Success Stories From Our Rad Students Inside BetterWave

Where every program we create helps you progress faster — with confidence. 

 

"I Surfed Mavericks at Age 60"

 

"At age 59, after only 6 years of surfing, I asked Bianca to coach me to surf Mavericks before my 60th birthday. With her attention to safety, mindset, and unique perspective, I not only achieved my goal I also love surfing more every day."

Lionel Conacher Founder, CEO, Investor

 

After only 6 years of surfing experience, Lionel set an audacious goal: surf one of the world's most dangerous waves—Mavericks—before turning 60.

Through Bianca's coaching on safety protocols, mindset training, wave reading, and surfing, Lionel didn't just achieve his goal—he went on to surf other world-class waves and became a much more proficient waterman.

 

"Bianca Helped Me Achieve the Impossible"

 

"Bianca is the best mentor ever. With her guidance I am constantly surprising myself and achieving what I thought was impossible. One day she said to me, 'our goal is to make the impossible possible, are you ready for this?!'"

— Zoe Chait, Big Wave Surfer

 

Zoe was ready to push beyond her limits but needed a mentor who could see her potential and guide her past self-imposed barriers.

Session after session, Zoe surprised herself by achieving what she once thought was impossible—riding bigger, more challenging waves with confidence and stoke.

Hear It Directly From Them

From surfers who have transformed their relationship with the ocean.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

More From The Lineup

 

"The Surf Longevity course takes a whole-person approach"

"The Surf Longevity course has been an incredible experience. It's not just about the physical or mental side of surfing—it truly takes a whole-person approach. Bianca helped me reframe not only what I focus on in the water, but how I approach surfing overall, bringing the joy and fun back into the experience. The techniques we covered were incredibly helpful, even as a beginner, and gave me a more open mindset toward learning and progression. It showed me that meaningful progress in surfing is possible at any age."

Fes Naqvi

 

"Ready to push past my comfort zone"

"I want to push past my comfort zone. I grew up surfing Long Island, and now I want to get barreled in Nicaragua. Working with Bianca is helping me shift from 'I surf casually' to 'I'm ready for a true performance breakthrough.'"

Holly Maran




 

"Using the (Surf Longevity) mindset principles to help my son surf safely"

"I surfed seasonally for years—now I'm going to Indonesia and I want to use these mindset principles to help my son surf safely and confidently. What I'm learning from Bianca extends beyond me—I'm building generational surf literacy."

Trista Patterson



 

"I'm slowing down now but I want to get barreled"

"I'm slowing down now but I want to get barreled. I need better stretches and warm-ups to feel ready. Bianca is helping me reframe aging not as limitation, but as optimization—showing me I can still set ambitious goals."

Amanda Hatton





 

"It (Surf Longevity Course) gave me a new perspective about surfing"

"The course helped me step back and develop a new perspective about what surfing means for me. Less tired after surfing, learning faster. It gave me a new perspective about surfing, and allowed me to learn from observing the journey of a handful of other people too. I think it might do the same for you too."

Alexandre Scialom



 

"I had a few waves where I was fully committing for the first time ever"

"I am still working through the (Surf Longevity) course, but so far, an overall shift back to be curious and stoked on the little discoveries about surfing and myself is what I notice shifting for me. I had a few waves where for the first time ever I was fully committing from the moment I started paddling in, and this felt amazing! I am starting to notice when I am choking up on a wave and not using the whole wave face as much as I could."


Annie Atkinson

 

"Back in the water after a 20-year break"

"I started surfing again after a 20-year break. I get tired pushing through waves and need to rest between sets. I want to improve my endurance and get my pop-up and turns back. Through the (Surf Longevity) course, I'm more aware of my positioning, keeping calm with breathing, and paddling with better technique. I'm learning to read the waves and choose the right wave to get the best ride."

James Formo

 

"Getting back into surfing after a 10-year hiatus"

"I'm getting back into surfing after a 10-year hiatus. I used to wear myself out and be dehydrated and hungry, and now I'm trying to give myself energy again. I'm working on overcoming limiting beliefs about being too old or too many aches and pains. The (Surf Longevity) course is helping me reframe age, fear, and exhaustion into a self-supportive practice."

Maggy Frias

 

"Learning to surf better and feel safe"

"I've been pushing through pain for years, and it's holding me back. I'm also trying to avoid aggressive people in the lineup. I just want to surf better and feel safe. This (Surf Longevity) course is helping me shift from the injury-anxiety cycle to choosing safety, presence, and longevity in my surfing."

Robyn Dalbey


 
 

"Her online course completely changed the way I approach surfing"

"I've been surfing Ocean Beach in San Francisco for over 15 years, mostly chasing big, powerful waves—but nothing like what Bianca calls big. I met Bianca about a decade ago. When she launched her professional coaching career, I signed up immediately. Her online course completely changed the way I approach surfing—not just technically, but mentally. Bianca has an uncanny ability to read the ocean. She'd tell me to paddle a certain direction, and suddenly a wave would appear exactly where she said. It's like she sees the future. But her real magic is mindset. Her course helped me feel like I truly belong in the water. The ocean feels like home now. I'm more confident, more grounded, and I just have way more fun. I've tried pretty much every online surf course out there. Most are either too generic or too bro-y. Bianca's different. She's an elite big wave surfer and a gifted teacher."

Peter Malkin
Senior Google Executive

 

"Bianca's positivity and stoked-ness are truly infectious"

"My first experience with Bianca at Surf Ranch perfectly encapsulates the supportive and fun atmosphere I cherish in surfing. Despite my nerves about surfing at night for the first time, her presence instantly put me at ease. Even through a challenging first session, her support was unwavering, and our next session together was much more successful. Having Bianca in my life, even if we don't surf together often, is a constant reminder of the fun aspect of surfing. Bianca's positivity and stoked-ness are truly infectious. The fact that someone at her skill level can genuinely feel that excitement for someone like me, who is at the opposite end of the spectrum, is a powerful reminder that we're all in the water to have fun together. Her history of fighting for equality in surfing is incredibly inspiring. I am grateful for her."

Jessica Lessin
CEO & Founder, The Information



 

"Bianca meets you where you are."

"I found myself at Ocean Beach, hucking myself into big waves and somewhat reaching a limit of my ability to just keep throwing myself into bigger waves. I texted my friend and said, 'I need a surf coach.' She connected me with Bianca—and that was far beyond whatever I thought was going to be my surf coach. Bianca has a very intentional thought process about surfing. She was incredible in helping me get my gear right—getting rid of my ego with it. She really helped me rethink the type of gear I bring to the beach. She was super helpful in making sure I had the right gear to set myself up for success. The way that she coaches me is very different than how she'll coach someone else because she really values getting more people in the ocean and making sure that you're having the best time out there as possible. She's so intentional with every student and meeting them where they are in that moment, in that day, in that season of life—which is what really sets her apart."

Julia Harbaugh
US State Department Sports Envoy

 
 

"I love the rhythm of smaller surf and getting groovy"

"My routine isn't consistent. I love the rhythm of smaller surf and getting groovy, but I overcomplicate things. I'm trying to pick two simple things so I can stay loose instead of stiff and zonked. The (Surf Longevity) course is helping me reframe my entire approach from performance pressure to rhythm and simplicity."

Trish O'Rourke



 

"Bianca wants to surf till she's 100—that's what she's offering"

"One of the things I love about Bianca is she's like, 'I want to surf till I'm 100.' She is engaged in that practice of wanting to surf as long as she can. That's what she's offering in the course. In Ayurveda and yoga, there's a set amount of time that we can do things if we do them in a good way. So it's like: how can I use my sessions to be as mindful as I can so I can think about how many times in my whole life I can surf—not just how many waves I might take today."

Kameko Shibata


 

"Bianca helped me see surfing in new ways. Now I feel safer, more confident, and have more fun."

"Bianca embodies the essence of passion and professionalism in surfing. With each session, her expertise shines through, inspiring me to challenge myself while feeling secure under her guidance. Bianca's profound understanding of the ocean instills a sense of safety, making every surf session with her a remarkable experience. She is a true gem in women's surfing, blending unparalleled skill with deep knowledge. Her articulate coaching style, coupled with a steadfast commitment to safety, sets her apart as the perfect surf coach."

Suzie Yang

 

"Bianca is a no-nonsense miracle worker."

"Her mantras and training have helped me push through barriers both physically and mentally that had been blocking me for years. Bianca gave me a better framework for facing fear, and helped me access the confidence I needed to reach my next level. Bianca meets you where you are, individually, to identify and resolve your obstacles, and send each and every wave technically and physically“

Michelle Pusateri




 

"Surfing is a humbling dance with forces far greater than ourselves, where mindset makes the difference between enjoyment and punishment. Mindset is what we can train in all seasons, under any conditions. Since taking this 5 Mindset Masterclass, I've been consistently catching more waves! Bianca offers wisdom for waves and life. “

Erinne Davies
Senior Project Manager

 

 

 

 

"I Was Too Scared to Go In… This Course Got Me in the Water"

"Before I took the course, I really struggled with confidence and believing in myself. Mindset out in the water was really hard for me, especially in crowded lineups or with people who are more aggressive.

After this course, I have felt a lot more empowered. I just arrived at Zicatela for my first time and I was not planning on going in the water at all because it’s a really heavy barrel and it scares me. Bianca’s mindset course empowered me to swim out there and shoot from the water—and it’s something that I never would have done if I hadn’t had the confidence from taking this course.“

Elle Adams

 

"I Almost Didn’t Paddle Out… Then Everything Changed"

"I was feeling pretty nervous about the swell today. Surfline saying 3-4’+ makes me question my abilities will it be 5 or 6? I woke up at 1 am thinking about it and I put your mindset course on my phone to listen. It put me at ease immediately. Just hearing “watch the waves for 30 minutes”, “encourage you to go in if it’s safe”, reminding me that I have agency and can make that call and paddling out to learn if its safe is always worth it.

I've been riding this smaller mid-length and I love it. I don't have the fear of giant sets on the head with a log in tow. Pumping up and down the wave is so fun!

Before this course, even changing equipment felt impossible and scary.

I had what felt like two career waves today. I am really seeing a shift in my approach. I feel stronger with the training and way more confident. Thank you, thank you ⁨Bianca⁩!“

Jacqueline Goncalves

 

"I Used to Wing It—Now Every Surf Has a Strategy"

"Before working with Bianca, I never thought strategically about my sessions. I went out without a plan and just took things as they came. Sometimes this works for me, sometimes it didn’t. Now that I’ve completed the Surf Longevity Course, each surf comes with a preplanning session and a plan to execute while I’m in the water. This helps me know exactly what technique I wanna work on and helps me choose the best spot in the lineup for getting that result. If anyone is on the fence about working with Bianca, I would say absolutely do it. I don’t know anyone else who is as strategic about surfing as Bianca. So many times, it’s not necessarily about surfing harder. It’s really just surfing smarter, and Bianca has all the tools to share to upgrade your sessions.“

Melanie Ezell





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Success Story

 

Regardless of where you are in your surfing journey, we've got the system and resources to make it easier and more fun.

Better gear choices.

Stronger paddling.

Clearer decision-making in the lineup.

More confidence, less hesitation.

Whether you're rebuilding after injury, breaking through a plateau, or just want to keep surfing for life—there's a path forward. We can't wait to meet you!

 

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