Meet Sherry

Hi! I'm Sherry Meneses, founder and instructor.

I created Sampaguita Surf because surfing changed my life. Not because I wanted to become an athlete, but because it helped me heal.

At 42 years old, I caught my first wave in 2021 at a women's surf retreat alongside my best friends in New Jersey. What I found wasn't just a sport. It was a return to myself. I reunited with my inner child and found pure joy again.

The ocean demanded presence. It taught me resilience, confidence, patience, and trust. For the first time in years, I wasn't thinking about deadlines, caregiving, or responsibilities. I was simply here. Now.

After years of balancing career, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the challenges of living with autoimmune diseases, I discovered something transformative in the ocean: connection, well-being, and a renewed sense of self. As a first-generation Filipina American, I understand what it means to carry life's challenges while continuing to show up for everyone else.

Through my years with the Wahine Warriors surf wellness program, I found a supportive community that strengthened my confidence and resilience. In the six years since catching that first wave, surfing has taken me to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Jamaica—but the greatest journey has been the one back to myself.

Watching foster girls, veterans, and women from all walks of life experience that same sense of empowerment and belonging inspired me to create Sampaguita Surf—a welcoming community where people can reconnect with themselves, each other, and the healing rhythms of Mother Ocean.

Rooted in resilience. Connected by the sea.

Experience & Certifications

  • ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor & ISA/ILS Water Safety Certified

  • Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200)

  • Groundswell Surf Therapy for Trauma Recovery (Level 1)

  • Wahine Warriors Participant & Volunteer

  • Ocean-Friendly Garden Coordinator, Surfrider Broward

  • 8 Years as Co-Founder, Soul & Ink, Creative Placemaking & Experiential Events

  • 25+ Years as an Art Director & Designer for Social Change