All Shades Of Woman

*Steph Gilmore wis the 5th ASP Women's World Title @ Roxy Pro Biarritz (http://www.aspworldtour.com)

Could surfing ever become an Olympic event? Moreover would female surfers compete? Imagine Steph Gilmore representing Australia and what about Britain, who would fly the flag for surfing from our fair isle?

As a British citizen I was infinitely proud of our country and  the efforts of Danny Boyle who managed to encapsulate aspects of our culture in the intriguing opening ceremony. Beijing was always going to be an opening ceremony like no other but I do think the London attempt stood out in its own way. As a Brit I obviously was able to identify with the content of the ceremony but I wonder whether it translated well to an international audience?

So could surfing ever become an Olympic sport? It obviously has its own championships and enough of a following to make it a watchable event so why has it still not been registered? Is it down to logistics?

Below is an interesting article I found by

Fernando Aguerre Surfer & President of the International Surfing Association which tries to address some of the issues and puts forth a compelling argument for inclusion...

Olympic Surfing

As a woman I care deeply about the inequalities our gender is often subjected to and as a white westerner realise I probably endure far less human rights injustices compared to other groups of women in the world. That being said I have found myself disillusioned by the portrayal of women in the Olympics. Swimmers for instance are commented on about their bodies, a well known Scottish comedian actually calling one British swimmer a 'dolphin face.'

When did sport start being about how a woman fills a swimming costume, or how tight her uniform is or how well she sells a product? Or on the flip side she's taken seriously if androgynous and plays down her femininity?

Surfing is rife with this kind of prejudice and nearly every surf girl magazine has/will feature an article about pro surfer Alana Blanchard and her revealing bikinis.

I sit on the fence about this, as someone well acquainted with cellulite etc the thought of wearing something comparable to an Alana bikini would fill me with dread. That being said I can't knock her for wearing one, its not Alana's fault she's got a body which can carry off such styles. She also happens to come from Hawaii so doesn't need to look like a seal to surf (there is nothing glamorous about a wetsuit...)

If you look back in surf history you'll discover it was actually performed naked in its native Hawaii!

In her defence surfing is still also considered a sideline sport despite its following, so to earn from it you have to look a certain way and land endorsements. Sport is a business so competitors have to think amd act like business men and women. 

 

That being said as a woman who has moments of despair when looking at the perfectly coiffed pictures of surfer girls and on discovering more lewd comments in male dominated surfer mags written about female competitors it is hard not to feel dis-empowered. Unfortunately sexism in sport is still rife.

* Now to accentuate the positive *

There are however courageous women out there fighting for the rights of the oppressed and marginalised elsewhere in the world. I came across the Association for Women's Rights in Development website and have felt so compelled to action I just had to share their work with you:

Association for Women's Rights in Development

Lastly my girl crush on Kat Dennings an actress who makes interesting choices in the roles she plays and who is a refreshing change to the factory farmed actresses of a certain gilt our media inundates us with. 

Antonio my bf encouraged me to watch Daydream Nation an indie art house film where she plays a mixed up but strangely empowered high school girl. Utterly compelling stuff.

Kate Dennings I <3 you!  

(She also happens to have a blog which I may or may not peruse from time to time....)

* coming soon interview with pro surfer and travel writer Sam Bleakley.