1964 - present

Brenda Miley is a surfing enthusiast and philanthropic business owner who as the founder of Let's Go Surfing, has become a staple of the Bondi Beach Community. Growing up in Coogee, Brenda says she caught her first wave on her dads back at 3 years old. She learnt to Bodyboard in Tamarama before moving to a fibreglass board in Bondi and Maroubra. She grew up in the ocean of the eastern beaches. In the 1980's she was a part of the In The Nude Board riders (ITN) Bondi surf crew, the Maroubra Southend Board Riders alongside figures like Pauline Menzcer, the Webber family, Cheyne Horan, Bill Power and Matthew Ellks. As a competitive surfer, she was a water lover and despite being one of the few females, was part of the crew and a highly regarded surfer.

Let's Go Surfing started with the idea of teaching women how to surf. Having risen through the ranks of the male dominated local surf clubs and earn't her place in the community, Brenda wanted to carve a safe space for female surfers. In doing so, she wished to increase the female presence in the community and to increase the number of women in surf competitions.

Let's Go Surfing launched in 1995. At the time Brenda was a Physical Education Teacher in Dover Heights bringing an education background and using course writing skills as the foundation to the business. At this time, formal surf teaching had yet to emerge and there was little in the way of a surf school industry, Brenda was one of the early leaders of the industry. The first iteration of the business was run out of the back of a van with just a couple of surf boards. After a few years of developing the business, Miley transitioned from PE teaching to full time surf coaching. In 1998 an old laundromat in North Bondi caught Miley's eye and Lets Go Surfing Found its home. Having undertaken a coaching course with Surfing Australia and completed her thesis on surfing, she was a founding member of the National Surf Schools and Instructors association, an industry body who ensured quality and standardised surfing instruction through programs and education.

Since its inception, Let's Go Surfing has continued to be a leader in the space. From a small team of casual coaches in 1995, the organisation now employs over 100 staff across training institutions at North Bondi, Malabar, Rose Bay, Maroubra, Byron Bay, Ballina and Brunswick. The School also had a hub and training room in the Bondi Pavilion throughout the 2010's.

Lets Go Surfing has won multiple awards including Gold NSW Tourism awards and has been inducted into the NSW Tourism hall of fame. Brenda describes the community outcomes of the business as the highlight. For Brenda the class might be surfing, but the real outcome of her work is providing access for all and helping people and ‘changing lives one wave at a time’.

Courtesy Let’s Go Surfing.