East Coast Wahines

A few weeks ago Paula Bushardt sent me an email regarding photos of east coast surfers in a new book by Linda Chase, called Surfing, Women of the Waves. I finally followed through and ordered a copy to add to my ever growing surf library. It’s funny how sometimes I cannot put two and two together. I remember photographer/filmaker Elizabeth Pepin traveling to Wilmington - she and Sally Lundberg were showing their award winning documentary One Winter Story at the Scene First Student Film Festival. Elizabeth and Sally took some time off their hectic schedule to meet with a group of East Coast Wahines at Paula’s house on Figure 8 Island. Well these photos transpired into an entire chapter of Linda’s book!

When I opened the book, it’s coincidental how I just happened to turn to page 94 to see my name highlighted in red with a quote, talk of the East Coast Wahine Championships, and another quote from this very website. A little light bulb went off in my head and I recalled receiving an email from Linda many many months ago- she didn’t give me a lot of details, only to say she liked what was written about our contest and could I give her a quote about women’s surfing. That said, there are some great photos from that weekend (we used to have them linked up through our site, but I just checked and the link is no longer active) and talk of east coast surfers like Lisa Andersen, Mimi Munro, Frieda Zamba, Connie Arias, Christa Alves, Karina Petroni, and Jo Pickett.

I have only skimmed the rest of the book so I can’t offer a full fledged review, but I will post the synopsis from the publisher, Gibbs Smith.

“Surfing is art on waves, a form of self-expression.� —Lisa Andersen, four-time women’s world champion

As the official counterculture sport of the 1960s, surfing was not just a sport but a lifestyle, one long, sun-drenched beach party with endless waves and music, as well as an unapologetically masculine culture. This notion has since been disproved by generations of amazing female surfers who have made an indelible mark on the sport. Surfing: Women of the Waves highlights some of these extraordinary women of surfing, from Linda Benson and Joyce Hoffman in the 1950s and 1960s to Layne Beachley, Sofia Mulanovich, Bethany Hamilton, and the great Lisa Andersen, four-time women’s world champion. Today, women of all ages and skill levels have taken their place among the waves—longboarders, shortboarders, goofyfooters, hotdoggers, young girls, and surfer moms—these are the women of the waves!

Women featured include: Bethany Hamilton, Jessi Miley Dyer, Melanie Redman-Carr and Layne Beachley: Australia Sofia Mulanovich, Punta Hermosa, Peru (small town outside of Lima); won 2006 U.S. Open Lisa Andersen, Florida Megan Abubo, Hartford, Connecticut Emilia Perry and Alana Mock, Northshore, Hawaii Monyca Byrne-Wickey, Hana, Hawaii Kristen Steiner, Big Island, Hawaii Melanie Bartles, Hawaii Lisa Benson, Encinitas, California Kim Hamrock, Huntington Beach, California Jennie Useldinger, Ashley Lloyd, Jamilah Star, Savannah Shaughnessy, Katherine Carter: Santa Cruz, California

Linda Chase attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, where she obtained a degree in economics. Soon thereafter she pursued a career in publishing that included a stint as researcher, writer, and editor, and later as editorial director and publisher. Linda researched the sport while living in Malibu for five years and subsequently wrote an article in Preferred Way magazine on her surfing experience.

Elizabeth Pepin currently works as a Producer and Associate Producer at KQED-TV in San Francisco. She is one of four women in the country who specialize in shooting female surfers. She also makes independent documentaries outside of KQED and has won four Emmy Awards for her documentary film work. In addition to filmmaking, Elizabeth is also a photographer and author.

I was in San Clemente, California over the New Year digging through some boxes in our storage closet when I came across a box filled with old photo albums. The one I lingered upon the longest was filled with photos of surfing. It began with the first annual East Coast Wahine in 1997. After getting over the shock of how young, thin, and physically fit I was then compared to now, I was able to rejoice in the memories. There were photos from Eastern Surfing Championships in 98, my first trip to California, US Champs in Hawaii, and several other East Coast Wahines. Familiar faces like Marty Mentzer, Sara and Maggie Willis, Eileen O’Connor, Barbara Corey, Kelly Kane, Erin Whittle, Katie Coryell, Patti Hook, Mimi Munro, Shannon Sommers, Colleen Hanley, Elisabeth Funderburk, Karen Allison, Paula Bushardt, and the list goes on and on of the women I’ve surfed and traveled with. The experiences I’ve shared with so many of you and the waves we have ridden together. I feel like my venture to the west coast and into the heart of the surfing industry- starting out with Surfing Girl Magazine and moving onto Surf Life for Women, all while continuing to direct the East Coast Wahine could have never have happened without all the women surfers I’ve met along the way. I felt like all the east coast girls were rallying for me, keeping me afloat in the big bad “bro” world of surfing. You all have been my inspiration and my motivation.

Just now, as I write, tears well up in my eyes. I honestly didn’t know I was going to write this, share these emotions that tug at my heartstrings and pull me back to the east coast over and over from so far away. So while I’m so open and raw I’ll just say it. It’s time to move on, to let go, to set myself free. For ten years I’ve given my heart and soul to the East Coast Wahine Championships. I don’t want to see it go. I don’t want to let it go, but I must in order to grow.

There are options for the East Coast Wahine Champs to continue. I have three ready to go in my head. But I’m going to hold them here awhile, hoping that someone is going to come along with a likewise or better idea. I’ve always felt that surfers should give back to the sport they love. The East Coast Wahine has been such a joy- quite possibly the best thing I’ve ever done with my life (aside from marrying my husband and birthing my daughter). If it is to keep on keeping on, then I’m holding the space and will gladly share all the intricacies of running the first-ever and longest running all-women’s surfing contest on the east coast. If it’s the end, so be it. Nothing is permanent.

Thank you east coast wahines, every single one.

-Anne Beasley Weber 1/6/2008

I opened my mailbox today to find a copy of Fearlessness: The Story of Lisa Andersen by Nick Carroll. I’m so stoked! The book is a new release on shelves this December- just in time to make a great holiday gift. Lisa, as I’m sure you know, is a four-time world champion who ran away from her home in Florida at age 16 to become the best surfer in the world. (What I didn’t know is that she lived in Virginia for a few years- my home state!) The biography retraces her childhood, her rise to fame, her life as a champion as well as a mother of two. In the preface written by Lisa herself, she says, ” In hindsight you want to go back in time and change things- do things better, with more strength or more knowledge. But hat all if it now happened as it did, it would have changed the end results. The bottom line is, I was meant to be a mother first and world champion second, and I would never change that! I have new dreams now- not about winning world titles but about giving my kids everything I can. And, of course, the one in which I find great love that lasts forever.”

I can’t wait to start reading- I’ll give a review soon. The book has been published by Chronicle and retails for $24.95

As many of you know (and some of you don’t) life has led me far from my home on the east coast, and landed me in Seattle- a city surrounded by water, but not the kind you can surf. The Pacific coast is about three hours away so surfing has taken a backseat to working and raising our daughter. I oftentimes wish for my old life of carefree days on the beach, but I also know I will eventually make it back that way. Every now and then, we get away to explore the land around us. The summer here is probably the best weather in the United States and all the winter rains makes for a summer full of continuous blooms and rich evergreens.

We recently took a trip out to the Olympic Peninsula, home to Indians, old-growth forests, and a more laid back way of life. Our 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia van makes for a slow go and we sometimes worry if she- her name is Heidi- will get us there and home again. Luck was on our side though and the weather was perfect- sunshine, 80 degrees and blue skies. After a ferry ride and a drive through the foothills we eventually came upon a glacier lake- the road winding for 15 miles alongside the most heavenly view of evergreen trees and turquoise water. We pulled over at spot that most would easily miss- we took off our sandals to feel the moss on our feet, and found a little beach of pebbles. The water was freezing, but so refreshing and we had to dive in. It took my breath away and the dramatic drop-off from beach to deep was almost frightening. It was similar to the edge of an ocean’s reef, and I couldn’t help but think shark, but after all I was in a lake.

We reached the beach soon after, and were pleasantly surprised with a head high swell and just a handful of surfers in the line-up. The water was cold and I wish I had worn gloves. I’m guessing it was in the low 50’s. My 5.4.3 with built in hood is a great suit for these parts, but I’m still amazed I have to wear one in the middle of July!

There was a campground literally on the beach, with folks camping in the logs and rocks. We decided to camp 15 minutes away in the National forest amidst giant trees, just ripened salmonberries, and clean restrooms. We hiked a mile and a half onto another beach we heard blocked the ever present wind, but the surf was very small and the tide was too low, but we could see it had potential and will make the trek again someday. There were people camping there too, just above the high tide line and it seemed like a good place to stay for a night or two if you were willing to take a trip or two back to the car to get your cooler, boards, tent, and accessories to the beach. Since we couldn’t surf, we explored the tidepools- it was so much fun to show our daughter starfish, sea anemones, mussels, and sea urchins. If you’re ever out in the Pacific Northwest, this is a trip I highly recommend. And believe it or not, you can rent a surfboard and wetsuit right on the beach if you make it on a weekend. The closest surf shop is 50 miles away, but they bring out a trailer over the weekend. I was pleasantly suprised to see a Surf Diva board in the mix, and also spotted a few women braving the cold water with me.