"The contests are the vehicle, but the mission is giving mothers a permanent voice and space in surfing." -Danielle Zirkelbach, Imua Moms Founder

For too long, the stories of mothers in surfing have gone untold. The performances that defy impossible odds, in the hardest phase of a human life on all sides, mother, chid, and family . The sacrifices made in silence. The truth the world never knew, but has the power to heal our world. The forgotten healing that is emerging now. This is where that changes things moving forward, with this very contest.

This contest exists to amplify every woman's story—the trials, the triumphs, the moments that make up some of the greatest narratives in sports history. Yes, there will be a winner. But the true purpose of IMUA MOMS is bigger than a trophy.

The winner is simply the story, wave, and spirit that most powerfully helps illuminate the realities of motherhood in surfing. Winning isn't about who surfed the best wave. It's about who shared a message that brings the reality of motherhood in surfing into the light.

Every story deserves space to live and breathe. For the first time, they will.

We believe that when we champion mothers, we champion health—for ourselves, our children, and our families. By shifting how the world sees motherhood, we inspire a new generation to value what it truly means to be strong.

This is about changing the sponsorship model itself. Not to ignore the excellence of motherhood, but to celebrate it. To build systems that support mothers as the athletes, leaders, and changemakers they are.

The stories coming forward are not being reserved for the famous, the sponsored, or the already visible. They are being opened to mothers everywhere. This is not about creating a spotlight for one woman. It is about creating a platform for all women.

Motherhood is no longer the end of an athletic story. It is one of the most powerful chapters within it. Some of the greatest stories in surfing history have never been told.
Until now.
IMUA!

How it works

The IMUA MOMS TRIPLE CROWN is a global digital surf competition celebrating mother surfers of all levels. Running June 18–September 14, 2026. Over a four-month period, competitors and filters will collect and document shortboard and/or longboard sessions while creating a edit showcasing three essential elements to this triple crown contest, entree: surfing, story, and spirit. You and your filmer (iPhone or however you can) will make an edit together, telling your story. It's not about the production but the content, the story, who you are and why surfing is your special place for coming back home to yourself. You build your edit with the format, just as the scoring states. WAVE, STORY, SPIRIT and submit that edit 10 minutes or less for scoring. If you win, you win 4000.00 and your filmer wins 1000.00, making the prize of the contest 5000.00.

Scoring Breakdown:
Crown 1: Wave Performance — 40% of your score
Crown 2: Story — 30% of your score
Crown 3: Spirit — 30% of your score

We celebrate the complete athlete. Your surfing, your story, and your spirit all matter. You don't need to be perfect to win—bring your authentic self and compete for $5,000 in total prize money.

Participants are responsible for creating their own edit. The grand prize winner receives $4,000, and their filmer receives $1,000.

👑 Crown 1: The Wave—Surf Performance

Crown 1: Wave Performance — 40%

Participants submit 2–6 surf clips showcasing competition or free surfing. Longboarding and/or shortboarding welcome.

Judged on: Wave selection, Flow and style, Commitment and presence, Having fun.

Being the best surfer doesn't guarantee a win. You're judged as a complete surfer across multiple dimensions. Your overall presence, style, and heart in the water matter more than a single perfect wave.

This contest rewards the whole package—your story, passion, and impact in the lineup. Open to all levels. Get out there, have fun, and give it your all.

👑 Crown 2: The Story—Motherhood Narrative

Crown 2: Story — 30%

Submit a video (up to 10 minutes) about your experience staying connected to surfing through pregnancy, motherhood, or a moment in the ocean that shaped your journey as a mother who surfs.

We want raw, honest storytelling. Be specific and vulnerable. Share the physical changes, emotional weight, identity shifts, grief, joy, the support you found or didn't find, mental health battles, the body you didn't recognize, guilt, liberation, victories, and setbacks. Tell us what nobody talks about.

What did motherhood take from you? What did it give you? How did the ocean hold you through it?

Your story might explore life before and after motherhood, returning to the water, identity and transformation, mental health and healing, feeling supported or excluded, reclaiming your body, or what it means to have a space created for mothers who surf.

Judged by athlete mothers, storytellers, and women who understand balancing motherhood and performance.

👑 Crown 3: The Spirit—Three Witness Testimonies

Crown 3: Spirit — 30%

Gather three witness testimonies. BUT WAIT. Before dismissing feedback as uncomfortable, remember this: who you are and what you do matter profoundly.

Hearing genuine testimonies about your impact is essential because it reveals truths you cannot see from within. When others share how your presence as a mother, mentor, and community member has inspired them to be braver, more authentic, or more resilient, you gain clarity about your true influence. These reflections ground you in purpose and remind you that your work touches lives in meaningful ways. This recognition is not about ego—it is about understanding your value to those around you and accepting the responsibility that comes with being someone others look up to.

Submit three 30–90 second testimonies (video):

Witness 1: In The Water—Someone who has surfed with you

Witness 2: Life Witness—Someone who knows you as a mother

Witness 3: Community Witness—A coach, friend, mentor, or fellow mother

Prompt: "How would you describe her spirit in and out of the water, and what do you think people don't see about her?"

Who Can Enter

Participant must be a mother or guardian anywhere in the world.

Must Surf or Longboard

Willing to share your story in public spaces

Willing to share your story in public spaces

Your Content

By submitting your content to Imua Moms, you grant us permission to use your submissions across social media posts, YouTube, and media outlets. We may also feature your submission in documentaries, films, and publications that chronicle this important historical movement, including magazines and other archival media. Your contribution helps us share and preserve the story of this moment.

Your information is protected and we will only use your content for positive uplifting purposes. If for any reason you choose not to be included, please let us know and we can withdraw your submission.

All submitted content must be family-friendly and appropriate for public sharing. If your submission includes children, please ensure they are wearing appropriate clothing or swimwear. Content must comply with platform policies, including YouTube's guidelines protecting minors.

Edit and Filmer

Surfing Mothers are the untold stories of our world. They navigate extraordinary challenges, create magic in everyday moments, and show up—hungry, tired, often unseen—to shape the world. Yet their narratives rarely reach the screen unless they're already famous. We're changing that.

The Imua Moms Contest Series flips the script. We're hunting for filmmaker-mother teams because the most powerful stories come from those brave enough to see beyond the surface. When a filmmaker's lens captures a mother in her element—raw, real, unstoppable—something shifts. The camera finds truth in the overlooked. It documents the behind-the-scenes moments on the beach, the victories no one else witnesses, the quiet strength that moves mountains.

This isn't polished celebrity narratives recycled endlessly. This is discovery. Real. Messy. Powerful. The adventures happening in your neighborhood, your family, your life—the ones that matter most because they're yours.

The most cinematic narratives aren't always the loudest. They're hidden in plain sight, waiting for a storyteller willing to look deeper. They're told by voices that haven't been heard yet, captured by cameras that see what others missed.

We're asking you to find that story. The one that carries truth so fierce it becomes unforgettable.

Bring your camera. Bring your perspective. Bring your truth. Let's create something that changes everything.

How to Sign Up.

Below is the entry form and entry fee information. The entry fee covers judging, platform fees, media production, prizes, and prize money. We're committed to growing this movement globally and establishing Imua Moms as a transformative force in how we celebrate and support mothers in our community. Your support and participation is world changing.

SIGN ME UP!

Submissions

Digital Submissions:
Send all materials via We Transfer, Dropbox, or Google Drive to imuamoms@gmail.com with subject line: YOUR NAME, TC ENTRY

IE: DANIELLE ZIRK, TC ENTRY

Accepted formats: WeTransfer, Dropbox, or Google Drive

Prizes: $5,000 purse

Your participation is making history

My goal is to create a lasting impact in surfing for mothers. I'm honored to launch this movement here in Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing itself. I envision several key initiatives:

• A documentary celebrating mothers in the sport. Aligning with brave film makers passionate about authentic movements.

• An Imua Moms division in surf competitions that gives mothers the recognition and platform they deserve.

• A new sponsorship model that honors and amplifies the stories of mothers as valuable, marketable athletes and role models.

We belong in the spaces we've built. These are ambitious goals, and they matter deeply. My own journey—shaped by loss and resilience—has prepared me to lead this work. Through Imua Ohana, our children will grow up knowing that mothers and families are valued, celebrated, and essential to the future of surfing. Your participation on this journey is helping me bring that to life, with each story. I love and appreciate you.

Love,

Danielle

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