WOMP

Short Documentary Director & Editor The ocean belongs to everyone, but the world of surfing hasn't always reflected that. In the often male-dominated lineups of Southern California, a group of teenage girls is helping redefine who belongs in the water. WOMP follows a group of young women in North County, San Diego, as they discover surfing through the Changing Tides Foundation's Women's Outreach Mentorship Program (WOMP). For many of these girls, the program marks their first real relationship with the ocean. What begins as an opportunity to learn to surf quickly becomes something much bigger: a journey of self-discovery, confidence, friendship, and belonging. I served as the director and editor of this documentary, working alongside producer Becky Mendoza and a talented team of cinematographers to bring this story to life. With footage captured by multiple contributors, my role in post-production was to shape a cohesive, character-driven narrative that balanced the energy of surfing with the quieter, more personal moments of growth and connection. At its heart, WOMP is about much more than catching waves. It's a story about mentorship, representation, and the power of community to create lasting change. Through the experiences of these young surfers, the film celebrates the importance of making outdoor spaces more accessible and empowering the next generation of women to confidently take their place in the lineup. This project brought together two areas of storytelling I'm particularly drawn to: adventure sports and human connection, using the ocean as a backdrop to explore the transformative power of finding a community where you belong.