Wahine Defined

Wahine, Betty, Diva, Honey. There are many endearing terms used to describe a surfer girl. In the past, female surfers were criticized for participating in a sport that was once considered “masculine”. Today, women’s surfing has risen from the doldrums, stamping an everlasting imprint on the sport. With blonde bombshells like Lisa Andersen and Layne Beachley shattering previous standards, female surfing has taken a radical direction while still remaining “feminine.” Across the country, girls are trading in their mall dates and mini-skirts for a pair of baggies and a surf session.

“I love being out in the water with my friends!” exclaims seventeen-year old surfer Holly Wilson. “You get to cheer each other on, share laughs, enjoy the beautiful environment, and get a good work-out all in one!”
It’s not just young girls or teenagers like Holly getting into the sport. Women of all ages are noticing the benefits of being out in the water. After a hectic day of playing soccer mom and career woman, it’s refreshing to paddle out and leave built up stress onshore. Some even claim surfing has miraculous healing powers. “Whenever I get in the water all my back pain just disappears,” revealed Shalotte, NC surfer Beth Henshaw. "Not even prescription strength medications can do as much for my pain as surfing does."

Surfing has also become a family activity- a bonding experience for mothers and daughters, sisters, aunts and nieces. One of surfing’s pioneers, Jericho Poppler has four daughters- all who surf. W.I.S.A founder Mary Lou Drummy and her world class surfing daughter Maureen “Mo” Drummy surf together almost every day at San Onofre in California. Twin sisters Izzy and Coco Tihanyi cater to beginning daughters, mothers, and grandmothers through their all-women surf camp, Surf Diva in La Jolla, California. “I’ve taught moms, daughters, and grandmas all at the same time,” revealed Izzy. “It is one of the most rewarding experiences to work with three generations of women."

That’s the idea behind women’s surfing. It’s just like a weekend getaway with your best friend, or winning the regionals with your softball team- it’s that same feeling of camaraderie. Even in the women’s professional circuit, the surfers remain supportive of each other despite the pressure of competition. When Sofia Mulanovich captured the title from six-time world champion Layne Beachley last November, she remained both complimentary and grounded. Sofia explained, “I think it’s going to be really hard. To be honest it’s going to be a tough year. I am going to try my hardest and train my hardest to try to focus a lot. Everyone knows that I really admire Chelsea (Georgeson) she is a great surfer and she is going to be a tough competitor this year. Also Rebecca Woods, she is ripping it, she has been killing it these last two months she has improved so much, its scary. Also Layne, (Beachley) she wants the title back and I know that she wants to get it back and also Rochelle (Ballard) wants it. They are all great surfers. I know it is going to be hard.”

Even localized contests are backing the feeling of camaraderie. Annual events like the East Coast Wahine Contest in North Carolina are more like a celebration of female surfers than they are an actual contest. Anne Beasley Weber, a coordinator and participant of the ECWC stated, “The event has turned into a gathering of women with like minds. Honestly, it’s taken on an energy of it’s own. The girls and women who come back year after year to all the local volunteers that put so much effort into making it happen, there’s just this vibe on the beach all weekend that is so positive. Everyone can feel it and there’s something to be said about the energy of the ocean and women together. It’s quite graceful.”

This support network happens to be just one aspect of female surfing, as well as a differentiation from men’s surfing. Women are now crushing the gender discrimination barrier and bringing a new element to the sport- fun. Although, wahines aren’t just having fun, they’re charging big waves, pulling off airs, and smacking the lip. Instead of working on their tans, girls are now focusing their energy on their cutbacks and bottom turns. “I think girls are finally realizing they’re just as capable as guys,” argued Wilmington, NC surf veteran, Jo Pickett. “I also think the guys are realizing this and appreciating us for what we’re trying to do- not because we’re in bikinis.”

However, it’s not just the pros that are helping progress women’s surfing. Almost every beach town has its share of talented rippers. And although their names might not be making any headlines, they’re giving new meaning to the term “soul surfer.” “Many wahines possess this trait because of their sheer love for surfing and the ocean. Instead of trying to make a name for themselves, they’re busy organizing beach sweeps and getting others involved in the surfing community. Many wahines have already made a huge difference in the environment. Jericho Poppler helped co-found the Surfrider Foundation, as well as a string of successful environmental organizations still in effect today.

But even with all the contributions today’s female surfers are making, women’s surfing would not be what it is today without the pioneers. Surf heroines like Linda Benson, Joyce Hoffman, and Margo Oberg helped pave the way for women’s surfing in each succeeding decade. Linda was one of the first surfers (male or female) to adapt the “hot-dogging” style, which included cutting back and forth on the wave and walking to the nose. Joyce was the first woman to surf Pipeline and epitomized the term “water-woman.” Margo was a leading pioneer for the women’s pro circuit, as well as an ambassador of women’s big wave surfing. And who could forget Rell Sunn, “The Queen of Aloha.” Besides Duke Kahanamoku, there was no other Hawaiian surfer that exemplified the “aloha” spirit more than Rell. With such groundbreaking female pioneers paving the way, women’s surfing was setting up to become a phenomenon.

Finally, in the 90’s, women’s surfing exploded into the media, pop culture, and onto beaches everywhere. Lisa Andersen’s career skyrocketed with the launch of Roxy, the first women’s surf brand, appearing on the cover of 1995’s Surfer magazine with the headline, “Lisa surfs better than you.” Since then, there have been many publications featuring women’s surfing such as Surf Life For Women, SG, and a string of books like “Girl in the Curl: A Century of Women’s Surfing”, and “Surf Diva: A Guide To Getting Good Waves.” Women’s surf fashion has become a huge industry, appearing in countless fashion magazines and on the runways. Women’s surf films, surf camps, surf shops, and surf gear are also riding the wave of women’s surfing. So what’s next?

Today’s generation of wahines are a new breed, but keeping the old school attitude. Strong, creative, supportive, passionate, and connected- all sharing the common love of water and each other. Despite the media’s surfer girl stereotype of blonde, tan, and lean- every wahine is different. Different in looks, style, careers and hobbies. So, there is no true definition of a “wahine.” We’re like everybody else- we carry jobs, go to school, have bills to pay and grades to keep up. But, we possess a spirit and an understanding that most people fail to ever see. “Pura vida”- the Costa Rican’s motto, “Pure life-“could be the standard for all wahines, because life, in fact, is what we’re all about. Good times, good friends, and good waves. Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing- history has proven that, but it’s our strength and passion that gets us through the rough whitewater to the outside beauties.