Surfs Up I 4 Min Read

While surfing initially was a sport for all starting as far back as the 17th century, christian missionaries suppressed surfing in the 1800s. They believed that it was "savage" to conduct such acts with men, women and children of all social classes. 

However, Hawaiian Princess Kaiulani defied the orders of the missionaries and paddled out, and lead her people back to their roots in the ocean and surfing. Without Kaiulani there may not be surfing today. 

Princess Kaiulani of Hawaii, circa 1899. (Credit: Library of Congress/Corbis/Getty Images)

Following Kaiulani's display of fearlessness surfing spread around the world. Hawaiian Olympic champion Duke Kahanamoku —considered the father of modern surfing—showed 15-year-old Isabel Letham how to surf. She became one of the most famous Australian female surfers of all time. She later moved to California where she tried to begin teaching surfing but the surf clubs didn't believe she would be able to handle the conditions of the rough seas. 

Isabel Letham Riding a wave

 After World War II, surfing became a popular pastime for Caucasian middle class youth in California. The Beach Boys only amplified the surfer following by their smash hits "Surfin' U.S.A" and there were also many movies and TV shows in Hollywood that centered around the sport.  These associations with the sport all had one thing in common: Men. Everyone would picture a surfer dude when thinking about surfing. What about the women? 

Luckily, there were women of the time who refused to let men own this sport. Rell Sun a native Hawaiian female surfer start at the age of four entering mens contests because there weren't enough for women. She was a pioneer of the sport that founded the "Women's Professional Surfing Association" who established the first ever female tour.  

Rell Sunn The Queen of QUEENS

Billie Jean King recently said that she doesn't want to have network by gender, but the reality is that women need each other and support each other. We need to support our modern day surfers. We need to embrace and celebrate their history. There are many other women that have impacted the sport such as Lisa Anderson, as before she was on the scene, there were no girl’s board shorts barely any wetsuits for women, and there was definitely no Roxy. She is a four time world champion and largely responsible for creating a market for women’s surf gear.

Lisa Anderson Ripping it Up! 

We believe it is also important to mention the likes of Margo Oberg, Sarah Gerhardt, Marge Calhoun, And Layne Beachley as some of the most important women to impact the sport. As we've mentioned before they are the pioneers that fought for the sport to get where it is today. Now it is in the hands of the Carissa Moores generation to continue carrying the torch from within the sport, but it is our duty as fans to support women as they continue the battle against sexism and injustices.