Surfpolitik A Celebration of the Female Form

In: Surfpolitik by Stu Nettle 10 Comments Tue 5th Apr '11

Tags: chelsea hedges , mark occhilupo

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

What do I know about female surfing?

Well, not a whole lot. But it doesn't stop me thinking about it.

For instance, when aerials were first popularised in the early-90's I distinctly remember thinking it was an opportunity for the fairer sex to get even with the men. Power, it seemed, was on the wane. The numbers of hairy-chested, rail-gouging brutes were dwindling and on the rise were nimble gymnasts with the requisite qualities - fast-twitch reflexes, spatial awareness – that this armchair sports scientist thought necessary for vaulting above the lip.

With visions of Eastern Bloc lasses deftly mounting the pommel horse and twisting through the air I thought that aerial surfing would be the great gender equaliser in the water.

But I was wrong...or at least I'm not yet right. For whatever reason – gender limitations? lack of competition? – women aren't yet performing as well as men in the surf. Even in the air. Especially in the air.

But this doesn't preclude some absolutely startling moments of female surfing in recent times – Tyler Wright's all-rail layback hacks at Snapper are the first that come to mind. But for the sake of this story cast your eye to the photo of Chelsea Hedges taken yesterday (click 'enlarge' for mind-boggling 800x534 effect!).

Now, if webcast commentators are to be believed then the bottom turn is the measure of a surfer - the turn that all surfers should be judged on and around which good styles are built. Witness Mark Occhilupo in shot two laying it over at Bells with his gold standard of backside bottom turns. And then there's Chelsea parking her derriere in the trough at Margaret River, grabbing the rail for good measure and blasting a bra-burning turn for sexual equality.

For power, commitment and sheer subliminal beauty it is a doppelganger to Occy's turn.

Now, how long till they take to the air?

(Photo of Chelsea by ASP/Woolicott, photo of Occy by Steve Ryan)

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