Old vs new. Trailblazers in women’s surfing.
The Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center has dedicated its latest exhibit to the most influential women in surfing. Located in San Clemente, California, SHACC is a non-profit organization that preserves and promotes surfing’s heritage. The organization strives to educate the next generation about the legends of our sport as well as celebrate today’s cutting edge innovation. It rotates different installations throughout the year, and it celebrates everything from the evolution of surfboard shaping to key moments in the sport like the release of Endless Summer.
Running through June 15th, the Trailblazers exhibit walks through the rise of women’s professional surfing. Highlighting the earliest challenges and victories of the women’s movement in compelling narrative, it begins with the earliest female pro’s of the early 60’s who were just beginning to dip their toes into high performance surfing. It then focuses on the tumultuous times of the 1970’s. Amidst the women’s liberation movement, as well as the shortboard revolution, women’s surfing was able to get its footing and gain momentum. During this time two powerful organizations formed: the Women’s International Surfing Association (WISA) and the Hawaii Women’s Surfing Hui. These two organizations effected substantial change, and they established the first women’s competitive series. The exhibit also walks through the growth of the women’s competitive circuits of the 1980’s. It moves on to cover the 1990’s and the birth of the women’s surf industry, and specifically, the Roxy craze spearheaded by Lisa Andersen. The installation also highlights women’s big wave pioneers and the high performance stars of today.
The exhibit also delves into detailed profiles of key individuals like Rell Sunn, Jericho Poppler, Margo Oberg, Lisa Andersen, Layne Beachley, and Keala Kennelly. The names, faces, and stories of these legends help bring the installation to life. These women are the reason that women’s surfing is where it is today, and their stories demonstrate the discipline and perseverance that was required to propel the sport forward.
SHACC has done a great job shining a light on a part of surfing’s history that does not get much attention. The history of women’s surfing is a valuable part of surfing’s heritage, and it’s wonderful to see it celebrated as such.
For more on SHACC, visit their website. The organization will be holding its second California Gold Vintage Surf Auction this September. Held in Culver City, the auction features rare boards and surfing treasures with all sales benefitting SHACC and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
