Blog #2: Women in the WSL

When you hear about surfing what comes to mind? Most likely the lifestyle of the surfing community: beach bums traveling the world in search of the best waves (Babin & Harris, 2018). Folks that have permanent tans and bodies that show the hours they spend swimming in the ocean and fighting the currents. Movies such as Chasing Mavericks and The Endless Summer come to mind. But when you think of actual professional surfers, who pops up in your mind?

Most people envision Kelly Slater, John John Florence and Mick Fanning when thinking of surfers. Kelly Slater, who is famous for winning the most surfing world championships of all time. John John Florence, for his performance on pipes and big waves. Mick Fanning, for being the only live streamed great white attack survivor caught on camera during the 2015 J-Bay open in South Africa. Leading to a rare situational event that resulted in draw, as both finalists refused to get back in the water due to the traumatizing experience (Babin & Harris, 2018).

John John Florence

Kelly Slater

Mick Fanning

Below is a video of the 2015 Mick Fanning J-Bay shark attack:

These are some of the renown men that dominate the sport, but what about the women?

“The World Surf League, a California-based company that runs more than 180 contests around the world, justified paying female athletes less than men by using a “pay parity” formula for calculating contest prize purses that adds the same fixed amount to the pot for every athlete, male or female. But the league invited far fewer women than men to nearly all contests, so purses — and therefore prizes — remained grossly unequal.” – The NYT

Surfing has been a male dominate sport for all of its history. Until just a few months ago, there was not even equal pay for women in the WSL (World Surf League).

"It's a huge deal. It's more just the statement that it makes to be recognized on that level and to be respected as elite athletes alongside the men" – Pro Surfer Carrisa Moore (Duane, 2019).

Lakey Peterson, a native from my hometown Santa Barbara, is an inspiration to me and many women out there learning to surf. She is a 25-year-old that is one of the women at the forefront of surfing. She was the first women to complete an aerial maneuver in a competition, proving that surfing is not just a sport for men but for both of the sexes.

Through engrained internal values that only men have the physical capability to take on big waves, women have been fighting for their rights to surf these waves too (Babin & Harris, 2018). Perception and attitude in the surf community has left women convinced they are not good enough and do not have the physical capabilities to surf waves such as Jaws, Mavericks, and Nazare. However, women like Lakey are out there, proving the status quo can be changed.

The marketing strategy for women’s pro surfing was largely based around sex appeal and still has issues regarding this (Babin & Harris, 2018). It has been a major challenge for female surfers to overcome and still face every day. But surfers like Lakey Peterson have started reclaiming their sexually marketed image through proudly showcasing their impressive physical ability. Where videographers used to be allowed to zoom in on women’s butts while surfing, laws have since changed. Through professional surfers like Lakey Peterson, Carrisa Moore, and Stephanie Gilmore, women can be admired for their physical capabilities on the waves instead of just how they look riding one.

Through her body issue with sports illustrated, Peterson hoped to showcase that her body is more than just an object but her weapon against the giant waves she faces. She hopes to reclaim the sexualization of her sport and showcase that she is confident in herself as a woman in a sport striving for equality.

"I've always felt like I want to represent myself and young females in a really positive, healthy way," she says. "The Body Issue shows that you can be confident and enjoy that and celebrate that in a really healthy and gorgeous way" -Lakey Peterson (Body Issue, 2019).

Justine Dupont proving women CAN surf the biggest waves out there:

While I know I am never going to be a pro surfer, and probably never surf a wave larger than 7 feet, it is inspiring to know that these women are out there, making surfing a more welcoming community. Through changing the views of the surfing social group, they are showing the world that women surfers are not there just for sex appeal but are there to perform at their top physical ability as equals to men (Babin & Harris, 2018).

For now I say bravo to the WSL for becoming one of the only U.S.-based sports requiring equal pay for men and women. This is a positive step into the future for all athletes, but there is much work that still needs to be done.

Word Count: 751

Value Added: photos & videos (click on them to open their source in separate tab), articles, and quotes

References:

• Babin, B. J., & Harris, E. G. (2016). Cb: consumer behavior. Stamford: Cengage Learning

• Duane, D. (2019, February 7). The Fight for Gender Equality in One of the Most Dangerous Sports on Earth. Retrieved November 20, 2019, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/07/magazine/women-surf-big-wave.html.

• Justine Dupont Surfs Her Biggest Wave Ever at Nazaré. (2019, November 16). Retrieved November 20, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwHqFK1xGO0.

• Shark Attacks Mick Fanning at the J-Bay Open 2015. (2015, July 19). Retrieved November 20, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrt27dZ7DOA&t=235s.

• Surfer Lakey Peterson has always felt a connection with the ocean. (2019, September 4). Retrieved November 20, 2019, from https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/27498962/surfer-lakey-peterson-always-felt-connection-ocean-body-issue-2019.

• Wamsley, L. (2018, September 7). Equal Pay For Equal Shreds: World Surf League Will Award Same Prizes To Men And Women. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.npr.org/2018/09/07/645558534/equal-pay-for-equal-shreds-world-surf-league-will-award-same-prizes-to-men-and-w.