Mid-Day Anniversary | Creating waves off Mumbai: Meet the duo behind the city's first surf club

Suyash Rawat at Rajodi Beach. PICS /SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

When someone says they're going surfing, your first instinct might be to ask, "Goa or Bali?" You'll be surprised to know that "Virar" is a perfectly acceptable answer too. Ask self-confessed thalassophiles and surfers Suyash and Preeti Rawat (below), who are still riding the high of the Mumbai Surf Festival held in May 2026 at Rajodi Beach, Virar. The duo run the city's first-ever surf club with the aim to "make surfing accessible for anyone who wants to experience the sport for the first time."

"We first travelled to states across South India to learn surfing. We absolutely loved the sport, but just as we were starting to get the hang of it, it was time to come back home. Maharashtra has a coastline stretching over 700 kilometres. We wondered why surfing wasn't popular closer to home." Preeti (left)recalls her Eureka moment. Helmed by Suyash, a International Surfing Association-recognised coach, the seaside club established in 2018 now plays host to eager learners every week.

But things weren't always smooth sailing. "Approvals from authorities was just one half of the battle. Locals would often stop us and warn us not to enter the ocean because they believed it wasn't safe," he reveals. With the right knowledge, conditions, and safety measures, surfing in Mumbai can indeed be fun, he adds. The club is certified by the Surfing Federation of India with a roster of instructors certified by the International Surfing Association (which also entails mandatory lifeguard training).

So what's stopping Mumbaikars from picking up a surfboard every weekend to catch a wave, we wonder. "A lot of us believe we're not fit enough. Surfing is a physical sport, and your body naturally adapts as you practise. The more time you spend in the water, the stronger and more comfortable you become. You don't need to be in the best shape to begin," Suyash reminds us.

A change might be on the horizon for the club that hosted the Mumbai Surf Festival and the Maharashtra Surf Open (MSO) 2026, and unearthed a surfing star. "Over the years, we attended national festivals and watched champions being celebrated, always imagining what it would feel like to see someone from our community experience that moment," the duo shares. The dream came true when surfer Manoj Kumbhar from the club emerged victorious at the MSO 2026. "The moment felt bigger than just one person's achievement," the co-founder admits.

What does the future look like from the high waves, we ask the duo. "Who knows? A decade from now, we could see a national-level or even a world-class surfer emerging from Maharashtra," they reveal their hopes.

Glorious as it may sound, it won't be their biggest victory. "When someone at the club catches a wave, everyone celebrates. When someone reaches a milestone, everyone feels proud. When a learner falls, everyone helps them get back on the board. Building this culture is our biggest win," they sign off. Smells like the spirit of Mumbai to us.

Sept
The month surfing activities will resume at the club after an ongoing monsoon break