitches ’n Barrels crew are proof that sisterhood, stoke, and a little sass can shift surf culture from within.

Continuing the Conversation