MATILDA SHIELDS

Stephanie Gilmore, 8-time world champion, once said, “Surfing is drawing on the face of a wave.”
 

Creativity and sport have been at the core of who I am since I was little.

Growing up, I spent many of my early years competing nationally in three different sports. During that time, I captained one team for four years and won national titles in the other two. After a day of training or competing, once my body was physically too tired, this is when I’d pick up a tool and start to create. But when I discovered surfing at 14, something clicked. It allowed me to combine my love of sport with my creative side.

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That moment set me on two paths: creativity and surfing.
 

I went on to study Sportswear Design at Falmouth University, graduating with First Class Honours and being shortlisted in internationally recognised design awards. After university, I worked across several areas of the creative industry, including roles as a marketing manager, videographer, photographer, graphic and product designer. By combining all of those areas with a data-led marketing strategy, I create content that delivers measurable results- helping brands grow their visibility, engagement, and sales through strategic, visually driven storytelling.

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Alongside my work in the creative industry, I began surf coaching and lifeguarding. I’ve been coaching for the past eight years, and I spent six years working as a Senior Lifeguard in Newquay. During this time I was on the water safety team for the ISA World Para Surfing Championships in 2023. I coach surfers from beginner to advanced, including adaptive surfing. I am ISA-qualified and hold the SLSGB Beach Lifeguard qualification, and my coaching ranges from in-water sessions to video analysis. My aim is to help surfers develop both their technique and confidence in the sea, with the main priority being to have fun.