My name is Maria Dominika, but everyone calls me Tika. I'm from Tololago in the Mentawai Islands. I've been surfing for several years now, and I'm still trying to learn more, improve, and keep progressing every day.
1. Can you tell us a little about how you started surfing?
I started surfing five years ago, and I immediately felt that surfing was something that brought me a lot of joy. I started with a broken surfboard near my village, and I remember thinking, “Wow.”
2. Do you remember your first wave?
Yes. I started surfing at 4 Bobs. That was where I caught my very first wave. A friend helped me and pushed me into it.
I remember feeling so happy. Even after I got home, I kept thinking about it. I thought, “Maybe tomorrow I'll try surfing again.”
I was hoping that someone might lend me a board so I could surf more often. I was really excited to keep surfing, surf more, and improve. I also wanted to bring my friends with me so we could surf together.
3. How does surfing make you feel?
Surfing makes me very happy. It gives me energy and motivation.
When I'm at work, I often think about surfing. As soon as I finish work, I go surfing if I have the chance. I also like inviting my friends to come surf with me.
I really enjoy everything about surfing. It makes me happy, and because of that, I feel more motivated and positive in my everyday life.
4. How do you feel when you meet other women in the water?
Whenever I meet other women surfing, I feel very happy.
I enjoy talking with them, learning from them, and sharing experiences. Every time I meet another woman in the water, I feel excited because we can learn from each other and grow together through surfing.
5. What do you wish visitors understood about Mentawai culture?
One thing that is important to me is mutual respect.
I had a friend from overseas who invited me surfing and wore surf clothing that was quite revealing, similar to a bikini. I explained to her that I wasn't really used to clothing like that because of my cultural background.
She understood and respected my culture. She didn't pressure me or make me feel uncomfortable. I really appreciated that.
At the same time, I also respected her culture because that is part of who she is. We come from different backgrounds, but we can still understand and respect one another.
6. What do you think about tourism and people from outside coming to Mentawai?
For me, our home and our environment should be protected and looked after, not damaged.
When people from outside come here and build businesses or places to stay, I don't believe they come with the intention of destroying anything.
Personally, tourism has helped me. It has given me work and opportunities. I enjoy my job, and I've learned many things through it.
In fact, it was because people from outside came to my area that I discovered surfing. They introduced me to it and invited me into the water. That's how I first learned what surfing was, and I realized how much happiness it brought me.
7. Why do you think there are more male surfers than female surfers?
I think it depends on confidence and interest.
I've worked hard to encourage more women to surf. At one point, when I worked somewhere else, I was the only woman who surfed. Sometimes I felt lonely because there were so many men in the water and very few women.
I started asking myself, "Why don't I invite my friends to come surfing too?"
So I spoke with my female friends and encouraged them to try. Most of them told me they were afraid of the waves.
I told them, "Don't be afraid. The waves won't kill you. Once you're in the water, you'll feel happy. You'll discover how beautiful the ocean is, and you'll see all the life beneath the surface."
That made them curious, but then they said, "We don't have surfboards."
I told them not to worry. I spoke with my boss and asked if we could borrow some longboards. He supported the idea and said yes.
We went surfing together, and I helped push them into their first waves.
Afterwards, they came back to me and said, "Wow, this is so much fun."
Some of them even gave me a hug.
And I told them, "That's exactly what I was trying to tell you. Once you experience a wave for yourself, you'll understand how much fun it is, and you'll want to do it again."
Thank you to Tika for welcoming us into her home, being such an inspiration and forging a path for women in surfing! We look up to you and are so thankful for you kindness!
Want to see more of Tika Malica?
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