The Mavericks Surf Contest recently announced the 2009 invitees, and all 26 are men. WTF?! Sarah Gerhardt, the focus of One Winter Story, has been surfing the big waves of Mavericks for more than 10 years. She was invited to the contest in 2001, but only as an alternate. Jenny Useldinger and Jamilah Star are also Mavs regulars.The Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards aren't so sexist. Maya Gabeira, who charges with the guys on massive waves, is up for Biggest Wave and Monster Paddle for riding Dungeons (photo), and for Ride of the Year and Monster Tube at Teahupoo. Women's surfing icon Layne Beachley is in the running for Ride of the Year for taking on a big one at Ours. Mercedes Maidana has entries for Monster Paddle at Waimea Bay and Biggest Wave at El Buey. And Jamilah is up for Ride of the Year at Puerto Escondido and Monster Paddle at Mavericks itself.
I asked Keir Beadling, Mavericks CEO, why no women are on the invitee list. His answer? "Hmm..." C'mon, we want to know why the contest is ignoring half the population. Are you afraid a woman might win?
I said a similar thing about the US Open here in Huntington. After watching this event year after year, I'm not sure why women and men are separated. The women in the quaters, semis and finals were surfing just as well and just as strong and the dudes.
ReplyDeleteYou raise an interesting point, and as a woman who also surfs, I do agree that we're often under-represented. I'd like Keir to give a valid reason as to why no women were invited, but unless enough people make enough noise, sadly the question will go unanswered.
ReplyDeleteAbout the US Open - the men and women surfed in equally rough conditions, yet the women's purse is only 1/10th of the men's? It's not like the waves magically got smaller and calmer for the women. Ridiculous!
PS awesome blog, btw
I am not surprised. When I wet to the premiere of Bra Boys here in my home town it was so full of testosterone and unless you were a decorative girl surfer ie younger than me, you were treated with disdain - and I knew most of the guys there. That is despite the fact that they wouldn't have the balls to surf the particular break featured in the film themselves.
ReplyDeleteBecause when it comes to such contests the defacto position doesn't even consider women. The contest organisers tend to be only men or men hold the positions of authority and don't even THINK to include women, it never even enters the equation. Hence, the answer from the contest director was an ambiguous and vague "hmm". Anyway, women who surf big waves are an anomaly and "don't catch the biggest waves" so it's assumed they wouldn't win anyway so why bother inviting them.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in these positions but it's how I understand the process, and is feedback I got when I canvassed the boys at the pub who have run contests.
Cheers,
Clif.
Cheers,
Clif.
Thanks, everyone, interesting points all. Hmmm...
ReplyDelete