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The most influential female surfers of all time
Friday, 08 March 2013 12:28

Joyce Hoffman and Margo Godfrey: female surfing stars in 1968

The history of surfing is made of great achievements by female surfers. Since the early 1920s, surfer girls have been steadily evolving their style and skills in the surf line.


The most influential female surfers of all time have had several roles in the evolution of the sport. It's not only a matter of grace and classicism, but also a question of ability and commitment.

Mary Ann Hawkins was one of the first female surfers to show how to get waves ridden in California. She lived a troubled life, despite several career achievements in swimming and competitive surfing. Hawkins could hold her breath for more than two minutes.

Marge Calhoun is considered the first women's surfing champion, after taking the Makaha International surf contest. She pioneered female surfing in Hawaii and was inducted into the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame, in 2003.

Isabel Letham is the "first lady" of Australian surfing. Letham volunteered for a tandem surf session with Duke Kahanamoku, when the Hawaiian champion visited Freshwater, in Australia, back in 1914. She never quit surfing.

Margo Oberg is the first true legend of female surfing and the first multiple-time winner of world surfing championships. Oberg lived in Hawaii in a tree house. She is considered the first pro woman surfer.

Wendy Botha is the one and only South African female surfer to claim a world surfing title. She claimed a total of four trophies and posed nude for Australian Playboy.

Layne Beachley has been considered the ultimate surfer girl and probably the best female surfer of all time. The talented Australian has taken seven world surfing titles, a record that has never been beaten.

Sarah Gerhardt was the first woman to challenge the big wave surfing arena of Mavericks. The blond teacher opened the book of riding giants in feminine mode. Keala Kennelly and Maya Gabeira are also big wave surfing pioneers.

Take a look at the best female surf movies of all time.
The most influential female surfers of all time are:

Alana Blanchard
Bethany Hamilton
Carissa Moore
Chelsea Georgeson
Debbie Beacham
Frieda Zamba
Gail Couper
Isabel Letham
Joyce Hoffman
Keala Kennelly
Kim Mearig
Layne Beachley
Linda Benson
Linda Merrill
Lisa Andersen
Lynne Boyer
Marge Calhoun
Margo Godfrey-Oberg
Mary Ann Hawkins
Maya Gabeira
Pam Burridge
Pauline Menczer
Phyllis O'Donnell
Rella Sunn
Rochelle Ballard
Sarah Gerhardt
Sharon Webber
Sofia Mulanovich
Stephanie Gilmore
Wendy Botha

 

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SURFING

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Jordy Smith has conquered the Billabong Pro Rio 2013, in clean two-to-four foot (1 meter) waves, at the primary site of Barra da Tijuca, in front of thousands of surf fans.
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The Guinness World Records have officially certified Shawn Dollar's 61-foot wave, at the Cortes Bank, off the coast of California, as a new paddle-in world record.
The 30-year-old resident of Santa Cruz, California, caught the superlative wave on December 21, 2012 during a terrifying session at the Cortes Bank, a notorious offshore hazard to shipping located over 100 miles west of San Diego in international waters. A panel of experts measured the wave at 61 feet on the face. Dollar caught th [ ... ]


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KITEBOARDING

Kitesurfing in India kicks off with the Red Bull Quila Surf
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The first kitesurfing competition will hit India, between 23rd-25th May, at Mandwa. The Red Bull Quila Surf will showcase 70 Indian kitesurfers in the water.
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A 32-year-old kitesurfer has passed away when he was sailing on the Lake of Two Mountains, in Quebec, Canada.
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WINDSURFING

Taty Frans and Kiri Thode blast the Curacao Challenge 2013
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Taty Frans and Kiri Thode have claimed the Slalom and Freestyle titles at the Curacao Challenge 2013, in the Netherlands Antilles.
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BODYBOARDING

Dan Ryan air drops into vertical Teahupoo
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Dan Ryan has scored epic air drops into deep barrels, in Teahupoo, Tahiti, during the largest swell of the year.
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The 2013 IBA GoPro Arica Chilean Challenge kicks off on the 17th May, in Arica, Chile, at the infamous El Gringo bodyboarding spot.
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