Since we’re feeling a bit nostalgic with Soul & Surf turning 15, I thought I’d share a little about how it all started for me…
Words by Joel Rollason | 12th September 25
From feral surf coach to hotel manager — I’ve worn a lot of hats over my years with Soul & Surf. It’s been a journey of growth, love, community, and (occasionally) surfing.
Me (left) with my fellow surf coaches Andy and Sam in the early days at Soul & Surf Sri Lanka in 2019.
My Soul & Surf beginnings start from Watergate Bay in Cornwall in 2016, where I met Adam, who was already working for Soul & Surf. Believe it or not, at the time, I thought he was quite a cool guy whom I’d like to work with. Fast forward nearly 10 years of working together, and the jury is still out.
I didn’t get the job at first — even though (my mate…) Adam, was doing the hiring. (To be fair, I’d recommended someone way more qualified than me.) A few weeks later, though, something opened up — and I was on the first plane to Sri Lanka.
At the time, I was a fully feral surf coach, half a pair of boardshorts, bouncing between Europe and Indo or NZ, depending on the season.
On the taxi ride from Colombo to Ahangama, I remember feeling a bit nervous. I only knew Adam and Simon (head surf coach at the time), and I’d heard things had been a little… intense. Like all Soul & Surf locations, it felt like we were driving to the middle of nowhere — I genuinely thought I was being kidnapped until we rolled up to Thalduwa, I wasn’t kidnapped; I’d arrived in one of the most beautiful places. In my first week, we had some guy who invented Bluetooth, the owner of Royal Enfield Motorcycles, and someone related to the Rothschilds. I kind of figured this place had a different vibe from my feral past, but now I know that might have been an odd week.
In 2019, my surf-coaching days in Sri Lanka came to an abrupt end after the bombings in Colombo. I headed to India for a short stint before Portugal — not knowing I’d fall in love with Rakhul or my now-wife Evelyne.
That season in India was magic. It’s where I really understood what Soul & Surf is about, the reason (I think) Ed & Sof still do it, these unmarked corners of the world with ‘nothing’ apparently special about them until you’re invited in to the community and find these ‘brilliant corners’ (go watch Sam’s doc if you haven’t) of people, food, waves, music, culture. Whenever I’m in Varkala, I’m never without a smile, for the food, for Rakhul, Sujith, Jithu, Praveen, Ram, Anu, and Pooja. That season, I also met Anita, my now boss, agony aunt, and one of my best friends. The people are what make these places so special.
Maybe it was Rakhul before Evelyne, I forget. But it was a LOT of friends made.
Fast forward to now, I’m still here, for all of these reasons, and more, but also for the chance of growth that Soul & Surf has given me. I may be behind a laptop more than I am on a surfboard nowadays, but I've learnt a hell of a lot along the way.
Things I’ve Learned Along the Way
So, a big thanks to Ed, Sofie and Kit — for creating this thing, these hotels, these brilliant corners that have shaped so many of our lives. Thanks for the opportunities, the adventures, and the space to grow.
Cheers to the next 15.
Doing what I do best and learning along the way.
