Pipe dreams: A woman’s perspective

Not since the WSL (World Surf League) became one of the first international sporting organisations to offer equal prize money for women and men, have we heard such debate about equality. This round of opinions follows the decision to allow women surfers to compete at the iconic Banzai Pipeline as part of the professional CT (Championship Tour). It's the first time in history women have had a shot at surfing this spot, in an elite professional format, and the chance to demonstrate their skills in one of world's gnarliest waves.

Opinions about whether women should be afforded this opportunity swill around on social media like soupy white-water.

Opinion: Girls can't surf like men.

I am familiar with this one, from my time competing in the 80s. I remember sitting on the beach at the 1985 Op Pro, after being knocked out of the event watching Jodie Cooper take the win. Just before the bikini contest the commentator noted that of course the crowd had come to Huntington Beach to watch the men, the 'men stars' he called them, but reassuringly he said, the women’s surfing today is almost up to the men’s standard. (If you know your surfing history you will know women had to fight to keep the Op Pro an event for women, the organisers wanted to cancel the surfing and keep the bikini contest). 

They don’t have the physical strength, it has been said. They? Oh women, OK, so is this something we should work on to be allowed the opportunity to surf the same waves as men, to earn the same salary as men? It’s off to the gym, a bit of testosterone and a short haircut. I assume you want us to look like men when we surf? Sorry what was that? Wear a bikini? 

Enough of the nostalgia, back to the first rounds of the The Billabong Pro 2022.

Wait, was that an 80s Flashback I hear? - Women aren't as good as the men. 

Anyway, back to the action, women are given a chance to enter the water, here we go for the early rounds. It’s a dying swell, (they wouldn’t have paddled out the previous day when it was big we were told, some men seem quite angry,) most are unfamiliar with the shallow sharp reef and famed elevator drop, they would be figuring out where to sit, not too deep or too far on the shoulder. It must have looked strange from the line-up for many, after all, they haven’t had the chance, until now, to surf this most challenging wave with just four surfers out. Yes, the waves weren't as big as the day before, it was a slow start until one the young Hawaiian women gets a backdoor barrel. Nerves settled.

I was starting to see the standouts - understanding this is a new wave for professional women surfers. 

This sense of history and opportunity for women seemed lost on a few, (despite much positive comment). One former competitor from the 80s, who I surfed with at many an amateur contest, said he would rather change over channel and watch an episode of a singing reality show, it was ‘far more exciting’ than watching women surf Pipeline he posted. 

I tried really hard not to join the thread, but I couldn’t help myself. In response I posted something about the 80s and some yawny, rolling eye type emoji. Done, there, I’ve had my say. But I should have known better, below my post came his defence and then another quip from a guy defending the ‘old breed’ suggesting women 'should get back in the kitchen' but he is joking, of course, he says. 

Maybe he should have stayed tuned, just for the wipeouts, for the blood. Because his supporter, of the same ilk posted on another social media feed, ‘I truly believe we will see a major injury amongst the women competitors soon and will experience fallout.’ So nice of him to be concerned for our welfare. If it could happen to Owen Wright, (he had a serious head injury at Pipe) I guess it could happen to anyone. Still, be careful out there girlies. (Seriously though, wear a helmet if you want).

Ladies, you should listen to my friend, he introduced himself as 'someone who has been surfing for 40 plus years,' a contest director no less, someone ‘close to a few major sponsors.’  Men’s surfing is where the money is he boasts and warns the future of women’s surfing hangs in the balance. Seriously ladies, if you are considering tapping into his wide expertise and insight, then read on, In a gladiator pit such as pipe women are not as suited physically as the men it’s just a fact, compare it to gymnastics women are fantastic in certain disciplines but not in others.

Ladies, it’s just a fact, get back to the things your sex is more suited doing. 

That’s the chatter for now, until the next time women surfers get a new opportunity, a ten-point ride, a deep barrel, wears a bikini, doesn't wear a bikini …. And until a young Hawaiian woman, a wildcard wins the event, donning her crown as the crown Queen of Pipe.

Tyler Wright (Owen’s sister), didn't once say we aspire to surf like men, she said:  

“To have the women surf Pipe is incredible, a lot of hard work has happened to get us here today. I think it will take us a few years to get used to it, but it’s exciting. I’m scared of Pipe, I don’t even hide that. It’s a wave that makes you pull every single resource. All the choices and all these things you have to read within half a second while surfing there, really pulls everything you got as a surfer”.

Pipe dreams are coming true. 

Photo by Matt Paul Catalano on Unsplash