Surfer Girls

This comes as we enter day 6 of the Pipe Masters in Hawaii and we’re faced with another lay day. We’ve still got our fingers crossed that action will resume on Thursday morning when the swell is expected.

In the mean time I thought we’d take a look at some of the finest things about surfing….. the Surfer Girl.

A long time has passed since Gidget made her first movie appearance in 1959 in the film of the same name.

Since those early days woman’s surfing has come a long way and we now see some amazing performances from every corner of the globe in all conditions, and although I would like to concentrate on their performances alone I can’t help but be flattened by the sheer beauty that goes along with these 3 gorgeous Surfer Girls.

Maya Gabeira

Maya Gabeira’s talent, exploits, and the fact that she’s a woman holding her own in the big wave waters many surfers fear to tread, have garnered much attention. Traveling continuously, just three short years after learning to surf, she’s amassed a repertoire of waves to make even the most seasoned professional a little jealous.

On November 1, 2007, Maya towed into the snarling beast of a wave at Teahupoo for the first time during an epic swell that brought out the sport’s most elite riders. The only girl in the line-up, Maya took some devastating wipeouts before catching what she calls, “the wave of my life.” Rides like these have earned her prestigious back-to-back Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards in 2007 and 2008.

As for the future of women’s tow-in surfing, and big wave surfing in general, expect Maya to stay out in front. Though she laments the fact that there aren’t any women’s tow-in competitions just yet, she understands the challenges. “It hard for the guys,” she explains. “It’s not a sport like the CT or the QS. Sponsors are hard to find because it’s expensive and dangerous. So imagine what it’s like for the girls! But it’s coming; I’m positive!”
Profile from Reb Bull

I was fortunate enough to be at the 2007/08 XXL Awards dinner to meet Maya in person, and I can guarantee you that these pictures do not do her justice.

Anastasia Ashley

Ashley is an award-winning surfer, but her looks have led her to became an instant Internet craze. Currently a resident of Southern California, she spent her childhood both there and in Hawaii…no wonder she’s a surfer.

The World of Jenks episode on MTV followed Ashley around as she prepared for the 2010 US Open of Surfing in August. Ashley finished third in Heat 5 of the competition and failed to advance from the round of 48 to the round of 24.

When asked about the documentary she said,

“It was at first a little awkward having an entourage of about 15 people with you at all times. It made going out to eat kind of a problem. But I would say after the first two days I somewhat forgot about the cameras. And everyone who worked in production was very cool.”

First learning how to surf at the tender age of five, Ashley was ready for competition in less than two years’ time. Ashley won the North Shore Soap Factory Pipeline Women’s Pro 2010 back in April.

Jenks documentary partly focused on the infighting among women surfers, something that Ashley brought up. Ashley mentioned that other female surfers have said derogatory things to her and about her and feels that many are jealous of her, either for her looks or the off-the-board success she’s received for them.

Ashley employs a standard, regular stance, and her favorite breaks include Lowers, Riviera and Biarritz, France and won the Professional Surf Tour of America at age 16.

Alana Blanchard

Hailing from the North Shore of Kauai, young Alana Blanchard is destined to leave a mark in female professional surfing and well beyond…actually, she already has. At the young age of 15, Alana became the first female Pipeline Master dealing with conditions women surfers had yet to be given the chance to compete in. Today, she is one of Rip Curl’s key talents – competing on the ASP Women’s World Tour and starring in our global fashion shoots around the world.

When asked about her first year on the tour she replied,

“It’s a little different than what I thought it would be. I thought I would be traveling way more because I am doing the WQS and the WCT but it’s been pretty relaxed so far because the WQS had a few less events this year and the WCT only has seven events for 2009. This year the WQS has more competition than last year and I’m sure it will get even harder next year with all the younger girls coming up. Being away from home and all the traveling is the thing that doesn’t change. It can get pretty hard sometimes.”

Alana doesn’t just stick to the womens tour though. She can be seen having the time of her life in the Rip Curl special Tip 2 Tip along with other professional surfers Stephanie Gilmore, Bethany Hamilton and Tyler Wright.

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