You know that moment when you’re in tune with your surfing, with the ocean and everything comes together for one helluva session? And when a guy paddles up next to you and asks with a pitiful smile, “Getting a few?”
You probably don’t know, actually. Unless you’re a female surfer.
I know how to surf. And I am a woman. This combination still seems to make men trouble. Especially the older ones. Grey haired veterans who probably ripped when they were young but now the take-off takes just a bit longer than it used to and the turns aren’t as radical anymore. Don’t get me wrong. I love to see senior surfers getting their groove on in the water. But what I don’t love is older male surfers paddling on my inside asking some stupid belittling question and then taking off on the next wave – especially, if I’ve ripped past them a bunch of times before. And don’t tell me they are only trying to be nice.
If I were a guy they wouldn’t so bluntly skip the rotation. Or if they were attempting to do so they would disguise their violation of etiquette by one of these random conversation openers. ”
That was a good wave.”
“Man, the water is freezing.”
Or maybe a simple “How are you doing?” I, however, get one of these: “Are you getting a couple?” (Yes, and more than you, by the way).
“Catching some fun ones?” (No, I’m not catching some fun ones. I’m catching some sick ones. At least that’s what I’m aiming for).
But my favorite of all is: “I saw you doing some turns” (accompanied by an impressed nod). Seriously?
That’s like congratulating a female soccer player on kicking the ball instead of the lawn. Of course, I do turns. Would you like to comment on the quality of my turns? (I saw you do a big/great/lousy/weak turn). Please do so. But just stating that you saw me do some turns suggests that I’m somebody who doesn’t know what she’s doing, which is not only condescending and sexist but also a bit sad considering that I might even surf just as well as you.
I know. These guys were brought up in a different time. Some of them came up in the sport when the waves were mostly left to the boys and girls were pretty decoration on the beach. But hey, women can vote now, they run whole countries and some of them sure as hell rip in the water. I’m no Courtney Conlogue – not even close. But you are no John John Florence either. And I am still not asking you where your water wings are.
Don’t patronize me. Don’t cheer when I get to my feet as if I had just pulled off a rodeo flip. Don’t paddle on my inside as if I didn’t count. You wouldn’t do that to any other male surfers.
A girl on a surfboard doesn’t equal a beginner. The times they are a-changin’. Get that in into your heads. Or don’t be surprised if one day a female surfer paddles up to you and congratulates you with an encouraging smile on making it to your feet. She’s just trying to be nice, right?
